And just like that another weekend is over and Iām left scratching my head as to where all the time went. It was a fast one as always!
Friday
Friday night was a pretty low key evening around here. Our wifi went out at home on Thursday morning (I published my blog post for Friday at 6 a.m. from a local coffee shop) and since someone could not come out to fix it until Saturday, I wasnāt able to get much work done on the computer during Chaseās naptime. I used my usual work time to completely clean out and organize our pantry.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
I havenāt done a deep pantry clean since we moved into our house nearly three years ago! I realize it might not look like a huge change without the ability to pull out the pantry drawers and examine everything but it felt amazing to get rid of expired goods and organize and categorize everything from canned foods and grains to oils, sauces and snacks. Itās kind of ridiculous how good an organized pantry makes me feel every time I open it. Perhaps itās something I should do more often than every three years?
The organization and cleaning spree continued on Friday night so clearly we had a rockinā good time as we got our house ready for our weekend guests.
Saturday
Saturday morning began with a trip to the grocery store and prep work for an afternoon cookout! Chase has been all about āhelpingā me cook lately which is pretty much limited to stirring, pouring and transferring chopped ingredients from one bowl to the next.
Stirring the brownie batter was quite thrilling for him, but not nearly as thrilling as ācleaningā the bowl once the brownies were baking.
Carrie, Dru and their three boys arrived around lunchtime and we were so excited to see them! Ryan and I met Dru in college (he was one of Ryanās best men in our wedding) and weāve been friends with him for years and absolutely love his wife Carrie. Their three boys are adorable and so much fun and Chase had the best time trying to keep up with their two oldest, Noah and Aiden, and rolling around with their youngest, Eli.
Chase is such a physical little dude ā heās all about running all over the place, jumping and immersing himself in everything ā and seeing him surrounded by three boys all weekend was so neat because their style of play is so similar. Non-stop, energetic and FUN!
After everyone arrived, Ryan threw some burgers, hot dogs and chicken thighs on the grill and we served them up with an assortment of sides and Chaseās brownies. Once everyone was full and ready for some excitement, we changed into swimsuits and headed off for an afternoon on the lake.
We made it up to a little sandbar and swam for a while until we noticed some dark clouds quickly rolling in. A bunch of boats were still out and about but we figured it was time to play it safe and head back. Apparently we werenāt quick enough because the rain started about five minutes into our ride home and we were a bit nervous about being out on the water if a storm was coming. When we realized we were very close to my friend Carrieās parentsā place we tied our boat up to their dock, sought shelter under their deck and I called Carrie to embarrassingly explain our situation and told her we definitely didnāt need anything from her parents but just wanted to wait out the rain on their dock if that was okay.
Well, they could not have been kinder to us and her parents ended up coming out to greet us (it was still only drizzling at this point) and invited us to come inside and hang out for the rest of the afternoon until the weather cleared up. We were so, so grateful (you better believe Iām sending them flowers or a restaurant gift card or something!) and clearly picked the best place to wait out the rain. They were sweet enough to bring out toys for the boys and didnāt make us feel like an inconvenience or a hassle at all as we profusely apologized and thanked them. Talk about great people!
We made it back home before dinnertime and since everyone ended up snacking all afternoon, no one was really that hungry and we scrapped our plans to order pizza in favor of macaroni and cheese and cookout leftovers. Not too shabby! Once the boys were all in bed, Ryan, Carrie, Dru and I had a great time chatting away (uninterrupted!) and it felt like such a treat to be able to catch up with friends weāve had for years.
Sunday
Sunday morning flew by and after breakfast at home, our little gang went on a walk to a neighborhood park and then ordered smoothies at Clean Juice before Carrie, Dru and the boys had to hit the road for Hilton Head for a week-long vacation with their family.
Once we all said our goodbyes, Ryan, Chase and I headed home and Chase went down for a much-needed nap. While he snoozed away, Ryan worked in the yard and I worked on my computer for a couple of hours. We spent Chaseās post-nap time playing around the house until our babysitter arrived at 5 p.m. and we headed out to meet up with six of our friends for a quadruple date night!
We all gathered on our boat for an evening cruise around Lake Norman with drinks and snacks before Ryan docked our boat at Port City Club, a local lakefront restaurant.
Without family in the area, I depend on these three couples so much and am so, so grateful for the friendships we have formed over the past two years. (We all met after our little ones were born and our kids are all within two months apart.) Theyāre such a kind and thoughtful bunch but theyāre also just plain FUN! We loved every second we had with them on Sunday night and left agreeing that a Sunday night quadruple date was such a nice way to round out the weekend.
And now itās back to reality! I hope you all had a great weekend and enjoy the week ahead!
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Am I imaging things or is every lady in that last picture pregnant?
Lauren, Carrie and Laura are all due within a month and a half of each other!
