Shelby's First Tube Ride on the Lake!

It's not a big secret that Brad and I are big lake people.

He grew up going to the lake and I grew up part of my life living on the lake in Arkansas.

 

Getting Shelby acclimated to being on the water has and is a big priority for both of us.

Last year at 7, 8 and 9-months old she did pretty well but this year we both knew we wanted to get her more use to it.

 

His parents have a tube that pulls behind the boat that allows to people to sit inside and Saturday we decided to take it for a whirl.

 

She did awesome!!

No tears or fear for this little girl who will be 18-months this week.

She got right in like it was no big deal.

Off we went!

I had my hand on her life jacket the entire time.

She really is fearless.

She kept trying to climb on the back of the tube to touch the water in the back.



My FIL pulled us on their pontoon.
I know I post a lot of videos on here of Shelby, but this one really does deserve. 

Pretty impressive for 18-months especially giving just a few weeks ago she freaked out over Winnie the Pooh!!
Check it out, and here's to more lake days and riding in a tube!

LSU Game and Last Boat Trip? - Weekend Roundup

A pretty low-key weekend around here and we enjoyed it!

We were in Charlotte the entire weekend and enjoyed football, food and even a little boat fun despite it already being Fall weather.

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The weather was so nice this weekend we ushered it in by having dinner on the back deck.

Shelby had her version of Mexican that night.

She's doing so good eating table food.

I'm so proud!

 

Saturday was game day!!

LSU vs Georgia!!

Big stuff!

It was even the college game of the week on ESPN.

We were dressed in our LSU gear all day!!

It was Shelby's first run in her cheerleader outfit my best friend bought her before she was born.

We watched the game with a bunch of our VA Tech Hokie friends since their team played on Thursday night.

A little easier than taking Shelby to a bar to watch with the Alumni Group here in town.

Maybe in a year or two.

I made sausage balls and busted out my Tiger chip and dip bowl the 'Old Brad's'(ex-boyfriend) Mom bought me years ago for Christmas. 

 Shelby was a real trooper!

We were out at their house until 9pm because of the game.

She normally goes to bed at 7pm!!

At least there was another baby there to entertain her.

William is 2 and 1/2 months old.

I think she has my personality even though she looks identical to Brad.

She totally loves being the center of attention!

 Such a HAM!

 Sunday we went to church for the first time in weeks giving that I was sick, we were out of town, then Shelby was sick last weekend.

Great service as always.

Then our neighbors Keith and Lu invited us to brunch and on their boat.

The weather turned out to be sunny and 78 so it wasn't bathing suit weather but still super nice.

 Shelby did the best she has done ever on the boat.

I'm not sure if it was because she wasn't hot or what??

 She even got down and was crawling around and standing up on the boat while we were moving.

Granted Keith was driving super slow.

 Makes me so happy seeing her love the outdoors.

I want her to appreciate nature and be active her entire life.

We've already scheduled our next camping trip to the mountains in 2-weeks.

I'm hoping the early exposure to all these things makes her love it.

We cooked a great dinner tonight that I should have taken a photo of.

I'm getting better with my meal planning.

Tomorrow night I'm attempting Skinny Taste's spaghetti squash boats with grilled chicken.

Light, different and hopefully delish!!

Happy Sunday!

Shelby Meets Great Aunts and Uncle

It's no secret around here that Brad and I both are very family oriented. 

We love our families and are so lucky to live near them.

This past weekend was very special because Shelby got to meet her two Great Aunts and her Great Uncle!

They all drove down to my in-laws lake house from Southwest Virginia.

Shelby was able to get a little bit of playtime in before they arrived!

Needing a nap, she wasn't so sure when they first got there.

'Hello, Uncle Dennis!'

Then she took a nap and was in a better mood and was excited to meet her Great Aunts Becky and Barbara!

Later on we decided to enjoy the nice weather and hit the lake!

It was a fun filled day that ended with Uncle Dennis and Aunt Barbara giving Shelby all the coins from the year she was born.

Along with a family dinner.

Then Sunday, out for another boat ride before heading home.

I swear, this past weekend was by far the nicest weekend we've had all Summer when it comes to weather.

Not a drop of rain!! 

Can I get a WOOHOO??!!

Hope you all had a fabulous weekend too.

Chilling with Friends

Brad's only request for Father's Day?

He wanted to do what 'Brad' wanted to do.

Guess what that was?

Go to the lake house.

It worked out perfect because his parents were out of town and we were able to host some friends up there for the weekend too.

