Anniversary weekend in Charleston

Charleston was the perfect place for us to celebrate our 5 year anniversary weekend.  We started the weekend off with some antique shopping on King street and walking along the Battery and Rainbow Row.
I will have to say my husband is the best sport about shopping.  He quietly strolls around the store and lets me do my thing....how lucky am I?

We stayed at the Vendue Inn, which I would highly recommend if anyone is planning a trip to Charleston.  It was very quaint, wonderful service/staff, lots of amenities and affordable!  While staying there we got breakfast, happy hour wine and cheese in the formal dinning area, cookies and milk at night, and free use of bikes.  We took full advantage of it all.

For dinner the first night we went to Amen Street Raw Bar.  We then went to the water way and Ryan enjoyed a cigar while I enjoyed the cool breeze (it was really hot during the days).

On Saturday we woke up early and headed to Folly Beach.  We were not really impressed with the beach, but managed to relax for a few hours and soak up some rays.  For lunch we had my favorite meal on the trip...Taco Boy tacos.  If you are anywhere near Folly Beach you MUST go here.

Our last day we used the bikes at Vendue Inn and spent a few hours biking around.  We mostly went up and down the fancy streets off the beaten path, admiring the gorgeous houses.  My favorite part was all the large front porches.  I could just picture us hanging out drinking sweet tea if we had a front porch like that!

This was a great way to relax and recharge while spending some quality time together celebrating the last five years:)

5 years

Today is our 5 year wedding anniversary...

These last 5 years have flown by, but it feels so long ago at the same time.   I am so lucky to have married my best friend, my soul mate and the love of my life.  We have been through ALOT over the past 5 years: buying our first home, renovations, adopting our first puppy, Ryan getting into dental school, weddings, holidays, birthdays, football games and lots of traveling. 

And many other celebrations and events in our lives...

I never in a million years thought marriage would be like this.  Ryan, you are the one person I can always count on to be there for me and to love me endlessly.  I can't wait to see what this next year brings us....lots of fun and new adventures I'm sure. I love you...Cheers to five wonderful years.

30th Celebration at the River

Happy 30th Birthday to this guy....

John and Caroline invited friends and family to their family River House in Bath, NC this past weekend to celebrate his 30th Birthday. 

We had good food, good music, and good company....can't beat that.

 I got to spend the entire weekend with these girls....

We have all have kept in touch over the years and my four roommates in college (Jennifer, Caroline, Page and Virgina) stayed at John and Caroline's new house in Bethel, NC.  One of my favorite moments the whole weekend was Saturday night when we stayed up late in Caroline's nursery talking about the old days.  I feel so blessed to have such wonderful girl friends.

Caroline and Jennifer looked so sweet taking their joint bump pictures:)  Caroline- 31 weeks, Jennifer- 13 weeks.  Can't wait until these babies are here and I can spoil them!!

Most of the day was spent floating on rafts in the water catching up. (I love how you can see John howling with the dog on the raft in the back ground!) 

Overall we had such a fun and relaxing weekend.  The bar is now set high for 30th Birthday celebrations!!!!  Who is next?????

4th of July

We are back from Sunset Beach, and as always we had a great time.  It was a packed house this year, but we wouldn't have it any other way:)  We celebrated July 4th with most of our yearly traditions: festive attire, dancing, beach parade, watching fireworks from the crows nest and a cookout.

I made a Red, White, and Blue trifle that was yummy.  Stefanie and Katie wanted in on the 4th dessert action so they turned graham crackers into American Flag cookies:)
We also soaked in as much fun in the sun while we were on vacation (maybe a little too much- we both got a little burnt). We enjoyed playing beach games, watching Stef and Katie dance and tumble, riding waves, reading, and catching up.

Here is the whole gang (the girls gave some of us nicknames a few years ago that have stuck:)
Pop, BeccaBoo, Katie, George, Lillian, Stefanie, Ryan-The Original, Seantini, Baby Ryan, Andy, and Lulu.

Rachel, Rebecca and I also took the loonngg walk to the Kindred Spirit (a mail box on the beach where you write letters and they publish them).  This has become a special part of the week for us...plus one of the only times it is just the three of us.

At night we either play homemade charades or putt putt.  This year guys finally broke their losing streak against the girls and were victorious in charades...(Ryan wrote the last sentence and we are currently arguing because the girls ALWAYS win).

and guess who won putt putt....

I of course couldn't get enough of this little guy.

The last night we were there we went to Dockside for dinner.  We have been going to this restaurant and taking the same pictures for over 15 years now.  I really wish I could find the original one and show yall the comparison....hilarious.

Look forward to doing it all over again next year!!!

A Long Tradition

I'm so excited!!!!!!!!YIPPEEE!!!!!!

We are on our way to....

(That spells SUNSET...in case you couldn't tell).  Thats right we are off tomorrow morning to Sunset Beach.  This is one of our absolute favorite times of the year.  I have been going with the Lippard family for over 15 years now.  We have grown from our original 4 (George and the triplets-me, Rachel and Rebecca) to 11 this year:)  Hope you all have a fun filled 4th of July!