That’s got to be emotionally difficult for you sometimes. I know that you’re incredibly excited for them, and that you support them fully, but I just wanted to send you a virtual hug and acknowledge to you how loving and generous you are. š
Thank you, Jen. We were all so excited to be due within a few weeks of each other but they have truly been so unbelievably kind and supportive of me through our miscarriage. Of course there have been times it’s been really tough because it is a continuous reminder that our due date is quickly approaching but I’m so grateful they’ve had healthy pregnancies and for their kindness through everything!
I was thinking when I saw the picture that you would have been due at just about the time that they’ll be having their babies. I’m so, so sorry. I know that you think of your sweet baby many times each day, but I imagine that seeing your friends and hearing them talk about the changes that they’re going through has got to make the sad thoughts especially acute. I also know, though, that you are one of the most optimistic, upbeat people I’ve ever encountered, and that you handle your grief with incredible grace and love for others. I’m glad that your friends are supporting you in kind.
It sounds like you had a fun weekend! Chase must have loved having some new playmates for the weekend.
https://maureengetsreal.wordpress.com/
Cheers to friend’s parents saving the day! That was so sweet of them!
What amazing people to be so kind when you were stuck in the rain. I’m sure they enjoyed a few hours with the boys, too! I’m with Chase- clean up is one of the perks of baking! Ha!
What a sweet weekend!! Love how much y’all soak up the time outside!
What a beautiful, albeit rainy, weekend! It’s so great having couple friends close by that make up for being away from family. I can totally relate and don’t know what I’d do without our little group here.
Aw what a great weekend. A group date night sounds like a great idea and I’m sure much needed for parents! And I saw your pantry cleaning on Insta stories and immediately went to look at my pantry disaster. lol.
This looks like such a fun weekend! My husband and I would really like to meet more “couple friends” — do you have any advice as to where to meet other couples?
Hi Laura! It can be so challenging once you’re out of school and in the “real world” to meet other couples! I met Lauren through Boot Camp, Carrie through the one Stroller Strides class I attended and Laura through Gymboree… then we all sort of started hanging out and meeting up for play dates with our kids almost every day! From there, our husbands met and thankfully seemed to really hit it off. I was pretty open about the fact that Ryan and I were new to the area and were hoping to meet fun people to connect with and have some fun and Carrie and her husband and Laura and her husband were also new to the area so I think they were also very open to meeting new friends which was so helpful. I’ve been in situations in the past where it can feel like EVERYONE already has their own thing going but honestly this area of North Carolina is just so darn friendly and I feel so fortunate that a lot of the people we’ve met have been so welcoming and open to getting together! It’s always kind of awkward/embarrassing to put yourself out there at first — at least it is for me!
Thank you so, so much for this feedback! I’m going to look into taking more classes at my gym to see if I can connect with others! Hopefully our husbands will hit it off as well!
Seriously, there are few things I appreciate in the world more than an organized pantry š
Looks like another super successful weekend! That’s crazy that all your friends in that photo are pregnant! I have noticed that you and Ryan rarely drink alcohol anymore. Is this just a personal choice? Feel free to not answer if you’d wish… but I enjoyed your cocktail recipes in the past and just have noticed we haven’t seen one in quite some time :). Also, did you do breakfast at home… like a casserole? Always wanting ideas to have when guests come into town! Also, what sides did you do with your burgers, dogs, and chicken? Thanks so much! Love the blog!
Hi Laura! I think I just must forget to recap drinks on the blog since I don’t recap nearly as much of our food/drinking these days. We do still drink but neither of us have ever really been big drinkers — definitely more of a social thing / date night / special occasion and occasionally at home when we’re just hanging out and relaxing! As far as breakfast, I made a frittata for the adults and the kids were happy with a yogurt bar (fruit, granola, etc.) and oatmeal. As for our sides, we did a lot of the traditional stuff — baked beans (from a can š ), corn on the cob, my black bean and brown rice salad, fruit, chips + guac and my quinoa salad! Nice and simple! š
Wow, looks like it was such a great weekend for you! Chase is so cute, especially with his chocolate brownie face š He must have had so much fun playing with his little friends all weekend. It looks like all of your girlfriend’s are pregnant?! That is so exciting, but I am sure it is a little tough for you also. Sending you hugs through this internet! Your pantry looks so great! Awesome job reorganizing that!! Have a great day, Julie! Xoxo
Now THAT’S a weekend!! Looks so fun. Having the boat and lake nearby sounds like a dream. We have 2 nearby lakes but they are nothing to brag about, and the hubby is kinda of a water pooper.
OMG cleaning and organizing is almost a religious experience!! Feels so good when it’s done…I recently deep cleaned my bathroom (scrub the walls, got all up in the nooks and crannies(sp?)) and would be sitting on the toilet and just basking in the glory of all my hard work LOL!!!
What a fun weekend! We depended on our small group back in arkansas SO much since we didn’t have family around. It’s amazing what a good support system does!
Oh my goodness Chase stirring the bowl is so sweet! š There’s nothing quite like a deep clean/reorganization to feel totally refreshed!