After the nasty storms on Thursday the rest of the weekend ended up being really nice.

So, we packed the car and headed north.

Despite fighting colds, we rallied and set up the corn hole boards and hit the lake.

My favorite view on High Rock lake.

The mountains and the water.

2 of my happy places.

Shelby wasn't 100% after her shots on Thursday but she enjoyed a little(like 20-minutes) of time in the lake.

We don't mind having her in the float without a life jacket but both Brad and I agree that in the lake, even off the dock at the house, she needs it on.

Even, Mr. Buddy enjoyed himself.

The lake house is his happy place too.

He would probably never choose to come back to Charlotte if you knew the truth.

HAA!

Shelby is so enamored with him right now.

It's the cutest thing to see.

Despite what you see in these pictures he gives her lots of kisses and attention.

He loves her!

We made dinner simple by throwing a few things on the grill and we all brought appetizers and sides.

I made this delicious appetizer that A Liz suggested.

Crostini, brie, strawberry, basil with a drizzle of honey.

They were a huge HIT!

We had a little fun with our new NIKON and I took some pictures and vice versa.

Love how this one of Katie and Josh turned out!

This one isn't too bad either.

Shelby grabs anything in her site these days.

It's funny and hysterical and a bit annoying all at the same time!

Brad said it was the perfect first Father's Day weekend, despite the cold/sinus thing we had/have going on.

Memorial Day 2013

As usual we spent Memorial Day weekend at my in-laws house on High Rock Lake.

I can't begin this post without acknowledging the tragic accident that happened around lunchtime Saturday on the lake.

We were in the area of the accident just a couple of hours after it happened.

A family of 4 on their pontoon were run over by a speed boat.

A pregnant woman and her 3-year old son were killed.

You can read more about it here.

It still weighs heavy on my mind and heart knowing that it could have easily been us and the pain that the husband and father of the little boy is going through along with the rest of the relatives.

Please keep their family in your thoughts.

I know I will.

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Switching gears to our holiday weekend.

My MIL had the house decked out in red, white and blue as usual.

Shelby was decked out in her holiday gear too.

Complete with her Beaufort Bonnet.

We spent nearly every day hanging out on the dock, taking boat rides, but it was really too cold to be in the water.

So, instead we basically hung out on the pontoon boat at the dock where we brought some of Shelby's toys down in the shade.

She also enjoyed snuggles with Uncle Jeff.

And a little food.

We called it her 'picnic' of sorts.

Always fun being with the cousins too.

Love this picture of the kids with Grammy and Paw Paw.

Shelby really only took one boat ride the entire weekend.

It was chillier than normal when riding down the lake and giving what happened early in the weekend, Brad stayed back at the dock and house with her.

The kids broke out the boat given to them for Christmas.

Ummmmm...

Not a big hit so far.

They weren't into rowing, or really didn't know how.

Maybe later this Summer I can get in and help.

Too cold this weekend for me to get in the water!

Didn't seem to bother the kiddos though.

They got their raft on.

And, their boat on! 

Even after being in the water!

BRRR!!

I had to cover up most of the time with a beach towel!

Our main holiday meal consisted of traditional smoked ribs, corn and all sorts of salads and other yummy stuff.

Not really on my diet but it was the holiday!

After dinner the kids would beg to take a short golf cart ride, so off we would go!

They also enjoyed games on the back lawn with Uncle Brad and Paw Paw.

The mornings consisted of yummy breakfasts'.

I'm proud to say this is my VERY first homemade waffle to ever make!

I had to take a picture!

Super delish, but again, not really on my 'lose weight' diet.

:(

The cousins were ALL.ABOUT.SHELBY.THIS.WEEKEND.

WHEW!

Paige actually got pretty good at helping feed Shelbs while I would get her bed ready or do other things.

She also insisted on pushing the stroller all by herself on our walk.

Shelby loved her Paige time!

Reed was also very attentive to Shelby but also enjoyed himself by riding his new big boy bike he got as an early birthday gift!

His 7th birthday is Thursday so this was super fun for him.

Other pictures from the weekend include brothers with their daughters.

Me and Reeders having fun on the boat.

Paige napping on the boat with her dolly.

Mr. Buddy enjoying every last second of being outside and off leash.

Fishing..

More fishing...

Wine time for us ladies.

Shelby's first time in a swimsuit.

And, boat snuggles with Mommy!

Family time is always fun and we love kicking off the Summer season on the water.

Hope your holiday was as nice as ours.