Book Report!

I did a bunch of reading on our trip to Turks so I am excited for this post today! I read 4 books while we were gone (I finished one when we got back....).  Pretty sure there will not be another monthly book report where I read that many books again... unless it is after a beach trip or a long flight!

So, I really wish I had more positive things to say about these books.  In writing this post, I realize how much these books did NOT knock my socks off.  Don't get me wrong- I enjoyed reading each of them...but they won't be going under my "favorites" category any time soon.  


The Weekenders by Mary Kay Andrews

This book was cute and takes place in NC-- which I have found I love reading books that take place in my great state! No clue why-- just makes me happy! The main character is met on the ferry dock and is served divorce papers-- even though she and her husband were planning on divorcing, they were planning on telling their daughter that weekend-- then, when the soon to be ex-husband doesn't show up,  there are a bunch of mysteries about what happened to him.  I enjoy this author and have read many of her books-- I am finding that her more recent books are kinda long winded... like the whole story took place over 450 pages and it seriously could have been told in 200 pages.  But, I liked the characters- especially Aunt Roo ;)


 Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty

HUGE fan of this author and I have read everything she's written! While this book wasn't one of my favorites of hers, I still really enjoyed it.  An event occurs that changes everyone's lives in the book and as the story is being retold, we learn what the event was and how it impacted each character in the book.  This was the first one I read-- I am a nerd and preordered it so it would be delivered to my kindle automatically.  I made myself wait to read it until on the airplane- haha.  I have heard mixed reviews on this one, but it was my favorite of the 4 I am writing about today and I would still recommend it. 


Lies and Other Acts of Love by Kristy Woodson Harvey

This book also takes place in NC as well-- and I had no idea that it did.  I started reading it and it was in Atlantic Beach--! Holla! I wanted to like this book a lot- primarily because of its location (hahaha), but I found myself super annoyed the entire time I was reading it.  I kept sighing and shaking my head.  BUT, I did like the characters, quite a bit, actually.  I told a friend I was reading this book and she goes "isn't it really annoying...but also good?" and that is the perfect way to describe it! The main character is engaged when she realizes that maybe she doesn't love him- next thing you know, she is in love with a singer in a bar and they are married immediately and trying to make their new life work.  Throw in several other story lines and there you have yourself a good book!


Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave

This book was recommended to me for being an easy beach read-- and that it was.  It was easy to read and very predictable (in my opinion...).  A girl's family owned vineyard is up for sale and she is realizing she has a lot of love for the land. Quick and easy read! Sometimes predictable isn't all bad- I enjoy a book that doesn't make you think too much...and also one that is about wine.  I love me some wine!


Okay so I need some suggestions! What should I read next? I think The Nightingale is next on my list.  Unless y'all have another one I should read......





 

Weekend Update!

After a four day week last week, we were exhausted and ready for the weekend. This upcoming week being a FULL week (the first full week we've had in school so far) might be hard on us all!

Here's a look at our weekend- it was fun and of course, busy!

Friday the boys went to a soccer skills training session and had a bunch of fun running around and playing. 

 

After clinic we headed to the club for a dinner and drinks...

And then we headed to East Chapel Hill High football game! This is where I went to school so we try to go to a game a year, just for fun for the boys. 

Cal found some older boys and had a full on football game on a small side field. He was a sweaty nasty mess by the end, but he was a happy boy! 

Andy's buddy Lee was at the game and he was pumped to be able to see him there! 

These two are sooo cute together. I love listening to them talk. It's hilarious!

Saturday morning was crazy train USA. Both boys had baseball at 9am at two separate fields. Eddie took Andy to his practice and I took Cal to his. We could only stay for part of the practice because both boys had soccer games at 10 (at a different location from baseball, of course!). 

Cal wore his full soccer gear to baseball (including shin guards!) so that he could go straight from one field to the next. 

I love watching Cal's team play- they have so much fun together and they truly love being out there playing the sport. It makes me so happy! 

Andy is one new team in a different league and I think he was a little surprised at how good the others players were- ha! On his last team, he scored often. This game, he only scored once and he had I work hard to get that one goal hahaha! But it's sooo good for him to be challenged and have to work harder. 

After the 10:00 games, we had about a ten minute break, and then Cal had another game! All the parents were hot and sweaty, but the boys were ready to go again! Before the game started, I wanted to grab a pic of the boys together-

Cal's second game was also fun to watch- although I do not enjoy seeing Cal in this position:

Goalie is stressful! Holy cow! He did great though. Oh- and also, the boys were playing on a field that is triple to size they are used to. We couldn't believe it! And they still did great. 

We were done with all sports by 12:30 and we headed home for lunch and then Cal was off for a birthday party at Frankie's Fun Park. Eddie drove him there and ended up staying and playing for a while- apparently this place is great for both kids AND adults!

Saturday night, Eddie and I had a party to go to- some friends were having an "80th" birthday party- they were each turning 40. I thought that was so cute!

I didn't get a picture of the two of us (ha!), but I got some funny ones with my friends-

We had a new sitter that night and she was awesome. Thankfully she was awesome because Bruce swallowed a sock while we were at the party. Bless her heart, I was texting her through inducing vomit- hahaha. He headed home and he still hadn't vomited the sock up (I had her give him a real small dose of the meds, so I wasn't surprised). We stayed up with him for a while and then went to bed way too late. 

The new house came with The Nest air system and it also has the built in smoke alarm. Well, it went off multiple times Saturday night. And when it goes off, it is a loud woman's voice saying "alert! There is smoke in the kids room. An alarm might sound!" But it goes through the whole house- loudly. It woke up both kids every time it happened and scared them to death. We got literally NO sleep. 

Sunday morning came around like a mean little kid and momma wasn't feeling great. Oh wow. 

