Happy, happy Lake Jocassee

Last year we ventured all the way out to California without Wren [sorry, bird, but you won't remember] for our vacation and this year, in contrast, we kept it real close to home. ~1 hour away from home. 

Lake Jocassee has always been one of our most favorite spots and with Wren and Sully in tow this time we camped out for a week at the lake at Devil's Fork. While camping with a toddler [and a big dog that loves to swim and stay right in the middle of the action] is a bit of extra work, we thoroughly enjoyed a week to ourselves hosting family and friends to summer fun, boat rides, waterfall tours, rock walls, sandbars, scenery, cold snacks, smores and lots of swimming.

We have the tan lines and new memories to prove it (: 

Hard to keep up...

Wren Mikaela, you are 20 whole months old and that doesn't even make sense to me when I say it out loud. With another birthday approaching (seriously, 4 months may as well be 2 weeks in toddler stage world) I just find myself trying to remember what life was even like before I counted everything in the context of days gone by with you. It is funny to think that we just celebrated Mother's Day together, all wrapped up with the notion that you will one day be genuinely thankful to me for my role in giving you life. But truly, you have been a source of life yourself, my sweet girl. 

The kind of life that stretches you to your limit, offers you clarity and a new perspective, a healthy respect for the utter lack of control but need for fervent prayer and hope over the future. The kind of life that makes you really do the work to make yourself better and pause to soak up all the moments that may seem small, but that you know hold the potential to be big ones as they pass into memories. The kind of life that melts your heart over and over again. 

Daddy and I laugh when our day-to-day life teeters from Hallmark vibes to that of a birth control ad, but we always, always settle on an immense shared love, joy and gratefulness over you and our blessing of being a family to each other. You are beautiful, joyful, excitable, funny, spunky, passionate, tough, inquisitive, smart, emotional, sweet [well, mostly sweet], adventurous, outdoorsy and oh so communicative (talking, singing and affection) and we enjoy every bit of learning who you are and sharing our lives with you. 

Thankful that you are ours and we are His and that we get to live this life with you. We love you, little bird!

Birthday at Hazel Creek

 

Brown town. I knew as soon as I saw it and sure enough (: 

We celebrated Michael's birthday with a fly fishing trip to Hazel Creek in the Smokies. Honestly, he's had this fishing hole on his list forever and we just finally made it happen...around his birthday. 

Per usual, Wren got spoiled and loved on by family in Walhalla all the while Michael, Chris and I trekked 2.5 hours by car, 7 miles and 25 minutes by pontoon across Lake Fontana and 5 miles on foot to our backcountry campsite, Sugar Fork alongside the famed Hazel Creek. We went with dreams of nonstop tight lines and grand slams and we ended up with such fond memories, a killer campsite scoped out for an annual return [boys] trip! None of us were skunked [even caught all of mine on dry flies!] and the rainbows had rosey red cheeks, the browns were buttery. And native > stockers any day of the week. 

Sweet Bink, can you have a birthday every month?!  Love you and all the things you love and how you let me in on those things too. 

Family time [lately]

Special family moments lately have included impromptu dance parties with Uncle Zach and Uncle Stu featuring rappers we don't know however they do try to keep us current. Ha - #nearly30! We love hanging with our favorite little bros and dance parties around here! 

And Wren also got to meet her great-grandaunt, Marian and cousin, Laura this month. I just looked up the correct terminology for the genealogy and although I'm from the camp that typically says great aunt, 'grandaunt' I can remember because Marian is certainly grand. Many of us from my dad's side of the family gathered at my aunt Kack's house to visit while they were in town visiting from Missouri. It was a special time to catch up and reconnect - the kind of time that just makes your heart swell. 

And if you're Wren it's just the right chunk of time to learn how to climb up in an adirondack chair by yourself, get Uncle Tyson to help you catch a lizard to pet, cuddle up on all the grands, have a no-nap meltdown and learn how to ride down Wilder's roller coaster. 

We are so grateful for such special families.

Be our...

Maybe after our nap would be a better time to ask, but we wanted to be first in line. Daddy, will you be our Valentine? In our best moments (not pictured) we can be nice and share. 

P.s. Thank you for my new-to-me church pew. I really love it even with a cranky little bird on top! 

- Your girls