Five Brown Kids

Scotia hosted a Kentucky Derby party for 10 of her swim friends.  I'm still on the hunt for more pics...  here's a few. She had so much food - pizzas, bacon wrapped sausages, chips, chicken-salad sandwiches, strawberry shortcakes for dessert and lots of fun fizzy drinks. 

One of my favorite restaurants in town hosted a " Dinner in the Pines ". It was a magical evening. The company, the weather, the food, the ambience - I loved it all. 

 Scotia went to the beach with her swim friends for the weekend.  I heard it was a great time!

I've had kids in elementary school since 2006 and that era is rapidly coming to a close.  Volunteered at Blythe's field day and survived.  Whew! 

Mark was hanging out for the weekend. We went to Blythe's soccer game, did some flower shopping at the plant nursery and a hike along the MST trail.  Sunday morning watched Scotia at a swim meet and then the State Farmer's Market with the girls.  They were on the hunt for vegetable plants to put in the back yard garden. So fun to follow them around while they carefully decided what they needed.  Mark's generosity/credit card makes it so much easier too.  Get what you need....   We planted the rest of the afternoon, another walk, homemade pizza for supper and of course strawberries and pound cake from the farmers market for dessert.  I love the family feeling when he's hanging out.  Mark and I just finished reading our fourth book together. Separate reading obviously, but same book at same time.  Finishing the day reading on the couch is a dream come true.  Gahhhh..... 

I went to my first MerleFest ! Scythian was playing and Georgia's dad was playing guitar for the Barefoot Movement so we needed to be there.  Blythe and I drove to Mark's house the night before and stayed over.  Then drove up to Wilkesboro the next morning.  We loved all the music and the vendors.  The weather was perfect.  Blythe met up with Georgia and her mom and sisters and hung out with them for the afternoon - with her very own "VPI" pass.  So fun that Mark and I both love bluegrass/folk/americana music. And chilling in lawn chairs like old folks just relaxing and listening.  A++

The kids all came home for Easter. We did breakfast at my house, lunch and Easter Egg Hunt at Dad's and then dinner back at mine.  I wasn't feeling great that day, but powered through.  The egg hunt along the river looked magical..