Cheers to the Weekend, So Long May Edition

If you know me, you know I love to write. This lil' space right here is one of my happy places. :) But May wins again. I needed a(nother) little blog break to get things done, and honestly, to get my head right with some *stuff*, BUT I do want to get in a post or two where I can for memory's sake. I was also having some tech issues, but those have now been resolved; so, off we go for one last MASSIVE May post. #sorryboutthat

So, for anyone who remotely cares ;), a look at what we're saying CHEERS to as we round the corner to close out the 2018-19 school year and bid May farewell: 

Memorial Day Memories. Over the long weekend, my Lu Crew and two families we loved traveled to the beach for the fourth time in as many years for Memorial Day. This year, though, we ventured to Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, and ohmygoodness, we LOVED it. So much so that we have already booked the same house for the same week next year. A quick photo dump sharing our fun times and memories made:

Pool Partay. We made it back in time on Monday to hit up my favorite pool party of the summer! It was an absolute blast with a huge turnout, and we loved catching up with so many neighbors we love!

All-Star Baseball. We are so excited for our Banks who made our town's kid-pitch All-Star team! This means three-times-weekly practices have begun! He is playing most first base, with a little pitching action, too, has several good buddies on the team, and he is SO PUMPED to have the opportunity to extend his baseball season. This kid eats, sleeps, and breathes sports, and we love cheering him on! 

Harrison's last game. Speaking of ball, Harrison had his last teeball game a couple weeks ago in the scathing hot sun. This kid seems to be following in his big bro's footsteps and is developing into quite the sports enthusiast. And he LOVED that his coach surprised the team with medals and water balloons to close out their sweet season. 

Raleigh's dance recital. AND speaking of closing out seasons, Raleigh had her dance recital that same weekend. Her Bammy and Digby were able to join us for the big show, and y'all, she did so great! We scored front row seats and she just locked eyes with her tear-filled momma and rocked that stage. I was SO proud of her. <3

Doc appointments. We've knocked out several appointments for Bella over the last couple weeks, including audiology, orthotics, and her 4-year well-check. This girl is such a rockstar and handles it all with such a sweet attitude. That's not to say she hasn't been getting some MAJOR 'tude lately: our new 4-year-old has discovered hitting and tantrumming, so lots of good times happening in the Lu Crew house, I tell ya. :/ ;) Harrison also had his 5-year well-check and got a great, healthy report. Yay, buddy!

EOY parties. Banks and Raleigh are thrilled for the fun coming their way at school the next few days: from Field Day today to end-of-year parties next week, they are ready for some fun with their teachers and friends. Meanwhile, Harrison and I attended a special EOY party for Bellaboo yesterday, who now only has one super fun school water day next week that stands between her and summer. We loved celebrating our girl and her classmates (and seeing her rock her new CHEEEEEEEEESE face). Ha!

And that's that for now! We have big ol' fun plans this weekend: Raleigh and I will be hitting up the pool earrrrrrly tomorrow morning for our swim team's Mock Meet. Then, we'll head straight to Clemson, where my hub and our other three will have arrived that morning. Banks is participating in the Dabo Sweeney Football Camp for the second year (he is so excited!), and the rest of us have decided to tag along for some Clemson fun! Then, it'll be back home to finally close out the school year. Summer, we see you just over the horizon, and we're coming for you! Have a wild and crazy weekend, y'all! :) 

Cheers to the Weekend, May Catch Up Edition

Oh, hello again, blog. 

We are knee-deep in what I like to call "May Madness," and the last two weeks were chock-full! There was a birthday dinner for a special friend, several business dinners for my hub, Lu Crew birthday celebrations, the start of swim team, ongoing baseball, football, teeball, dance, and OH YEAH, Teacher Appreciation Week, school performances, therapies, doctor appointments, a preschool graduation, a weekend away for my hub followed by a weekend away for me, Mother's Day, a gal pal gathering with women of all ages and stages, and well, you get the gist. You could say we are more than happy to welcome in the weekend today. Whew! But honestly, even though things have been crazy chaotic #MayMadness, I have loved it because so much of it has been spent celebrating people I love. <3 A look at what we're saying CHEERS to this mid-May weekend: 

Bella's birthday. Our sweet girl turned the big 0-4 last week, and we had such a wonderful time celebrating her! 

She awoke to our traditional birthday door decorations and got to check out her birthday loot from us before being swept away to breakfast for her Daddy date. :) 

She was then off to one of her most favorite places, school (!), for celebrating with her teachers and friends. She came home to more gifts waiting for her from family and friends, and we spent the next hour playing with them before heading to pick up Harrison from school. Next up? A trip to one of Bella's other favorite places: the pool! This sweet girl loves the pool! We spent an hour there before coming home for a quick nap. 

