Our Sweet Love Story: Summer 2008 ~ Packed with Fun!

Summer of 2008 was a great time for Evan...and Mommy! She continued to stay at home with him while she searched for the right job in Charlotte. They spent a lot of time out of doors, and thankfully, Daddy's job allowed him to take time off to spend with Evan too. We enjoyed exploring the various parks and recreational areas around Charlotte and hanging out with cousins Emma and Lanny. We also continued to utilize Monkey Joe's a lot as a fun place for some cool indoor fun.

Here are some various pictures from this summer:

At the annual "Taste of Charlotte", Mommy and Daddy got to sample many delicious foods from some of Charlotte's best eateries. Evan enjoyed playing in the kids area that was set up in Uptown Charlotte!

Evan and Lanny like Emma's Barbie Jeep more than she does!

Evan's favorite napping spot. He loved to pass out on Mommy & Daddy's bed while watching one of his movies!

On one of our visits to Goldsboro, NC, Evan got to spend a fun afternoon with his cousin, Barrett Howell!

Evan was still not too sure about Barrett or his swimming pool! I think the water was a little cold!

Evan's favorite seat at Nana & Papa's house! It was just his size!

We don't know what he was doing with his finger to his lips, but it was so cute!

Playing with Nana's toys!

Pickin' blueberries with Emma and Lanny!

He loved this firetruck and the whole play area at Carolina Place Mall in Pineville, NC.

Evan is the choo choo train conductor!

Evan goes on a safari!

Mommy bought Evan this "car boat" to use in the swimming pool, and he loved it! The steering wheel helped give him something to do! It has been a big hit with all the kids in the family now!

He even likes it out of the water!

Mommy liked to race Evan around the pool like he was in a speed boat!

Playing in the pool with Daddy!

Just relaxing by the pool!

FIRST HAIR CUT

So we noticed that Evan was starting to grow a little mullet and decided it was getting to be time for that first hair cut. We took Evan to his Great-Aunt Dava's shop in Hamlet, NC to let her do the honors. Just think, Evan's daddy was in this same chair just 30 some years ago getting his first hair cut! Of course, Mommy saved that precious hair and put it in his baby book! It was amazing how similar Evan's hair looked to the hair from Daddy's first cut! :-)

Aunt Dava prepares to snip snip!

All done! Now he gets to play with Aunt Dava's toys as a reward for being so big!

MORE FUN!

Evan made this little sun visor at his first Vacation Bible School!

No, he is not pooping here! Mommy sneakily put a plastic egg down his shirt, and he was trying to get it out! So funny!

Napping in his own bed for a change. He probably fell asleep in the car so we brought him in and put him in his bed.

He loved bubbles so much that we bought him a bubble machine! Wow, did it ever make bubbles!

Evan gets a new chair and some other goodies at Grandma's house!

Mommy loves this face!

Just a cute picture of Evan sitting on the ground at the playground and looking up at Daddy!

He doesn't want Mommy to go down the slide with him anymore! *Sniff*

He still likes to go down the slide backwards!

Giving Mommy some sweet kisses!

Swinging with Mommy!

So happy in the swings!

Oh my gosh, what a cute face!

We managed to get Emma, Lanny & Evan on this dinosaur together for a picture...not an easy feat!

So cute! I wonder who let him stand on the couch WITH HIS SHOES ON!!!

We try to get lots of pictures of Evan with Mommy and Daddy!

Evan with a mohawk!

Falling asleep again on Mommy & Daddy's bed! Can anyone tell I love sleeping pictures? They just look so sweet and peaceful!

Waking up! I love the way he sucks his thumb and plays with his hair! But I do not like when he pulls his hair out!

Bedhead!

Such a cute smile!

I think I was a little scared here that he was going to try to eat me! :-)

Evan likes to drive the "flintstone" car!

Cousin Lanny rides his 4-wheeler!

Cousin Lanny comes to visit and gets a popsicle!

THE KELLEYS VISIT

In July, our VA friends, Brinn and Ayden, came to visit. Brinn was expecting her second son and was "as big as a house" even though she wasn't due until October. She always carries like a basketball and only gains in the front. Very cute pregnant lady! We planned to show her and Ayden all around Charlotte, but we also needed to keep Brinn cool. We enjoyed shopping at all our favorite stores, taking the kids to play at Monkey Joe's, and just catching up.

Brinn found these aviator sunglasses and tie at Children's Place and bought them for Ayden! Ayden let Evan wear them, and he thought he was so cool!

We took Ayden and Brinn to play at Monkey Joe's!

Evan gets more brave and wants to play in the big kid zones!

Just trying to keep up with Cousin Lanny!

Evan gets a cool, sweet treat! I think he liked it!

Brinn and I had fun dressing the boys alike while they were together!

Ayden makes a new friend, Monkey Joe himself!

But first he tried to beat him up!

Awww...now he gives him a hug!

Mommy and Evan tried to pose for a picture on this giant dinosaur, but Mommy was too heavy for something filled with air!

Cousin Emma and Ayden were about the same age and really hit it off!

Ayden gives her "the stare"! I bet his daddy taught him that move!

Now this is a cute picture!

How did I get buried under this pile? I was the only "adult" who was not pregnant so I had to be the hands-on supervision! They ganged up on me!

The snail made a better perch for a picture than the dinosaur!

Evan was Brinn's baby for the week!

Cousin Lanny looked so cute here!

We decided to go down the slide together, but about halfway down, the kids decided it wasn't a good idea!

THE MOUNTAINS

While Eddie was gone to fight another wildfire, Evan and Mommy went with Uncle Paul and cousins Emma and Lanny to the mountains for a weekend retreat. Uncle Paul had taken a job as General Counsel for the former owner and founder of Chico's Clothing Stores and his primary duties were to manage his boss' real estate acquisitions, primarily a large amount of land in Cashiers, NC, a mountain community that is popular with many Atlanta vacationers. The plans are to build a luxury cabin resort that will appeal to upscale vacationers. There are already a few cabins that are mainly used by employees to entertain clients and investors. We stayed in these cabins and let me tell you, they are very posh! It is beautiful country with many beautiful nature trails and waterfalls! The mountains are a much cooler summer spot than the beach too!

Evan cools off in a cool mountain stream!

Such a water baby!

Cousin Lanny likes the water too!

The NC mountains are so beautiful!

What a cool natural waterslide! People were actually sliding down it!

A pretty little waterfall!

EVAN'S 1ST VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

Evan got to go to his first Vacation Bible School at Papa's church in Fremont, NC. The theme was all about the farm, and he learned "the fruits of the Spirit." He loved the music, crafts, and snacks!