Camping in the Uwharrie

Even though we joked about camping with a 6-month old last year this year we really made it happen!

Call us crazy, I guess?

In our defense, we didn't camp with Miss Shelby in a tent but instead our new travel trailer we purchased a few weeks ago! It's a 26-footer complete with bathroom, kitchen, queen size bed, and bunk beds in the back.

We converted the bottom bunk to make Shelby a crib to sleep in.

It will work for now but I know in the future we'll have to make some changes. Especially when she starts pulling up.

It's great though because there's even a curtain to shut her section off so we can still move around the camper and use the bathroom, kitchen, and bedroom area without disturbing her.

Being our 'maiden voyage' with the trailer, we decided to stay close to home and camp in the Uwharrie National Forest.

It's not as high elevation wise as the Blue Ridge Parkway so it wasn't as cool there as we are use to when we camp in July.

In other words, it was HOT!

Giving we booked the weekend of July 4th, availability was limited.

We got a site in the Arrowhead campground just steps away from Badin Lake in Eastern North Carolina.

The campground is nice overall. It even has a brand new bathhouse but not going to lie, it wasn't very clean over the weekend.

Arrowhead is also VERY popular with Jeeper clubs aka 'mud boggers'. I guess there are tons of trails for those groups around that area.

At the last minute, our neighbor's Keith and Lulu were able to get a site next to us for Saturday night!

No such luck for Friday though so we headed over as a family of 3.

Yes, we left Buddy behind at the lake house this trip until we got our bearings on how it would all roll out.

After arriving and getting set up torrential rains set in. We were VERY happy to be in a trailer and not a tent!

Later in the evening, the rain stopped, we put Shelby to bed and grilled up a few burgers and enjoyed 'adult' time.

The next day we woke up and took a stroll around the lake and enjoyed being outside.

Again, it was hot, so I wasn't looking my best.
Ready for a cooler place to camp!

Then, Keith and Lulu showed up!

We cooked out for lunch.

Of course, we had everything looking as festive as possible.

Shelby even ate her lunch outside, fed by Mr. Keith!

We are so excited about all the memories to be made with our new trailer and our camping budddies LuLu and Keith!

I'm just hoping Shelby learns to love the outdoors as much as we do.

(Yes, our awning is tilted on purpose to help the rain to run off)

After Shelby went to bed the boys cooked up a low-country boil!

Shrimp, sausage, corn and potatoes!

Such a great time!

Our next stop with the trailer will be sans Shelby.

We've had a trip to camp at Whitetop, Virginia for months and we were planning to do it in tents. We've decided now to bring the trailer and have our friends camp at or near our site.
We plan to ride the Creeper trail again.

Just 2-weeks away! The high on top of the mountain is 70-degrees during the day!

We are so excited about all the adventures to come!
I know camping isn't everyone's thing, but we find it fun and a great way to make tons of family memories that Shelby can hopefully pass on to her possible children one day.

So, there you have it!!
Camping trip numero uno with trailer(yet, to be named) DONE!!

4th of July 2013

Another 4th of July is in the books and despite off and on rain it was great!
We spent the 4th at my in-laws house on High Rock Lake and my parents joined again this year!


So awesome that Shelby is able to enjoy both sets of grandparents at the same time. We truly appreciate my in-law's hospitality!


Shelby was looking festive and enjoying her first 4th of July even if she didn't see one firework!
The weather was so off and on so we decided not to chance taking the boat out and getting stuck.
So glad we didn't because it started to rain as some of the neighbors pulled out of the cove.


We did get to enjoy a couple of hours on the water during the day.


It would be sunny, then rain, then sunny again.





Shelby is such a trooper. She can sleep anywhere!
Even sitting up!


The homes on the lake were looking festive.
We were amazed at the size of this flag in this yard!
Ginormous!!


My MIL had things festive at their house too.











I made Rice Krispy treats and added white chocolate.
They turned out good!











Such a great time.


Nothing better than celebrating America's birthday with family.


On Friday we left for our camping trip.
All the deets on that tomorrow.

Happy 4th of July

It's my favorite holiday!

I'm a sucker for the 4th but it looks like its going to rain all day!

Boo!!

Anyway, happy 4th from our house to yours!!

Summer Brunch at the Knepps

Through the Junior League of Charlotte I've been lucky to have met some wonderful ladies.

Women around the same age, professional, and some of whom are moms to little ones like me and some who are not.
One of those ladies, Sarah, was gracious enough to invite us over to her Summer Housewarming/Sip in See(for her 4-month old daughter Charlotte)brunch this weekend.

Brad was busy picking up our new camper so my Mom came with Shelby and I.

Of course, I brought my new fancy camera and took numerous pictures.

Sara, the hostess, is in the middle looking adorable in her chevron.

The other girl is another JLCer, Lory.

Sarah outdid herself!
Her spread was straight out of Pinterest.

She's an event planner for work, so I wouldn't expect anything less.
I loved the flowers inside the watermelon.

The quiches were delish.

It wouldn't be brunch without mimosas.

Sarah and her sweet 4-month old daughter Charlotte.

Shelby was good but I'm pretty sure she's teething because she just hasn't been her happy-all-the-time little self.

No smiles :(

GiGi isn't the only one who is crazy about Shelby.

There were a ton of families with children.

So fun!

One of the highlights of the brunch was realizing that one of Sarah's neighbors is a friend from the local LSU Alumni group.

Jason and I were actually in school at the same time and know a lot of the same people even though we didn't know each other.

Their other child was in the yard playing.

 

Thanks again to the Knepp's for inviting us.

I'm just sad Brad didn't make it to meet everyone!