Tour de Carolinas

Well, we're back from our Tour de Carolinas and while it may take us a full two weeks to recover/unpack/rest/get back on schedule, it was such a good trip seeing lots of family and friends!  So here is a pic overload to document our week, ending in a snapshot of our 5-month-old (!!) E!

Before we left for our trip, Bammy came into town to spend some QT with my littles, and also help us with the first leg of our trek!

On your mark, get set, go!

We headed to Columbia on Sunday and the kids were happy to have some alone time with their Digby!

Soon we were joined by ALL of the cousins on my side... 7 total... with #8 set to make his debut in August!

The oldest and youngest cousins <3

Pre-bedtime snuggles with my Addy-girl:

Feet... nom nom nom...

Buds:

The two youngest cousins (Skylar is CRAWLING!):

It was such a treat to be able to hang out with 4 of my five sisters (we missed you Mariah!):

And my two kiddos were doing so well to kick off our week of traveling!

Before we knew it, it was time to load up the car and head to Winston-Salem/Kernersville, NC, to stay with my best friend Lindsey (aka Aunt Yinds):

Bathies with OG!

Twins:

Good Lord I miss this girl.

<3

We had an awesome girls' night in at Lindsey's house with some of my faves!

And then on Thursday we met lots of old friends for lunch:

And one of my old colleagues even had some Easter fun prepared for the kids!

We walked, shopped, ate a lot, drank even more, laughed, talked, stayed up way too late, and I cried when I drove away...

Then we were off on the last leg of our trip, where we would head to Grammy and PaPa's house and be reunited with T (who had been in Texas all week for work).  CUE THE CELEBRATION!  Acting like a single mama is no joke... acting like a single mama traveling solo with two kiddos is even more insane.  The kids had been great, but y'all, I was tired.

So anyway, we kicked off our time in Burlington, NC, with an Easter egg "hunt" at the city park.  You guys... they blew the horn and all the eggs were scooped up in about 15 seconds.  It was crazy.  Our girl, though, happened to scoop up quite a prize egg - it had a 2015 pass for the city park for an entire family!  Which meant we could ride ALL the rides as much as we wanted, for free.  So awesome!

But first, a picture with the Easter bunny.  Who she LOVED, after being terrified of the characters in Disney World.  Go figure.

Then it was time to ride the train, the merry-go-round, and the tractor ride!

We finished our Saturday by dyeing eggs, hunting eggs, eating some good ol' eastern NC barbecue  and soaking in time with Grammy and PaPa.

And then it was Easter morning!  Y'all, my heart was SO full being able to fill two Easter baskets this year.

New shades, thanks to the Easter bunny.

All dressed up in our Goat and Lulu, of course!

And while we were celebrating Jesus, this little butterball turned 5 months old!

It was a whirlwind week, but it was perfect.  Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who helped make our trip so special!

He is Risen Indeed!

This morning, during church, my most favorite church service of the entire year... I listened to my incredible father-in-law preach about the Resurrection, and as we sang my most favorite hymn, "Christ the Lord is Risen Today!" - I got chills and and I looked up at my hub with tears in my eyes.

This life - all of our blessings - all because of Him.

Happy Easter from the Peeles!

5 on Friday

O N E
Ugh, ear infections.  I posted a couple months ago about CK having some ear trouble again (she had tubes put in at 13 months).  Well, we've been battling an ear infection for three weeks now, and it just won't hit the road.  So today we were back at the ENT, where they did a full ear exam, hearing/pressure tests, and even took an x-ray of her noggin'.  Survey says:  a second round of tubes along with removing adenoids may be in her near future.  We go back in a month for one final exam and to make a decision.  I know in the grand scheme of kiddo-sicknesses this is pretty mild, but the thought of putting my girl under anesthesia again makes me want to throw up.  So, any good thoughts/prayers/vibes that things look all clear when we go back in April would be appreciated!

T W O
I signed up to run my first post-baby race!  It's just a 10k (the Peachtree 10k in Atlanta), but I'm a little nervous because my pelvis still feels kinda broken when I run.  And right now I'm doing pretty good about running most days, but only about 3 miles.  Since I usually run with either the Bob/Double Bob, I'm hoping that while it's only 3 miles, it'll help me prepare for 6-miles sans jogging stroller.  Also, I'll be running with my sister-in-law, who is pretty much a fitness rockstar.  Take it easy on me, Beth!

T H R E E
Speaking of running, I have what I think is an awful case of runner's knee.  I wear a patella band when I run, and have been trying to do some strength exercises via Jillian Michaels on my off days.  But I can hardly go up and down the stairs, it hurts so bad.  Any suggestions?  Suggestions that don't involve "stop running"?  Because y'all know I need to run like I need to breathe.

F O U R
CK is on this kick where she is obsessed with drawing pictures, putting them in "enbelopes," and sending people "post" (thanks Peppa Pig).  Everyday she wants more paper and crayons and stickers and enbelopes, and she's very adamant about making me put a stamp on it and taking the "post" to the mailbox.  We recently sent a letter in the mail to her best friend Allie from preschool because she's been sick with the flu, and also a picture to her daddy at work.  I think it's such an adorable phase, and I'm so proud of her giving, kind, caring heart.  But I'm gonna have to start including a place for stamps in our monthly budget!

F I V E
Well, I won't be back around these parts for awhile because on Sunday, I'm loading up both kids and heading out of town for a week!  T is headed to Dallas on Saturday for a work conference, so I'm braving a trip solo.  (And all you crazies out there, someone will be at the house to help care for our dog, so don't get any ideas.)  First stop is Bammy and Digby's house, where we even have a little Monday rendezvous scheduled with all the cousins!  Then Tuesday our week o' travels continues as we head to NC to stay with my best friend and her sweet little family for a couple days.  Hopefully I'll get to see as many of my NC friends as possible!  And the last stop on our tour de Carolinas is my in-laws' house for Easter weekend, where T will finally join us!  Yes, I feel a little crazy to take on all this traveling, and a little nervous about being on the road all week long with both kids and without T, but I am so excited to spend the week with so many dear family members and friends.  I'll be back post-trip with a summary of our travels, which hopefully go smoothly and safely!

Have a great weekend!!