Weekend Wrap-Up Wednesday Edition

Happy Wednesday Ladies!

 

Hope you are all having a great week so far!  I had a really great weekend.  It was no secret how excited I was to have both my mom and Harrison in town for a few days!  I wish they could have stayed longer, but we made the most of the little time we had together, and had a great time!

 

 

 

My mom and Harrison got here around 4:00 on Thursday, and well, I was waiting in the driveway for them...I just couldn't wait to see them! 

 

AJ texted me when he got on the bus asking if they had gotten here yet, I said no...so you can imagine how surprised, happy and excited the boys were when they got off the buss and Harrison was with me at the bus stop!

 

Mark was able to get off a little early Thursday night, so we all enjoyed a great night together!  We had dinner, laughed, talked, played and laughed some more...I can't put into words how happy it made me to have every single person I love most in this world all under one roof!

 

The sun was shining like crazy through the blinds, so the picture isn't the greatest, but these two were so crazy happy to be reunited!  AJ and Harrison have a pretty tight bond...it was just the best seeing them back together again having fun!

 

They spent some time before dinner just hanging out on the floor on the patio playing with the puppy, laughing and talking about "old times".  I just love my 3 boys so much!

 

This was my view Thursday night and my heart was so full of LOVE!

 

We woke up Friday morning to another ridiculous rain storm.  After we got the kiddos off to school, us girls (me, mom & Brooke) showered and got ready for some shopping and some lunch!  It was so much fun driving my mom all around this new place we call home!  We shopped, had lunch, and had a great day!  We got home, picked Olivia up at the bus stop, and she was so happy coming off the bus having grandma there picking her up!  We grilled out, played lots of card games, watched TV and just enjoyed all being together!  Mark wasn't feeling so great, so he headed to bed around 7:30...and unfortunately he was pretty much sick all weekend which kind of sucked!

 

These boys played lots of video games all weekend!  I loved hearing all the laughing coming out of the boy's room!

 

My mom was completely in love with our new little puppy!  They were pretty much together all weekend!

 

I mean seriously, the sunlight coming in the windows was crazy, but Jack had lots of fun showing my mom lots of card tricks!

 

And there is just no better way to end the night than with a delicious dessert!

 

Saturday morning we got up, and though it was no longer raining, the wind was completely insane, I mean it gusted so crazy and lasted ALL DAY LONG!  We had originally planned on driving down to the beach, but the wind was just crazy, and it was FREEZING!  We drank lots of coffee wrapped up in blankets on our patio, the boys played out front throwing around the football and we just had a leisurely, slow paced morning and it was nice!  Around noon we all got dressed and decided to head out for a bit!  Mark was a trooper, he wasn't feeling great, but he did come with us!

 

My mom, she is simply the greatest woman I have ever known.  I am so lucky that I have my mom and my best friend all wrapped up in one!

 

We spent a little time smashing open a coconut!

 

These guys...my favorites!

 

Harrison is the best son a mom could ask for!  I miss him every single day so much. 

 

I am seriously so blessed...great husband and awesome son!

 

 

LOVE

 

The girls (minus Olivia)

 

My sweet little girl!

 

We drove around town for a bit Saturday afternoon then stopped and had lunch!  It really was such a fun day!  Unfortunately the wind was just ridiculous, we didn't get to do as much as outside as we had hoped!

 

Early Saturday evening, they were having an appreciation dinner at Mark's work, so my mom offered to stay with the kids for a bit, and we took Harrison down there.  Harrison has been torn as to whether to move down here or stay in Charlotte.  He wanted to go check out the facility, (if he moves down here, he will work with Mark) and see if it is something he may be interested in.  Of course there is nothing more I want then for him to move here and be with us, but he is an adult, and his happiness makes me happy.  He was definitely impressed with Mark's company, and he informed us that he is "seriously considering" making a move possibly within the next few months, he just isn't 100% sure yet.  I totally respect that and am so proud of him for really thinking it all through, I mean of course I hope he decides Florida is where he wants to be, but this is definitely a decision he needs to make on his own, with no influence from me and Mark. 

 

Mark and Harrison have a really great relationship, they are very close, and Mark was definitely bummed when Harrison decided not to come with us back in October.  They have spent every day for the past two years working together, driving with one another every day to work, he misses Harrison a ton! 

 

We didn't stay out long Saturday, we were back home by like 7:30, and poor Mark was feeling miserable, so he headed right to bed.  The boys played video games and us girls watch The Proposal.  Great little chick flick to watch with my mom and Brooke!

 

Sunday morning we woke up and the sun was out and the wind had calmed down!  Mark was crazy sick at this point, so he stayed in bed pretty much all day long!  He had promised my mom that we would make her some chili while she was in town...how great is my husband..feeling like crap and all, he woke up Sunday morning and made the chili for my mom, then he went back to bed and no one saw him the rest of the day!   He was disappointed he couldn't spend time with my mom and especially Harrison...of course our luck that illness would strike the very weekend they come to town!  My mom and Brooke took a ride over to the nature preserve and then walked around downtown and got coffee.  I took all the boys and Liv, we got AJ some new shoes, ran to Target, and did a little shopping for Harrison.  We didn't want to be gone long, we all were pretty pumped about watching the games!

 

Back in Charlotte, I would make sausage, peppers and onions every Sunday during football season, so of course Harrison requested we have that!  We spent the afternoon eating lots of yummy food and watching some great games!

 

Living in Charlotte, my mom has been forced to love the Panthers, I mean everyone in Charlotte is pretty excited with their season this year!  It was hysterically funny listening to my mom ask questions, trying to understand the game.  The boys were laughing so hard..they just couldn't believe she knew nothing about the game!  Ha! 

 

My boys, supporting their team!

 

A brief little nap during the first game! 

 

As Jets fans, seeing the Patriots lose Sunday was so awesome! 

 

The Panther game started and from start to finish, the game was awesome!  Right about now, I am totally wishing I was back in Charlotte!  Charlotte has the best, most loyal fans!  Being there during a Panther game is just awesome!

 

yes...yes it is our year!  Next stop for the Panthers...SuperBowl 50!!!  We cannot wait to watch that game! 

 

My mom went to bed as soon as the game ended, and the boys and I chatted with Harrison for a bit.  I was definitely holding back tears, as I sat there talking to him, just looking at him, feeling so sad he was leaving bright and early Monday morning. 

 

I was up at 5 Monday morning, had a cup of coffee with my mom, woke up Harrison and well, the tears started flowing between the 3 of us, and the goodbyes started...and just like back in October, it sucked, totally and completely sucked! 

 

It was just the best having them here with us this weekend.  I wish they could have stayed longer, but we definitely made the most of the time we had together. I was so impressed with Harrison and seeing how much he has grown and matured in the 3 months since we have been gone.  I am so proud of him.  He is so hardworking and responsible, and it gives me so much peace knowing that we have raised him to be such a fine young man!

 

After, they pulled out of the driveway, I wiped my tears away, I came back inside, and got right to cleaning up the house and washing sheets and blankets!  Right back to business as usual! 

 

I am already thinking about and looking forward to our next visit!

 

Hope you all have a great day today!  See you back here tomorrow!