I’m sitting down at the computer this morning feeling groggy and not very chipper, but I’m crossing my fingers and hoping the hot mug of coffee I’m sipping will do its job and I’ll feel a little more human by the time I’m done typing up this blog post. We just said our (very early) goodbyes to our friends Kevin, Chandra and their baby boy this morning before they hit the road and headed back home to Arkansas.
There’s something about spending uninterrupted time with good friends who live out of the state that makes me both happy and sad since our time together reminds me just how much we love them but also brings just how much we miss them to the forefront of my mind. Kevin and Chandra were some of the first people Ryan and I truly clicked with when we moved to the Charlotte area and they quickly became some of our closest friends. They’re so kind, thoughtful, funny and just plain FUN to be around and we were so excited when they planned a visit.
We filled our weekend with good times, good food and good friends!
I don’t have too many pictures from the weekend (this seems to happen whenever we host people in our home – too much on my mind, I guess!) but I wanted to share the small number of pictures I did take in a “One Sentence Per Picture” recap style I’ve seen all over blogs for a while now… but then I realized I’m much too wordy, so I figured a “Short Paragraph Per Picture” recap might work better for me. (And after typing that last paragraph I’m left thinking “Ummm when is that coffee going to start kicking in!?” Yikes.)
Let’s get to it!
- Chase’s First Day of Soccer
A couple of weeks ago, I signed Chase up for soccer with some of his friends which I realize is probably going to look like several consecutive weeks of (adorable!) toddler mayhem on a soccer field. Unfortunately a scheduling mistake meant his coach didn’t show up (and they apologized profusely) but I am really looking forward to watching a bunch of two-year-olds attempt to kick soccer balls around and do anything remotely athletic and organized together. I think it may be even more fun for the parents to observe than the kids to play! One thing is for sure: Seeing a bunch of tiny two-year-olds in oversized soccer jerseys was just about the cutest thing in the world.
- Big Kid Chase
Chase was officially the big kid all weekend and it was so neat for us to see him loving the big boy role! He was very into knowing where Baby Jackson was at all times, loved showing him his toys, making silly faces at him and checking on him on the baby monitor when he was napping. Chase really loves babies right now and always points to them when we’re out and about and talks about his friends’ baby brothers a lot. Ryan and I hope and pray that if/when we have another baby, his love for babies will still be strong because it’s so sweet to see a calmer, more cautiously curious side of him emerge whenever babies are around.
- Upper Body Workout
Since our guests didn’t arrive at our place until Saturday afternoon, Ryan and I had enough time to fit in a quick workout in the morning. We took Chase to our gym’s childcare and then worked up a sweat which felt great! I did an upper body workout that really kept things moving. The workout was a triple set format that focused on bodyweight upper body exercises, a burst of cardio and a dumbbell strength exercise (in that order). It’s a workout I figured was worth saving and sharing so I typed it up in the Notes section of my phone to share on Instagram Stories as well. Loved this one!
- Beautiful Trio
I couldn’t resist snapping this beautiful picture of Kevin, Chandra and Jackson when we were at the park together yesterday morning. Chandra and I commiserated over the fact that family pictures of us with our husbands and boys are hard to come by (but we have billions of pictures of our kids and our husbands) so I had to take a few of their family while I had my camera out and I just love this one. Jackson was a total pro and looked right at the camera – not an easy feat for a seven month old!
- Improving Gums
I am so, so happy to report that Chase’s gums seem to be doing much better. When we tried to brush his teeth on Saturday (which our dentist told us to hold off on through Friday), his gums started to bleed so he’s not completely healed, but he’s eating many of his favorite foods without wincing and crying. We still loaded him up on soft foods and smoothies over the weekend but I think he’ll be back to eating some of his hard food favorites (we share a huge love for pistachios) today. Hooray!
Questions of the Day
What was the most fun thing you did this weekend? What was the most delicious thing you ate?
Most fun: Laughing and catching up with Kevin and Chandra
Most delicious thing I ate: PaleOMG’s Breakfast Casserole and Mint Moose Tracks Ice Cream
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I’m so happy that Chase’s gums are feeling better! Also if I’m ever in Charlotte can I come watch Chase’s soccer team play (not in a creepy way at all)? I think it would be the cutest “game” of soccer to ever take place lol.
Most fun thing – taking the dogs my boyfriend and I are dog sitting on walks to the park
Most delicious thing I ate – blackout chocolate cake from a country club last night
Most fun thing: was 1.) moving into our new home and 2.) going to check out wedding bands for our wedding next summer (think we found a winner)!
Love this! Congrats on the house AND the engagement!!
That’s such good news that Chase is getting better! And that soccer picture is too cute. I am 12 years older than my youngest sister, and I used to just love going to see her soccer “games” when I was in high school and she was a toddler. Because you are right – it’s basically just a bunch of toddlers running around like crazy on a field haha
The most fun thing I did this weekend was have our final tasting for the menu for our wedding in a few weeks! And that meal was also the most delicious thing I ate – thank goodness 🙂
Is it Soccer Shots? My son has been doing it for about a year, and he loves it!
Glad that you had a great weekend, Julie!
Yes!! I’ve heard great things so I can’t wait to see how it goes!
Chase in his little soccer gear is the cutest thing ever! Oh my goodness!
I’m happy Chase’s feeling better! I hope he’ll have fun playing football, no soccer!
