Celebrating Brooke!

Ten years ago, Mama and Daddy were on an Alaskan cruise...trying to get a dream trip in before Grand Baby #3 was to arrive over seven weeks later. Little did they know that Caroline Brooke Garrett would insist on coming into this world 7 1/2 weeks early. So, when they arrived in Charlotte on Tuesday, September 8th from their cruise, little Brookie was already stealing hearts with those great big blue eyes.

I absolutely cannot believe that Brooke will be ten next week...September 4th to be exact. We celebrated with a really cool party today at the Catawba Science Center. Science magic tricks, museums, aquarium, and the Swamp Thing Exhibit. Fun, fun, fun with a crew of eleven kids.

Isn't this beautiful? Demetria, cake lady of the century created this, after she received Brooke's detailed picture in the mail about what her cake was to be.....and inside....all chocolate - cake, filling, and icing. YUMMY!

Magic science experiments and making puddy were really cool.....

but so was spinning in the gravity chair and touching the baby sharks and stingrays.

Check out the loot! Woohoo!

Cuzzin' Lovin'.

Recycling ribbons and tissue paper.....yep, we're going green!

Happy Birthday, Brookie! We love you. XOXOXOXOXO

Last summer adventure!

The girls and I, along with the girls' buddy, MadiKat, headed to Marion one more time before school started. We had business to take care of...important business, like roller skating and gem mining! No pictures of roller skating, but the gem mining on Thursday was great! The weather was cool, which added to the perfection of the trip. Mountain air was almost as incredible as this gem.....

Check out the brightness. I have never seen one so bright and so complete in my entire 40 years of existence.

Look...there's a double rainbow! It even lasted about 20 minutes or so. Beautiful.

As we were coming from Greg's house to Mom's house, Seth said," I bet the end of the rainbow is at Nana's house." You know, I bet he's right. Nana's (and Pappy's) and our home is simply...our gold.

On to....

In Little Switzerland.

Yes, we are this happy! Emeralds and sapphires and rubies make us smile. Didn't find the big "D" though!

Working away.....Brooke and Brittany were our resident experts on gems. They have an interest in this stuff. I know nothing....except that I didn't find a diamond.

Cammie and Madi with their treasures.

Brooke and Brittany help Nana identify her gems.

Mom plays around in the music room museum of the gem village.

Me and my girls.

What's this......oh my, perhaps it's closer than we thought. I'll take it!!!!

Lake Fun at.....

.....the Morton's house this evening. Hadn't planned to hang out at the lake, but it was the most fun and so very relaxing. There's no way to have a bad time with the Mortons. They are so laid back ( sorta like me) and I just love it!!

Love their house!

Thomas and the girls were already out playing by the time I got there. We missed Sonny, though.

Brooke and Leah are ready to go!

Oh yeah!! Check out how calm the water is...and there were so few boats out tonight, it made for a very nice ride!!

Check out these three cheezers....Madi, Cammie, and Sarah.

The Fearless Five!
Cammie shows us what she's got. She and a couple of friends went to a lake camp a few weeks ago. One thing she learned was how to knee board. She did an awesome job.

Prepping for a 360!

Mighty proud of ya, Girlie!!

Visiting with the Carlyles!

Last week, we went to Mosely, VA (near Richmond) to visit the Carlyle family. They moved a couple of years ago, and I haven't seen Julie or the rest of her crew since. She and I used to room mom together in preschool, run together, work-out together, etc., etc.....so I was one excited chick to get to see her. We had a great time visiting. Their house is beautiful and their company was even better. The first day we got there, we just hung out at the pool. Fun, fun, fun.

Jack, Logan, and Cammie.

Woohoo!! Julianna and Brookie take the plunge!

Me and Julie!

Day two boasted a trip to Colonial Williamsburg.... can you say HOT?!? Oh my gosh, we probably lost two lbs. of sweat. It was fun anyway.

All of our babies!

Us again.....yes, we like to pose!!!

Looking down the main street in Williamsburg. Love all those big trees shading the streets.

Logan and Brookie resting at a well near the bakery.

Julie mentioned on her blog that she'd like one of these for her home. If she gets one, I get one!!! Our back yard is plenty big for this.

Oh Dear. UUUMMMM, Thomas....I think I like you better in a baseball cap. But hey, I'm glad you're happy!

We left Williamsburg fairly early. The boys had football practice and we had some shopping to do at an outdoor mall call the SHORT PUMP. It was awesome. We also got to meet up with Julie's Dad and Mom. Love them!!!

Well now, aren't you three just way too cool for us?

The third day was Water Country USA day..... a waterpark near Williamsburg. We had loads of wet fun, but Julie nor I were comfortable with taking our cameras into the park. But....this is what the backseat looked like on our way home.

We Mamas know how to tire some young'uns out!!

Thanks Carlyles. We enjoyed our trip. Your family is wonderful.

Mama Mia!

We went into Charlotte last night to see the musical hit, Mama Mia, with our friends, the Mortons. The show took place at the Belk Theater, part of Bluementhal Performing Arts Center. The movie was out back in the fall and it was based on all the smash hits from ABBA. We had a blast.

Downtown Charlotte's biggest and best!

We had a quick bite to eat here. Loved it.

Melanie ( a friend of the Mortons), me, and Lorrie.

Brooke (Melanie's daughter), Sarah, and Cammie.

Leah and Brooke.

Brooke strikes a pose at one of the cool fountains down town.