More playtime ensued, followed by taking Raleigh to dance, before it was time for dinner out in our sweet town and her special birthday treat: cupcakes! This was my first attempt at gluten-free, dairy-free, refined-sugar-free baking, and I have to say, y'all: these cupcakes were so good! The icing takes some getting used to, as it has a bit of a bitter aftertaste, but she didn't mind and scarfed them right down. Because she is not allowed to even have natural sweeteners in her diet right now (read: honey/maple syrup), we were definitely bending the rules, albeit with her doctor's permission. :) And every girl needs cake on her birthday!

It was such a special day celebrating our wee warrior, and we cannot WAIT to see what the next year brings our beautiful Bella. Happy 4th Birthday, Bellaboo. You are so, so loved.

Clay's birthday. The following day was Clay's birthday! As he's done the last three years, he and some good buddies headed to Charleston the weekend before for a celebratory deep sea fishing trip, and they had a blast! 

Although his actual birthday was one filled with sports for the kiddos, I was able to whisk him away to a birthday brunch, just the two of us, to celebrate. <3 We ended the day by him (assistant) coaching Banks and his teammates in the first round of the kid-pitch playoffs and then celebrating with his favorite: strawberry cheesecake. It was a great day for our great guy. We love you, Clay, and are so thankful for the happiness, love, and support you bring our family. Next stop: 40!!!

Swim Team. This marks our second season of swim team, and practice started last week! This year, both Banks and Raleigh moved up to the next age divisions, and our whole team moved up to the top swim division in Charlotte (aka we'll be swimming against some really, really good swimmers); so, I'll be interested to see how they do. So far, so good, and we can't wait for the first meet!

Strawberry picking. I know I mention it all the time, but I just adore our sweet town and our sweet neighborhood. Right across the road from our 'hood are the town's pick-your-own strawberry fields, and we have been anxiously awaiting opening day this year! So much so that I surprised Banks and Raleigh and got them out of school early that day so that we could head straight there and pick pound upon pound of beautiful strawberries. Spring in the South, we sure do love you! 

Baseball playoffs. Well, our first season of kid-pitch baseball is officially over. Our Riverdogs won Round 1 of the playoffs but lost in the semis a few nights later. Regardless, it was a great season for our Banks, and we are so proud of him (and were thrilled to have his great grandma, great aunt and uncle, and two grandparents join us for one of the playoff games). <3

Weekend away. Last weekend, I headed out of town for the first girls trip I had taken in OVER TWO YEARS with three friends I love. Sheesh. To say I was in *need* is an understatement and was a great reminder that I cannot let years pass before allowing myself to get in some good girl time. Our husbands have worked out together almost every weekday at 5:00 am for three years now, and we decided we wanted to get in some girl time, too - although the only "working out" we did consisted of a leisurely bike ride around Charleston and hours upon hours of shopping (we walked almost 5 miles that day!). I am so thankful for the women in my life and a husband that recognized my need to have my first girls-only break in a long, long time. <3  

Mother's Day. I returned home on Mother's Day and couldn't get to my hub and kids fast enough! Isn't it funny that girl time is so good for the soul but being reunited with your family is just as good? Anyway, we spent a lovely, leisurely afternoon together and I went to bed with a happy, rested, rejuvenated heart. I am so thankful to be their momma, and to have two of the very best in the world as my own momma and momma "in law."

Preschool graduation. My three kids each spent three years at our beloved preschool here in our hometown. And since Bella will continue to participate in a specialized, developmental preschool program to fit her needs, this marked our last year there. It was bittersweet to watch our Harrison graduate earlier this week, knowing that chapter of our lives there was closing. But. We are SO proud of him and know he will do big things in kindergarten next year! We teared up as he marched into the room as "Pomp and Circumstance" played, cheered as he shook hands and received his diploma, and celebrated at lunch with sweet friends afterwards. Thanks for the fun, preschool. Kindergarten, here we come!

3rd grade field trip. The next day, I headed to Columbia, South Carolina, to join Banks and his third grade buddies on their last field trip of the year, to the State House and the State Museum. And because it was in Columbia, where my parents live, my own momma was able to join us for the field trip fun! It was a special (albeit exhausting - whew!) day with three generations and I loved it (and loved my cartime girl time with a dear friend, too. Love you, Kim!). 

Whelp. I think that's about enough for today - ha! We have a few things on the agenda this weekend: Banks was nominated to try out for kid-pitch baseball all-stars, which will be happening tonight. We will wrap up Harrison's teeball season with his last game tomorrow and will close out the weekend by cheering on our sweet Raleigh in her dance recital on Sunday. <3 There may be some pool time, there may be a date night, and I may be excited for it all! ;) Have a great mid-May weekend, friends!