Have a great reset of the week 🙂
Aw yay for soccer starting! I feel like Chase is going to be a STAR! Best thing I ate was a cheese plate for sure 🙂
So happy to hear Chase is feeling better! He is so flipping cute playing soccer 🙂
Looks like y’all had such a great weekend!
Most Fun Thing – time with family on the lake and celebrating my mother-in-law’s birthday
Best Thing I Ate – mini lobster tails – yum!
Have a great day!
mini lobster tails!? jealous!!
We have a good friend from our old church in Little Rock coming down to visit this weekend and I can’t WAIT for some uninterrupted friend time. It will be so nice to step out of our weekend routine and just have some fun! Looks like you guys had a blast this weekend, good for your soul 🙂
I hosted my best friend’s birthday party, which was unicorn theme and included a pinata! Nothing like a group of 30 year-olds sitting around with party hats and wine – ha!
LOL! Sounds like a blast to me!!
What a wonderful weekend, Julie!
Most fun: Playing board games all day on Saturday with my husband & our friend.
Most delicious thing I ate: I built my own pizza at Blaze. It had white sauce, mozzarella & feta cheese, artichokes, roasted garlic, spinach, onions, & a pesto drizzle sauce. So good!
Most fun: Golfing on a day date with my hubby!
Most delicious: Definitely Stewart’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream!
Such a fun weekend for you all! Most fun thing I did: meet one of my girlfriends for a long overdue manicure (haven’t seen her in over a year!)
Most delicious thing I ate: a bagel, egg, cheese, and turkey bacon sandwich from a diner. They always do it better than home! Also, a german chocolate cupcake from my birthday 🙂
Have a good week!
YES! There are certain simple things like bagel sandwiches and salads that seem to taste so much better when other people make them!
So happy Chase is feeling better, Julie! It is so sad when those little ones are uncomfortable! Most fun thing this weekend: my husband and I just finished our first marathon, together! It was such a blast to run such a distance together and have each other’s support.
Most delicious thing I ate this weekend: Chipotle burrito bowl and a pint of chocolate covered banana Halo Top
if/when we have a baby. That hurts </3 and it's a hurt I know too well.
hugs to you, meagan. <3 <3 <3
I celebrated a month of dating my boyfriend. Not very long, I know, but it was a fun way to spend our weekend. We went for sushi and I had a vegetarian roll with asparagus, avocado and mango and it was SO good!
I’m so glad to hear Chase’s gums are getting better! And him with the other toddlers player soccer is so cute! I used to be a referee for soccer and the younger kids were so fun to watch! I’d say the most fun thing I did this weekend would be going to wineries with my friends and brother and dancing! The most delicious thing I ate would be my mom’s home cooking! Yumm!
Getting out with the whole family and eating pizza at Vino’s in Little Rock!
There’s something so special about truly clicking with another couple, isn’t there? My boyfriend and I have a few couples that we are so happy to call our friends. The highlight of my weekend activity-wise was the USAF Air Show at Andrews AFB! The highlight food-wise was definitely the falafel sandwich I had + Ben & Jerry’s on Saturday night, of course. 🙂
yes! so awesome when both the guys and the girls totally click — it’s the best!!
That soccer pic is so cute!
Most fun thing this weekend – visited my best friend who just moved to D.C.
Most delicious thing – prosciutto eggs benedict and a cold glass of white wine before noon. Sometimes you gotta indulge.
the best weekends are the ones we totally forget about pictures! hope you get to feeling better!
I bet Chase will have a ton of fun at soccer. The place I used to go to for physio overlooked a hockey rink, and it was fun to watch the little ones (I’m guessing they were 3 or 4) “play hockey”. They had absolutely no fear of falling or skating right into each other or the boards.
The best part of my weekend was date night on Friday. It was really low key (we didn’t leave the couch), but it was exactly what I needed after a long week.
Such a great picture of your friends – what a lovely couple and cute baby! I always love taking pics of family together, because as you said, usually someone’s left out because someone’s the picture-taker! The pic of Chase and the baby is so cute!!
Sounds like a really fun weekend. It’s such a great sign when you forget to take pics. Although I love going through my phone and seeing all the pics throughout the months, it’s like a visual diary! Me and my husband went to an art fair this weekend and I snapped a pic (almost reluctantly) right before we left mainly because I know I will love seeing it later!
I always lol with adoration when I see tiny little toddlers running around an athletic field. It’s both hilarious and adorable beyond words. lol Chase and his friends look so small in juxtaposition to the soccer net, which is so adorable!
Great recap as always.
So fun, we are praying for you too! Best thing I ate all weekend was a pear mule, it was delicious!
Always so fun visiting with friends. And best thing I ate all weekend was a pulled pork and crab cake sandwich at the county fair, and then some local chocolate and java chip ice cream. Mmmmm I want it again!
I’m so glad Chase’s gums are feeling better. Our little guy starts itty bitty sports soon and I am so excited for it!
Love watching that little guy grow! He is just so cute!
I love that casserole from Juli and Paleomg! I’ve been making that for a couple of years now when we have big breakfast get togethers and everyone always loves it!
I’m so glad Chase’s gums are getting better! The most fun thing I did this past weekend was going to Disney World and getting to go to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party!! The most delicious thing I ate had to be ALL the fruit I had in Disney!! I hope you are having a great week, Julie! Xoxo
Most fun thing I did this weekend: take mty baby brother to college! He is now a proud Cal Poly student<3
Most delicious thing I ate would have to be the kabocha squash, roasted and delicious.