What a fun weekend! So sweet of your friends parents to welcome you all right in!!
You, no doubt, are a sweet friend too!!
I also wanted to send you a virtual hug (((())))
Thank you!! <3
What a fun weekend! Aren’t couples dates the best? My boyfriend and I met up with friends this Sunday for brunch and ended up lounging in an outdoor patio with chilled wine and live music well into the evening. Couples dates, especially on a Sunday evening, are the best!
Yay for fun, friend-filled weekends! You remind me of my mom in that it seems effortless for you to entertain and make people feel so at home in your home! I even think many of us as readers feel like we’ve been invited into your home after reading a post.
The weather in Greenville has been so sporadic lately too. One second the pool is sunny and perfect, the next everyone is running for their cars–Sumer is just so rough š Have a wonderful week and thank you for sharing!
Oh my gosh what a FUN weekend! I love the sound of all of it! Enjoying it vicariously. And what sweeties Carrie’s parents were – good people make me so thankful in life! Glad you seem to be surrounded by so many! You’re blessed.
I’ve quoted Dolly Parton before, but it seems extra appropriate watching you enjoy long time friends, “You can’t make new old friends.” True! There’s something extra special about hanging out with people who “knew you when”.
Your pantry re-org reminded me I need Oatmeal, so thanks for that! And I can see a difference, and I can totally relate to how good it feels to reorg your food supplies and get everything together in groups. Even my fridge is this way. I even have an all yogurt spot and and all cheese spot! (Yes, I like my dairy!)
Thanks for the great and enjoyable recap as always. So fun!
Good friends that you can depend on when you need them is such a special thing. It’s definitely harder as adult to meet new people and really connect with them.
There’s nothing like an organized pantry, for sure!
How perfect you ended up at your friend’s parents’ dock…and there they were so welcoming. Sounds like a great weekend!
I have to organize the pantry every couple of months. I am pretty obsessed with it and the refrigerator.
Julie, the last photo took my breath away and I had to wait a day to respond but I kept thinking to myself – “Julie is SO unbelievably strong”. After I had my miscarriage I remember thinking I do not know how I would’ve been able to handle being around pregnant friends. May babies are still very difficult for me. It turned out that I found out I was pregnant with my rainbow baby the day before I found out my good friend was also pregnant. Then two more good friends ended up being pregnant close to me as well. But you are amazing. You truly are Julie. Because I know the pain and how even when a pregnancy ends, it’s still a very long 40 weeks. I will be sending many positive thoughts your way over these next few weeks and months. I know that you will experience another pregnancy (and I will be so excited for you and your family!) and your sweet friends will be cheering you along every step of the way. Hugs! Sara
Thank you so much for your kindness, Sara. <3 Sometimes it is really hard not to get wrapped up in the "should bes" (as in "I should be a month away from giving birth right now") and I so appreciate your understanding and sharing a little bit of your story with me and I'm also so sorry for your loss. I'm not sure how long ago you gave birth to your rainbow baby but I am so happy to hear you were able to experience a healthy pregnancy and hope you are enjoying every minute with your precious little one! <3
I promise you that despite always feeling the pain of losing your baby, and always loving and missing them, rainbow babies are able to heal your heart in a way that nothing else can. I blog too (mostly for myself and my mom though!) and I’m so glad I kept blogging after my miscarriage (though I did not write about it until later) b/c I can look back at that time and see that I still smiled, my first born son Tyler smiled, and we had fun, even though I think of that period of my life as one of the hardest. I love your blog for many reasons but I have especially admired all the joy you have shared since your loss because I know it is so hard. For me, nothing was okay until I was pregnant again. There was just a piece of me that was hurting so much that couldn’t start to heal until I found myself staring at two pink lines seven months after my miscarriage. And even though there was a level of fear during my third pregnancy that I never had to experience with my first (I thought I was losing my rainbow baby at both 7 weeks and 17 weeks, but he was fine), the most surreal moment of my entire life was seeing that little baby on the screen. I had sat in the waiting room for that appointment thinking, “I’m not supposed to be here! I’m supposed to be home with a newborn!” But then there he was, on that screen. Instant love and the craziest, most inexplainable feeling, of “oh my gosh…this baby wouldn’t exist right now had I not gone through that pain over the past seven months” But there was he was. And ever since, every moment with him has truly felt meant to be. There is still pain, and I know there always will be, but I know he’s meant to be here.
Here are two blogs I wrote, one on my due date and one the following October during Pregnancy Loss Awareness Month, when I was pregnant with my rainbow baby, Brady. Hugs!
http://tylermichaelandrew.blogspot.com/2015/05/today-was-my-due-date.html
http://tylermichaelandrew.blogspot.com/2015/10/october-is.html
This post just reminded me that I probably should clean out my pantry. Sigh. Not fun but it feels so good to get it done!
Hi Julie, your dress is beautiful! Where did you get it?!