Wonderful Weekend ~ Anniversary, Ballet, and Birthday

All in the family ~

All of which were wonderfully splendid!

Phill and Christy celebrated their 5th Anniversary Friday evening ~

and Alden and I got to enjoy Andrea and Ayden overnight.

(Brittany was at a soccer sleepover!)

Bailey had her FIRST (and last mommy says!) ballet recital My sister Kim had a birthday ~ what fun to celebrate her! All of which ......continues to be amidst a HEAT WAVE! Ugh........ Yes, that is what it look likes ~ 104 and LOTS of humidity!!!!!!! The fun begins! Andrea enjoying Cassie while we watch a movie together

the kids enjoying Uncle Steve

Alden doing HIS favorite work ~ loves the heat and the yard :)

seriously!

Ayden found a cool place to beat the heat

of course drank a BIT of the water :)

sweet Andrea

tuckered out Ayden

Funny.....we didn't get a picture of the couple celebrating their anniversary.

They were out having a GREAT time together.

We had such a good time.

Bailey's photoshoot before we left the house

Um.....simply adorable.

Courtney and Bailey

precious ~

The day has arrived!!!!! Bailey was SO excited ~

Daddy and his princess

The performance begins

adorable

:)

beautiful

curtsy ~ she loved it and so did we!!!!!

Mom and Dad were so proud

Courtney, Bailey and Pat

Grandma loved being a part of this day! I love you Bailey!

Grandad and Grandmommy

Stephanie and Colin

Papa, Bailey and Grandma

And....we so appreciated Courtney.....

the mom who carried Bailey to MANY ballet classes

throughout the year :) (Sawyer gets a gold star as well!)

Fun had by all!!!!!!

Bailey and her friend Brooke

Miss Bailey ~

You did a GREAT job!

The evening ended as the sun went down........ a most wonderful time.

Sunday we headed to Richmond ~

to be with the Richmond crew.....

to celebrate my sister Kim's b'day!

It was so good getting caught up with everyone ~

Katherine and Sarah (Susan's granddaughters) were so fun!!!!

Kim and her daughter Heather Happy Birthday Kim!

We love you Kim!

Yum ~ chocolate and vanilla!!!!

opening cards and gifts ~ with Richard (brother in law)

Kim, me and Heather

(the "purple" girls)

My sister Susan and I

Brandon and Jackie

Derek and Rachel

Susan, Alden, Blaire and Chris

We ended our weekend at our favorite restaurant ~

Aren't the plants and flowers gorgeous?!

And of course ~ the sunset

A wonderful (albeit busy) weekend ~

special memories.

Summer 2010 continues........

North Carolina Visit

The beginning of the week, Alden and I enjoyed some time

in North Carolina....

seeing special people and places

Ken and Lynne (his brother and sister in law) Lynne and I were able to sit around their pool and really visit (we don't get to do that very often!)

Alden met up with Ken at his work site

Love to see them at work.....together

Nephew Alden (second from left) joined the "meeting"

Alden reaping the benefits of his brother's garden :)

Aunt Louise

wonderful time!

Nephew Aaron (Alden's brother Gary's son)

Aunt Bonnie (his mom's sister)

We got to visit with both Bonnie and Bill ~

precious

C-130's fly often in the skies there

My dad flew C-130's and I have especially enjoyed

for 36 1/2 years watching them fly over the area

when we visit. :)

Alden even fit in a 4 hour conference call from his work

(yep, lunch as well!)

While he was on his conference call....

I made a visit to his home church

where we have many special memories.

Our precious daughter Elizabeth is buried in the cemetery at this church

right beside Alden's mom and dad

Alden's parents' grave

what a wonderful lady she was ~ if you know Alden,

then you know her

his dad ~ who instilled much into our lives

Alden's brother Gary ~ he left us too soon

The 3 graves ~ Gary to the left, his parents right front

and Elizabeth right back.

We miss these people in our lives,

but so appreciate all they added to our lives.

I so enjoyed spending time here this day ~

I usually don't have time to just linger and remember.

Very special.

We rode by Alden's Grandma Britt's house

(his mother's house growing up)

We visited here many times visiting his grandma

She passed away right here as well ~ with family all around.

Alden enjoying the memories

This carport enjoyed many a gathering of people. The door to the right is where we entered the house. His grandma would sit right there in her rocking chair.

Daylilies ~ Alden took one to plant in our yard

Amidst all our travels and visiting....it was HOT!

so of course.....we HAD to enjoy one of our favories along the way....

and a beautiful sunset to go with it

Thankful for so much ~ people, places, memories, relationships....

Alden's family has been such a wonderful part of my life.

AND....... the benefit of summer for me that I can go WITH Alden when

he goes on a trip!