Just Hanging Out

We're not doing a whole lot of anything here lately, other than the norm...getting together with friends when we can, working when we have to, going to "school," coming up with new activities to keep us occupied now that the pool is closed, and waiting on babies to be born--come on Evelyn and Josie!

Olivia's new playdough kit is keeping her pretty busy.


This is Olivia this morning all ready to go to "school," or Mother's Morning Out. She was dragging her diaper bag behind her on the way out the door stating, "Livvy's purse."


A couple weeks ago, we joined Rebecca and Tallon on a trip to Hartsville to the...um...interesting little activity gym for kids in Hartsville. Don't know that we'll be going again anytime soon :)


Though the moms were a little concerned, Tallon and Olivia had a blast.


We recently had dinner at the Edwards along with the Severance family and, as usual, the girls had fun just being together--as did the Moms and Dads.


Daddys and their girls.


And then Abby and Carlisle were over for Gigglygirl time on Tuesday. I courageously took on the task of letting them play outside for a little while for a change of scenery. These girls make anything and everything so much fun. Swinging on a swing...


Sliding down the slide...together.


Watching Barney...


Can you say...


Mesmerized??

Patterson Fun

We were back in Little River for what will most likely be our last visit for the summer of 2007. It was a nice long weekend--wasn't exactly the greatest weather, but a little rain and a cool breeze can't keep beach freaks like us away from the sun, sand, and pool. The guys always take the opportunity while they're all together to enjoy some time on the links and this weekend was no exception. My brother, Brook's, game has apparently gotten much better since the last time they all played, so Jeremy is now convinced that he needs some new clubs to get up to par with the rest of the crew (forgive the pun). And we added a new feature to our weekend...the women (and my brother-in-law who's not into golf) decided to find something we could get away to do to enjoy some childless/grandchildless time. So Granna, Tracy and Eric, Jayna and I went to Le Grande Cirque--what is the Chinese equivalent of the Cirque de Soleil--and though we thought it was going to end up being a bust when we were told to arrive 45 minutes early to get our tickets and were the only people in the theater, it turned out to be a great show and we really were able to enjoy our night out on the town. And thankfully, lots of other people showed up to watch it, too.

The weekend was complete with a day at the beach, a day at the pool, catching up on the latest Hollywood gossip thanks to Jayna's PEOPLE magazine, a trip to Calabash Creamery for the best ice cream around, and lots of just laying around lazily watching the kiddos running around having fun while moms and dads and grannas and poppys relaxed, laughed, and just enjoyed being together. Though the weekend ended with me forgetting my purse at the beach house and having to turn right around after arriving in Florence to go back to get it, even that stupid mistake couldn't ruin all the fun we had! We really missed Chris and Whitney and our family pics just don't look the same without them. But enjoy the pics that we did take! I had lots of good, willing PATIENT subjects!

The newest addition, Nolan Charles Patterson.


Nolan gettin' some love from Daddy, Brook.


Olivia having some early morning fun with her cousins, Connor and Myles. Cora was still asleep!


Olivia feeling VERY important as Connor's chairmate...though they just can't seem to take their eyes off the TV even for a second.


All the cousins ready to head out to the ocean.


Oh, we'll play hard...


and I do mean hard...


but we'll sleep even harder!


Nolan catching some rays.


Granna and Cora looking beeeeutiful.


Olivia sharing some sand with her Poppy.


Olivia's hero--her cousin, Cora.


Can you guess which of us didn't want to be taking this picture?


The adults enjoying the rays...um, I mean, rain.


Like fathers, like sons.




Granna and Cora.


Dinner at Crab Catchers up on the top deck.


Our tan family...we'll see how much has stuck around come January in Florence.


This is Myles waiting to eat dinner while watching a shark be cut to pieces on the dock down below...he has quite the dislike for all things gross--especially blood.


Connor's reaction to Myles' dislike of blood.


Granna took Olivia down to listen to the live music as we were waiting for our meals to arrive. She had fun dancing along and was not too happy when our food came and Granna had to drag her back upstairs. She kept asking for "more music, another song."


Taking her cue from the rest of our hungry clan, Olivia thoroughly enjoyed the fried corn on the cob.


And Nolan just enjoyed any attention that came his way. Such a happy, happy boy!


The whole crew! Picture taken by aforementioned live musician--what a brave soul!


The young(er) Patterson family.


The Lubsen family.


The Emert family.


Poppy, Granna, and their 5 grandkids...all smiles!

Finally back to the park

It's been so stinking hot in Florence...our only outside activity lately has been trips to the pool. And it really isn't looking to cool down too much but Friday morning, we were up nice and early so we decided to make a trip to the park while it was just a little less than middle-of-the-day scalding hot. And it turned out okay. More importantly, we took some fun pics of Olivia having a blast in the sand. Not much to say about this, I just really wanted to show off Olivia.

Sugar and spice and everything nice...

Last weekend we took a quick 16-hour turnaround trip to Charlotte to visit three families who all got pregnant shortly before we moved...we went because all their daughters were born within a week of each other just about 6 weeks ago. So, we set out to meet these new beauties. And what a fun whirlwind of a day we had. Our first stop was the Abbott household where we met sweet Caroline and visit with Cameron (Jeremy's old boss), Kim, his wife and my friend, and Carley, the 2-year-old big sister. Caroline was so teeny but absolutely beautiful and we enjoyed holding her while she slept. Olivia and Carley got to each some lunch together, Mom's and Dad's caught up on all the news, and we all compared our Weight Watcher progress...way to go, Cam!! Keep up the good work.

Olivia loved baby Caroline and wanted to hold her "Hands, hands, hands," the whole time we were there. She cried when we had to put Caroline in her bassinett and is still saying "Caroline, bye, bye" a week after our visit.


The Abbott family.


Next, we ate lunch with baby Addison, the daughter of Heather and Shawn, our former Life! Group leaders. After filling up on pizza and salad at the Loop, we went back to their house, got to see all the improvements they've continued to make on their house over the last 9 months, and spent a little more time watching Addison as she peacefully slept.

Olivia was excited as well to meet Addison and very interested in pointing out all her facial features...here, we're taking notice of her beautiful eyes.


Addison sound asleep in her carseat.


Heather is proving to be a fantastic first-time mom.


Then we made our final stop at the Hockett home. Baby Grace was nursing when we first arrived so we had to wait patiently, but she was totally worth the wait. Olivia immediately went down for a nap after a crazy morning, so we got to meet Grace without Olivia trying to tackle/hug/kiss/cuddle her the entire time. And just as importantly, we got to spend some quality time with Danny and Erin, our friends from church. Then we all loaded up to do dinner at a little place I've forgotten the name of but just got more time to be together.

Lots of kisses for Grace.


Such a perfect blend of both her mommy and daddy.


Jeremy finally gets his chance to hold her.


What a beautiful family.


After all the babies were met, held, and assured of the Emert's love, we had to get back on the road to head home. It was a fun day. We were so glad that all the families configured their schedules to work with ours and that we had the pleasure to meet the babes we've been praying and waiting for! Thanks guys...now it's ya'lls turn to come to Florence...once babies are on schedule, yes, we know how that is!