Good Times in the Bull City

This week, we made a trip down to Durham, NC to see Laura and Tony, my great friends from my Richmond days. K and I got to meet up with Eva and Sadie for lunch in Richmond on the way to the Bull City, named for a famous tobacco company mascot.  It was Kelvin's first time in North Carolina.

We enjoyed dinner in the old Tobacco district.

Laura took us to the lovely Sarah Duke (botanical) Gardens by Duke University.

I was lovin' being in a tank top and shorts and enjoying some true summer weather!

 

Duke University Chapel

Our friend Stephanie, who went to UCLA with Kelvin, made the trip out from Boone (in western NC) to spend an afternoon with us, which was a treat!

Everyone enjoyed the swingset in Laura and Tony's backyard ....

(Abbie)

funny face

double swinger

 ... kids and adults alike!

Rock wall!!

Because the kids didn't get enough climbing in.... 

Jason and Abbie ride horsey

Our last meal was a delicious breakfast of donuts at a local place in downtown.

 

(I will say that I felt less guilty about the donuts because Tony had taken me to an early morning workout at his studio gym where I pretty well got my butt kicked by the trainer :)).

What a great time we had visiting!!! Let's hope our next reunion is sooner than three years from now!

Our Miss America

 

I think I mentioned it before, but I am proud to say again that my lovely cousin, Jacky, was crowned this year's Miss North Dakota.  As a result, my whole immediate family watched the Miss America pageant last night, which was definitely an experience! While Jacky did not win the title (which went to Miss NY), she was awarded the prestigious Miss Congeniality award by her voting peers and was the one "judges' save" candidate who made it to the top 16 (we were all cheering like crazy for her!) which you can read about here.  She is not only gorgeous, but smart, beautiful and kind.

Secretly, I'm glad she didn't take the crown so we get a chance to see our real, live blood relative at my sister's wedding next weekend instead of her being tied up in regal activities :)

Here are some photos, mostly stolen from her FB page :)

 

my cousins, Jacky and Natalie

So proud of you, girl!!!

Catching up & Cupcakes

 

We are out in Virginia for an east-coast vacation which happens about once per year.  On Saturday, Yvonne, one of Kelvin's HS/college friends, and her fiance Irvin drove down from Philly to hang out with us.   

On Yvonne's must-do list was to hit Georgetown Cupcake, so we headed to the Bethesda location thinking the traffic and lines would be better than going into D.C. proper (which was a good move!).  Now living "rural," we have very little patience or tolerance for waiting in lines.

Some of the featured flavors included Peanut butter fudge, Coconut, and Cookies 'n Creme.

I have to say that I'm not, in general, a huge cupcake or cake can (the frosting is, by far, the best part for me!). I haven't eaten that many cupcakes in my lifetime. However, I must say that the salted caramel cupcake that K and I shared was perhaps the best cupcake I'd ever eaten-- moist and very sweet. I hope I don't get gestational diabetes now :).

We had to come home with a dozen to be shared.

On Sunday, we met up with some of my HS/band buddies at Rocky Run Park in Arlington for some donuts/snacks and drinks. It was great to get some tips from the new moms (Jordan with Isla) and Lauren (with Ellie, 2, and newest addition, Will).

Getting practice for January (or, with hope, December) :)