Hello Charlotte!

Roadtrippin' with a just-turned-2-year-old...who knew that it could be so glorious? Of course, if this is how the journey begins, it will likely turn out great! And as a sidebar, for those of you that know me well, for a while along the drive, there were butterflies all over the place in the median. Thanks God. That was really sweet of you...

I am usually content to make coffee at home, but our coffee maker has been on the fritz for months now, picking and choosing the mornings that it wants to bless us or torture us with a caffeine-free morning. Obvs, this morning the Cuisinart went with a curse...So, for almost $3, this cup of coffee with a shot of dark cherry syrup ensured a wide awake journey north for the bug and I. Don't worry, I was not looking through the viewfinder to take this picture.... :)

While in Charlotte, Selah and I bounced around alot. We are used to a lack of structure in our daily lives, so why change it up when we go on vacay? A little time with the Thobes....Melissa is one of my favorite people ever. It was so fun to see her as a Mommy of 2!

Look at the eyes on this little man:

And the cheeks on this little lady:

Next stop, Lake Norman with Aunt Bobby and The Knapps on a pontoon boat!

Selah is driving it up:

Aunt Bobby being her perty self:

The life jacket and/or water were not humungous hits with Selah, but she sure did look cute while giving them a try. Maybe you'll like it better next time buttercup....

We spent a little time on the rocky shore:

Some of us searched for "wishing rocks:"

Never underestimate the usefulness of a noodle for a grown-up:

Then, we ventured to South Park to visit with the ever darling and fashionable Kari and her sweet girls:

I mean, seriously. How cute can one kid be?

After a little lesson (or seventeen) in sharing, these little lovely ladies became good friends! We are sorry for hurting your feelings Syd! Thanks for sharing your stuff with us! :)

We even had some time to fit in a soccer game and practice or two. There is something about the cuteness of a kid in a sports uniform....

Got in a fun shot of Piper and Aunt Bobby at the park:

Again, cuteness. What's even cuter is that Selah calls her "Hyper" on accident every time.

Look at this sweet guy:

Ryan has recently found this fun little spot in Cornelius that is a newly-opened Buckeyes bar. Because of state law (they don't serve food, only booze...) you have to be a "member" to enter. We even signed a guest book....Thank you Ryan for sharing your elite, $4/year status with us all. :) Of course, the bar was named Woody's.

And look who came to join us! It's Jed...one of my favorite co-workers of all time. Jed Peterson everybody...Just look at that grin....Jed wins the award for the second most hammered person at our wedding 5 years ago. (His beautiful wife Mary is pictured above. She wore pink. She is not from Ohio, but we love her anyways... :) ).

Adorable alert: Griffin kept telling everyone who would listen that Selah was his cousin and was using it as collateral to become even cooler than he already is. This is what I saw one time when I went to check on them in the playroom. He is holding her like a daddy would! Awww.

Love me some Knapp party of 5:

Six, if you count the four-legged baby. (I believe this is just before Sawyer literally scared the crap out of himself by getting stuck in the dishwasher and dragging the full drawer out crashing on to the floor...oh my. I roll on the floor laughing still. Sorry, Amy.....

Water tables are fun!

And wet!

Carter and Daddy chillin' like villians...

Bathtime!

So.......What could be better than a "Member's Only" Buckeyes club, a 5 day getaway to one of the best cities I know, seeing beloved friends and walking down memory lane one might ask?

Brace yourself.

It's Mr. Knapp in a pimp costume ladies and gentleman...

In a word.

As clarification, I do not support pimps. Actually, I believe that pimps are disgraceful. But that's another convo. A conservative, corporate American man in a pimp suit, however, is just funny to me. Faux velour, plastic gold and all...

Thanks for such a good visit! We love you Charlotte! And the peeps and places of Charlotte! Muah! Muah!