I tried to blame the sleepless night, but I'm pretty sure my pain was self inflicted from an 80th birthday party haha

After couch squatting wayyyy longer than I ever ever do, I finally made myself get up and take the dogs for a walk (#sockhunt). Andy offered to help me since he knew I wasn't feeling well...

Then I thought maybe doing laundry would help me snap out of it. Andy thought being a dinosaur would help. It totally did-

He wore this the majority of the weekend. And he laughs hysterically the whole time he wears it. Funny stuff, y'all. 

And then he upped it a notch. He laughed so hard here he snorted-

Cal was lucky enough to have another birthday party at Frankie's Fun Park on Sunday..! 

I dropped him off at a friend's house before the party and took this picture- these are brave parents!

Eddie went to a sports bar to watch some football games so Andy hung out with him so I could grocery shop solo (ahhhhh!). Lucky for Andy, Lee showed up with his daddy too. Apparently there was a cheerwine special:

We ended the weekend with choir practice at the church. Yes, that's right. The boys are going to be singing in the choir. Pray on, y'all. It could be a hot mess. I mean, really- it's going to be a hot mess. Giddyup. 

It was a filled weekend- sheesh! Long post-- longer than I intended! Come back Tuesday- I've got another book report...

Hope y'all had a great weekend! Bring on the first full week of school! (Although the boys have early release on Wednesday so technically it isn't a FULL FULL week....).........!

Life Lately

I haven't done one of these posts in a while! So many pictures to share- brace yourself and get comfy!

We are slowly getting into this new season-- some mornings are better than other, and holy cow, are they early!

Cal has a good buddy in his class, Jackson, who happens to have an aunt who works at the school-- she sent this adorable picture from the first day of school.  They sure seem happy to me!

Andy got a new helmet-- it is similar to a neighbor's helmet-- gotta love the mohawk!

He's allll about a skate board lately... scared me to death, I swear.  

Cal's new baseball league required a lot more equipment than anything we've done in the past... he needed pants, a belt, sliders, a cup (ahem....), gloves and a chest protector.  We tried it all on one night and he was overly excited!

 
 This sweet girl is in Cal's class-- we caught them after the first day- all smiles!

I had a birthday last week and some of the very best women in the whole wide world took me out for dinner.  I feel like I say this all the time, but every girl should be so lucky to have ladies like this in her life.  I adore each of them beyond words and I truly treasure their friendships.  

We had such a fun night and many in the group weren't feeling great the next day...! hmmmm....

Andy has loved kindergarten this week.  Both boys got picked up by car pool early, but I caught a smile.  Andy said Monday night "I don't think I want to go to kindergarten tomorrow." I reminded him that he loved it last week when he went and he goes, "well, pretty sure that was a one time thing..." hahahahaha

And yesterday, I felt like a failure as a mom.  My parents brought back these t-shirts and both boys wanted to wear it.  I totally forgot the entire kindergarten was supposed to wear RED... I know Andy wasn't the only one, but he was upset about it because, well....Andy.  And, to top it off, Cal's behavior has been less than great lately.  Just feeling like not a good mom! 

I took a walk yesterday and saw a little baby deer come walking out and it was so sweet- then the momma came out and joined it. Loved it.  

 Life lately has been filled with alarm clocks, homework for Andy (Cal hasn't had any yet...!), baseball, soccer and reading.  PHEW!

I said I wasn't going to drink this week, but I am ready for a little glass of wine... anyone else??

Oh- and the back to school pictures on social media make me SO happy! It totally makes me not hate facebook- and that says a lot.  #noidonotwanttotryrodanandfields #justkidding #ialreadyuseit #butnowistopped #hashtag #hashtag #hashhhhhhhtaggggggg



 

Labor Day at the beach

We spend this past weekend at the beach celebrating Labor Day! Eddie's parents and sister Carrie were all down and we had a great time soaking up the last bits of summer. 

There was a little hurricane brewing out to sea and we got lots of rain on Friday and much of Saturday, but it didn't dampen our fun (see what I did there?).

Sunday we woke up and it was gorgeous out-- no humidity and not too hot and just beautiful.  We loaded up the boat and set out for Cape Lookout.  

 The boys enjoying a sprite on the way out of the marina....

 Snuggles all around!

 It took us about an hour to get out to the Cape and it was so worth it! It is really beautiful out there and we had a little private beach and enjoyed every bit of it!

 We tried to take a selfie with the lighthouse, but Cal photobombed us-haha

 You can walk up to the to of the lighthouse-- but you have to have on shoes (strike one), you have to have money (strike two), and you have to be there before they sell the last ticket (strike three).  My in laws tried to take the boys three times and didn't have luck!

 I love this picture! It was such a pretty day-- and that person in the water is my father in law playing ball with the boys-- over to the left. 

 The ride home was bumpy but great. 

Andy fell asleep while sitting up and his little sunglasses kept bouncing off his face as his head bobbed.  He finally put his head in CB's lap and took a nice little snooze.  

 Some sweet friends of ours were at the Cape the same time we were and once we put it together, she sent us this picture of Eddie and Hampton kite surfing out there-- Eddie's is the greenish one and Hampton's is a little more orange. 

 Monday morning, Eddie and I took the dogs on the beach for a big old romp.  I swear, I don't think Hank will be able to walk for a week.  He played SO hard.  He still has so much puppy left in him.  He was grinning ear to ear out there while he ran and swam and chased a tennis ball.  Made my heart happy to see him like this. 

 We all headed over to the beach for some swimming to get out energy before heading home. 

 The boys were riding waves in together and laughing hysterically. 

 And, the afternoon ended with some good throwing into waves.  I love this picture so much!

We don't know when we will be back down to the beach again-- fall is a busy busy time.  It was a great weekend to end the summer on... although I am in denial summer is over.