Instagrammin’ in March

March was a busy month, especially for Ella.

ella was on the planning committee for the fill the bowl event this year.  the teens participated in a 30-hour famine, slept in a cardboard box village on the church lawn, did service projects in the community, and raised over $50k for the lunch project.  #goella | for character day, jack dressed up as dwight schrute, coordinated with his social studies teacher who is also an office fan (i think he looks more like jim dressed as dwight). | happy 14th birthday to ella!  she’s growing up!  she even registered for high school the previous week…sniff, sniff… | an edited photo and a composite piece of artwork ella completed in her media arts class this semester

Instagrammin’ in February

Fed Cup!  The United States women’s team (the defending champs of 2017 Fed Cup) played its 2018 first round tie versus the Netherlands in Asheville this February, so Ella and I got tickets to go.  When we purchased the tickets in the fall we did not know which WTA players would be representing the USA, but during the Australian Open they announced the team—Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Coco Vandeweghe, and Lauren Davis.  Serena Williams gave birth to her daughter Olympia in September, so Fed Cup was her official return to tennis—and we were there to see it!  We also got to see adorable Olympia and Serena’s charming husband.  And it was lovely to see Venus supporting Serena.  I admire the close and supportive relationship they have maintained throughout their competitive careers.  Venus and Serena haven’t done Fed Cup in years and I totally think Venus did it because Serena wanted a lower pressure place to get her feet wet back in tennis. The whole experience felt pretty epic for us.  We drove up just for the day, enjoying brunch in downtown Asheville before spending the afternoon watching Venus Williams and Coco Vandeweghe play the first two singles matches of the tie. 

My only other picture from February is of Ella’s beautiful smile to mark the end of her orthodontia work.  Her name was on the “Braces Off Today” board but it’s a little anticlimactic when you just stop wearing your Invisalign.  Still, pretty teeth and the end of an era (that started in 2nd grade) is something to smile about.

Instagrammin’ in January

January was a pretty quiet month.  I like it like that.

we finished our puzzle from the crossons—it was a tough one! | snow day! | olive loves the snow! | jack subbed for a team two age groups up in a tournament and did awesome. | the size difference was jarring, though (see last photo).

Instagrammin’ in December

We were out and about in December, but no major trip this year.

ugly christmas sweater gingerbread cookies | ugly christmas sweater brewery hopping with friends | keep pounding! | watching the panthers take on the vikings | a family that cheers together… | go panthers! | big win for the cardiac cats | les miserables | taking my girl to one of my favorite shows | supporting another charlotte team | go hornets! | christmas eve traditions | church and then dinner at p.f. chang’s with the miners | and driving to look at the house decked out christmas lights | family trip to the movies for star wars the last jedi | back at noda brewing | jonathan’s new ugly christmas sweater came a day late for our brewery hopping night. | hot pistol is my fave, while jonathan still prefers ipa’s and stouts. | ski weekend for jonathan, jack, and ella | they tried out the black diamonds at appalachian ski mountain. | happy new year! | celebrating with our favorite families again this year—the browns, shaws, hulls, and broadways

Biltmore

My parents visited my sister’s family in Atlanta the weekend before Thanksgiving and then were headed to our house to celebrate the holiday.  We made a plan to meet in Asheville for Tuesday night (my parents and I shopped in Black Mountain—I bought a painting I’d noticed when we were there at the end of October—and had dinner at the Sierra Nevada Brewery) and then spend Wednesday exploring the Biltmore.  Jonathan drove the kids up on Wednesday to meet us at the Biltmore near Asheville.  Ella and Jack had never explored the Biltmore, the largest privately-owned house in the United States, so we got them an audio guide (my mom and I got them as well) to help them understand the significance of the house and its history.  The Biltmore was beautifully decked out for Christmas—it was a nice way to kick off the holiday season for us.  We spent Thanksgiving at home with my parents.  It was so nice to have them visit again—they were here in September to watch the kids while Jonathan and I were in Aruba, but I didn’t really get to spend time with them. 

Instagrammin’ in November

Life is good.  November was another great month with adventures with family and friends.

i headed to wild dunes (outside charleston) for a tennis tournament weekend with friends. | the view from our house | ellen and me post practice—matches are tomorrow! | the racquet wars wsrc crew | wearing our shirts, ready to support those in the finals | go wsrc! | fun weekend | another raleigh tournament in the books for jack | ella went to kanuga on a confirmation retreat | the confirmands | how could you not give this girl every treat she wants?? | cutest little bass clarinet player around | checking out the catawba brewery here in charlotte with friends | four friends, four different flights | happy birthday to jonathan—he took the day off and we had fun at top golf and went out to lunch. | happy birthday to jonathan! | donut cake | back to asheville—i met my parents in asheville for a night. | we explored the sierra nevada brewery. | jim and patty | watching the bottling process was pretty cool (better in video). | kellerweiss—my favorite | the next day we met jonathan, ella, and jack at the biltmore (olive stayed at a doggie day care right outside the biltmore). | it was all decked out for christmas. | this was the kids’ first time at the biltmore. | i coudn’t tell you how many christmas trees filled the biltmore—a lot. | the mural on the study’s ceiling | we found the thomas edison bulb on the tree. | it was a beautiful sunny day, not too chilly. | my sweetie and me, in the greenhouse | ella and papa, walking the gardens | one last look at the beautiful biltmore house | wine tasting at the biltmore winery | the biltmore gatehouse all lit up—goodbye to biltmore before we head home for thanksgiving the next day | ella ran the turkey trot 4-miler on thanksgiving day and came in third in her age group. | ella’s ode to bob ross | jack took me on a date to his cotillion dance. | what a gentleman | jack and friend koen

Soccer Player

I rarely take my big camera to Jack’s soccer games anymore—and by rarely I mean never.  Playing club soccer, he has so so many soccer games each year (at least 20 to 25 a year) and this is, I think, his 5th year of club soccer.  So, maybe I take watching him play for granted a little bit.  Jack has developed into a very talented soccer player, especially on defense (just like his mama—but he’s much more technically skilled than I ever was).  Jack’s just a great athlete in general.  So, I do love watching him play—I just don’t get my camera out during his games.  It was a nice surprise, however, when a friend’s mom emailed me a few shots of Jack she had taken at a recent game when her son had subbed for Jack’s team.  Thanks, Chaeli!  I love having pictures of my soccer-playing boy!