Where it all began

I have been MIA, it is still the battery issue. It has gotten so bad that I haven't uploaded pictures in a month. And there are 370. The battery will probably die before they all upload. Love it! It is now a debate as to whether to buy a new battery and portable hard drive or a new desktop.

I have a lot to catch up on, but I will start with the surprise trip to where all this started. At the end of September, managed to surprise everyone with a long weekend to show Preston where we were married. He had been asking us a lot about what it was like, who was there, etc. So I made plans and secretly packed us up! I even managed to get in touch with our wedding photographer to take some pictures for us, look for your Christmas card!

Our dune

Brandon was definitely surprised when we picked him up at work 10 minutes after he got there. Being totally honest, he wasn't excited and didn't say much for the first 30 minutes, then he figured out where we were going and got on board. The kids were angels on the ride down and we only stopped 3 times!

As soon as we got settled we went straight down to the beach and showed Preston the dune that we got married in front of. I was halfway expecting the dune to be gone because there have been so many hurricanes in the past five years. Everything was exactly the same, so beautiful. The water was so warm and felt like bath water, even at the end of September!

We lucked out and had a beautiful day on the beach. The weather was great, but there was a really strong wind. I managed to get some sun. We took Preston on the shortest/longest walk on the beach ever. He could spend hours just digging holes and burying shells. Grant was an angel and took a nap in our little umbrella tent.

We spent the weekend visiting places that we used to always visit. Our college student waiter at Cap'n Bill must have graduated and have a real job. Preston was amazed with the volleyball courts at a restaurant, and the fried pickles were still really good. We told Preston the story about driving down three days before the wedding on Brandon's birthday, and how we used to always go eat there when the Hokies where playing and we couldn't watch the games at Aunt B's house.

My lottery house

We took Preston downtown and I started my "let's move" campaign. Wilmington has such a community atmosphere, and I would pick up and go the second Brandon agreed. We just missed the farmer's market, but we did catch a horse tour ride through the downtown. I love the history that town boasts. The estate houses that over look the Cape Fear river are amazing, and if we ever win the lottery, one of them has my name on it!

The weekend went by too quickly and hopefully we won't wait another five years to get back there. It feels like home and hopefully one day it will be! Even if we only have a part-time home there!


I have always loved this "half house," and leaving always brings tears.