Recently

Last week I travelled to Cincinnati with my brother and parents. My brother had never seen the Reds play and I hadn't been since I was 18. (I'm pretty sure my parents hadn't been since their lives pre-kids so at least 25 years ago).

We saw two great games. I'm no huge baseball fan but I love sports of all kinds, especially going to games. Eating is my favorite part of most sporting events but if I'm going to watch a baseball game I prefer to do so on the river in Cincy. Plus, these games made me appreciate the sport even more. It was good to get to hang with my fam and enjoy "America's pastime."

My parents thought they were going to a Celtics game, I think. 

It was a bit of a whirlwind trip, especially after the game the second day went into 12 innings. I had just enough time to enjoy breakfast at my granny's house the next morning (and for her to send me home with more veggies than I could eat in a lifetime) before heading home.

Two of the wonderful ladies in our former small group are pregnant and both due in October. I got to see sweet Kate and her adorable belly for the first time since her pregnancy for lunch on Friday. Then on Friday evening and Saturday we got to enjoy the Taylor's last bit of time here in Virginia. Their baby shower/going away party was perfect. So many people who love them so much came to see them off and send love to Arlo.

Sarah is super excited for this gift. 

Yesterday Drew and I did some things around the house while simultaneously watching Potterhead weekend on abcfamily. I read recently that in your mid-twenties you judge the success of your weekend by it's productivity and not your drinking stories. If that is true then we win. Drew did the mowing and weed-eating, I got groceries and did our meal planning for the week, we watered and weeded the gardens, picked blackberries and gathered apples, went to the farmer's market, Drew colored my hair, did laundry, built a firepit, cooked a kickass dinner and watched a LOT of HP. I love being back in the New River Valley and I'm looking forward to many more weekends in our new home.

Long Weekends

 

 We left for our anniversary trip last Thursday and stopped over in Williamsburg for delicious sandwiches at The Cheese Shop. We, of course, had Ike with us so we required outdoor seating. But it was a nice day and the little historical square had doggy bowls all around filled with water.

 

We had time to kill so we wandered over to "colonial" Williamsburg. We passed a sign that said "thank you for paying for your ticket" which we did not do. It was very sunny and seeing as we are both pasty white and did not want to get burnt before we ever got to the beach, we didn't spend much time there. Although their flowers were lovely. 

 

 

We left Williamsburg and drove straight to the beach. Ike was pretty comical. He, like me, is not a big fan of water so he did not quite know what to think of it so he took to eating all of the crap that had washed up on the beach.

 

 

Thursday night we ordered pizza and rented Monument's Men. Then watched Blackfish and went to sleep depressed. 

 

 

The next morning we were on the beach before 9:00 and it was quite chilly. So I looked like this for the first 3 hours.... We ate lunch at a little place on the beach where Ike could be tied right next to us which was a good thing because I proceeded to feed him every bite of my fish tacos which were shit.

The crab dip was on point though. 

That night we found some perfect crab leg grub at this little million year old hole in the wall. Drew ended up with sun burnt feet despite my warnings that feet are the worst thing that can be sun burnt.

We listened to The Fault In Our Stars on audiobook in the way there and home. I had heard mixed reviews. One of my friends loathed it. But we found it rather enjoyable. I mean it's very sad but I loved the dialogue and Augustus Waters charmed me. I thought John Greene did a great job writing for teenagers (although they had a very advanced vocabulary). 

 

Sunday we had a cookout on our roof with some friends. I love summer foods, they're so colorful. We grilled pork chops and corn and enjoyed cilantro dip and spinach salad. Our friends, Sarah & Ben (and little one on the way) are moving to Pittsburgh next month so we are trying to get in all of the Taylor time we can. They are the friends who make us want to have kids. They are so thoughtful about each detail of little one to come and we love listening to their thoughts on the whole affair. Also we relate well on familial matters. :) 

Monday we enjoyed a baseball game with our North Carolinian friends but it was rather warm. I disappointed everyone by not eating as much as normal but I did probably get the award for drinking the most water and requiring the most sunscreen.

Yesterday we ended our amazingly long weekend by heading over to water the garden. I can't wait to have more colorful foods fresh from our own garden. Hope your weekend was relaxing but full of friends and food.

On another note, I'm halfway through The Book Thief right now. What are you all reading?

You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes you just might find...you get what you need

Living in a small town has it's perks, however it also comes with it's fair share of negatives. Maybe it has nothing to do with a small town maybe it's just little league baseball in general but let me tell you...'round here it gets brutal. My 12 year old brother has been exposed to things I didn't think he would see or hear until he got to a high school locker room. And it's not from his teammates mind you, it's the adults. Our team has been kicked out of places that I thought it impossible to be thrown out of. I don't understand the mentality that our children are too good to lose, because that simply isn't the case. Our kids are no better than anyone else's and are certainly not above losing. Needless to say after a few embarrassing instances we are no longer little leaguers. It's a shame really because my brother suffers for other people's actions but that is where we are now.

Enough about things I can't control, onto things I can...my wedding is in three weeks and I'm surprisingly calm, maybe because I still have finals to get through or maybe I've suddenly become very zen either way it is upon us. I am very excited as my mamaw says my wedding will be "unlike anything you've ever seen." I'm still not sure if she means that in a positive or negative way...knowing her it's negative. But it will be different some will love it, some will hate it, and some won't get it at all but it will be me. We are calling it "Southern Vintage" and what am I if not southern and vintage? I am very excited for all of my family to be together and to celebrate our love. God has blessed me with a great family and with a wonderful man, so nothing will get me down that day.

Still getting the hang of this thing but I think I will leave you with music....today a little Simon and Garfunkel: