weekend recap...NC picture marathon

what a stinkin' fabulous weekend we had!!!

i know i say that a lot - but this 1 really rocked!

friday eve, the kiddos & i had dinner at BK - well, they had dinner...i had a chocolate shake (throat is still RAW!)...usually, we do the drive thru thing & eat at home...but they talked me in2 the sit down dinner this time - & i'm glad...it was nice 2 have dinner out with them :0)

she loves those apple fries!

there were probably about 20 of these caterpillars outside in the play area!

saturday morning, we drug the kiddos out of bed & got on the road at about 5am...it's a 4 hour drive to my BFF's house in NC

& we had 2 get there fairly early because i was volunteering 2 help her out with the 8th annual Yadkin Valley Wine Festival...Misty works for the Yadkin Valley chamber of commerce & pretty much heads up the entire festival every year...i volunteered 2 years ago & went down 2 NC by myself...this time, i decided 2 lug the fam along too

the other difference with this year is that i got an EASY job! last time, i was busy selling tickets/tasting bands all day...this time, Misty insisted i sit under the tent & sign in/out other volunteers...most come by for 3 or 4 hour shifts, but we were there 4 the entire day! she knew i wasn't 2 have my radiation site out in the sun 4 too long, so she made sure i was shaded & resting the whole time - she's 1 great friend!!!

even tho there was a threat of thunderstorms that day, we had an amazing turn out! & luckily, the rain held out until the last hour of the festival

there were 28 wineries pouring that day...tons of food & craft vendors...

live music & a little dance floor 4 those feeling the groove ;0)

there were some interesting characters in attendance as well...

this fella & his daughter come out every year...& this year, he was the MC 4 the event

they also had hourly door prize drawings & fun events...1, that i have 2 say was super fun, was the grape stomp...

Misty & her boss kicked off the grape stomp - complete in their "I Love Lucy" garb ;0)

next, Wendy & i went at it...it was a race 2 see who could fill up their jar with juice 1st

the barrel that Wendy was standing in kept winning...i think mine might have been clogged ~lol~

Wendy is Misty's high school friend that traveled even farther than me 2 help out at the festival...she drove 5 hours from MD!

what's that? u're wondering where my kiddos r while we're having a good ole time at the wine festival? well, they're with their father of course - & Shane, Misty's husband...they have a 2 year old daughter, Willow too...so our 2 men watched our 4 kiddos 4 the entire day - & they handled it like pros!

they took a trip 2 the park, & rode Shane's horse Chic (Curt took this pic with his phone)...

they managed 2 feed em breakfast & lunch...keep them entertained 4 most of the day...& even got in a brief nap! all without making too much of a mess of the house ;0)

we brought pizza home 4 dinner...then, Misty was anxious 2 give out gifts...since we haven't seen each other in quite some time, she wanted 2 make up 4 the birthdays she's missed (i know, she's a nut - she totally spoils us!)...she had something 4 everyone!

she got Curtis a deep fryer - something he's been wanting 4 a very long time...but i would never buy him 1, knowing it would only mean more fried foods in our home...she told me about his gift ahead of time - she wanted 2 make sure i wasn't going 2 cuss her out when he opened it ~lol~ he was smitten!
(& yes, she even got him 2 try wine! Curtis doesn't drink - especially not wine...but this blueberry wine from Weathervane Winery is soooo good - he actually liked it! & i came home with a bottle of their Sweet Mountain Bliss 4 when i'm able 2 drink again)

Misty also made this 4 me...the poem below my picture is called "God Heals" & it totally brought me 2 tears!

Remember when you heard the words -
and your mind went blank - you were in another world
God heals
Remember in your darkest hours -
when all that surrounds you is pain and sorrow
God heals
Remember friends' prayers - your family's encouragement
- glimmers of hope from everyday angels
God heals
Quiet...you can hear Him now -
always there - yet never this close
God heals
It's just another day -
yet everything has changed - and you hear yourself say
God heals
Birds are singing -
the sky is a beautiful blue - flowers are blooming...
God heals
Truths that you knew as a child -
awakened again with new understanding
God heals
Remember when others can't -
that life is a gift - each day to treasure
God Has Healed

she's the bestest friend any1 could ask 4!

the boys couldn't wait 2 get out of the house & enjoy some quiet time after a busy day with 4 kiddos! they jumped in Shane's sweet "new" ride & Curtis even got 2 drive!

then next morning, we hung out on the front porch 4 quite a while...it was a cool, rainy morning & it felt really good 2 just relax with our coffee on the porch swing - chatting away, while the kiddos played

Curtis made every1 a big breakfast & then we let the fellas enjoy the day out on their own - they got some fishing in & who knows what else...male bonding - they're such great friends & have a good time hanging out & doing just about anything

Misty's neighbor has a small farm with plenty of petting zoo type animals...so once the rain let up some, we took a stroll next door 2 check em out

goats, ducks, chickens - & lots of babies!

& geese...these 2 baby geese followed us around the entire time! they were so friendly & the kiddos had a ball feeding them clover



then we headed back & paid Chic a visit - he's such a beautiful & sweet horse!

after our outside fun, we came in 2 relax...Wendy & Willow laid down 4 a nap...then Jaden said he'd like 2 take 1 too - totally weird, but fine by me! while they were all napping, the girls got in some finger painting time...& Misty & i got 2 hang out & chat - my fav time of all! ;0)

we had burgers & dogs that Shane grilled 4 us 4 dinner & every1 filled their bellies b4 we hit the road (well, except 4 me - still barely able 2 eat with this sore throat)...Curtis drove us home, while the kiddos & i snoozed the whole way

when saying our goodbyes, Jaden teared up - saying he was really going 2 miss Shane...Willow started crying, saying "i wanna go with u!" - talking 2 the girls...it was so sweet! but definitely made me wish we lived closer 2 our friends - they really r like family 2 us!!!

thank u Misty & Shane, 4 always making us feel so welcome & showing us a good time!
we love u guys soooooo much!!!
♥