And, We are Back...in Less Than 24 Hours

After our very brief trip home, Ben and I came straight back to our "other" home. After a stop at Sephora (for new foundation and I discovered the BEST FOUNDATION EVER and Stilla Stunning in Sayulita blush and eye shadows) for make up and a walk around the mall, Ben and I made our way down 17 in the pouring rain. Shortly afterwards a friend of Belinda who has become a good friend of mine, Hilda, also arrived. She and Belinda came over for dinner that evening and it was great to catch up.

Wednesday was cleaning day. That evening Belinda came back over for dinner and Glenn arrived for a long weekend. (He was also there for a business conference up in NC on Thursday.) Ben wanted to go to the pool so we did some evening swimming before going fora long walk around our neighborhood.

On Thursday Glenn went off to NC for his conference and we went back to Ocean Club for swimming and lunch with Belinda and Hilda. (I was thrilled to eat my fave beach lunch there again....blackened fish sandwich sans bread!) When Glenn got back he and I met the girls at Ruth's Chris for dinner. We also discovered a Red Box right up the street so we had picked up a couple of DVDs to watch.

After another movie on Friday morning and some shopping, we had a late lunch at Abuelo's, a Mexican place at Coastal Grand Mall. Typically, we aren't fans of "chain" Mexican, but the Diablo Cheese dip here is too good to pass up! For the remainder of our final summer beach weekend we spent lots of time at the pool, had dinner with Glenn's dad and Belinda at Prime, cleaned and headed back to Columbia for our final trip of the summer and then.....back to the real world of work.

Belinda, Hilda, Ben and me at Ocean Club

Ben loves swimming under the bridge waterfall

after dinner at Ruth's Chris

Ben trying out the Rickie Fowler look at Martin's

More Summer at the Beach

Ben and I had all of Thursday and most of Friday to ourselves before Glenn arrived from Columbia and his mom and stepdad from Hendersonville. On Friday afternoon Ben was invited to go with his friend Jared and his family to Springmaid for the day and into the late evening. While he was gone we all went to Rockefeller's for dinner and then back to the condo to hang out.

On Saturday we joined my other in laws for lunch at Ocean Club and then headed down to the new MB Boardwalk. We walked a good portion of the walk and took a ride on the new Sky Wheel. I'm not a fan of heights, but it was worth it for the view in the enclosed, airconditioned cabins. After a little stop at home we headed down to Market Commons to shop (Glenn bought me a mushroom colored, semi-military trench Samuel Dong jacket for my birthday) and dinner at Travinia's. Delicious!!!!

Our Sunday consisted of pooltime and even Belinda came over to join us. Late in the afternoon it started to rain so we all headed up to the condo for enchilada casserole. Unfortunately, we all had to leave on Monday morning.....Glenn was headed back to work, his parents back to the mountains and me and Ben to Columbia for less than 24 hours. I had a nail appointment on Monday afternoon and braces check up on Tuesday morning. As soon as it was over we made a short visit to Mrs. Matthews and then started right back down the road to the beach!!

The Wrights after lunch at Ocean Club

Sky Wheel ride

MB Boardwalk

Sunday at the pool

We Love the Beach!

After picking Ben from camp, he and I headed straight to spend (almost all of) the next two weeks at the beach. Glenn joined us for the weekend and Belinda, her nieces and one of their friends arrived on Sunday to stay until midweek. On Sunday night we all went to Rossi's for a fabulous dinner.

Monday morning Ben and I headed out to the beach for him to use his boogie board, before joining Belinda at Maisons pool for a while. After lunch he and I went to our pool and then had Belinda over for a turkey burger dinner.

On Tuesday, Belinda took all of us to Ocean Club at Grand Dunes for swimming and lunch. The girls left on Wednesday, while Belinda (and Mr. Turk in absentia) took Ben to the Polo outlet for school clothes and then we had lunch.

girls at Rossi's for dinner
beach time!!!

Ocean Club at Grand Dunes

Camp is Over

On Friday I drove back up to Cleveland, where it was raining, to pick Ben up from camp. After a brief parent meeting, we were treated to a mini worship service like the campers had experienced all week. It was good to see Ben and he was super excited to tell me all about the things he did during the week....services, friends, zip lining, swimming, creek walks, sleeping under the stars and more.....he is already looking forward to going back next year!

Off To Camp!!

As I mentioned in my previous post, we had to leave Hendersonville for Cleveland, SC to drop Ben off at Asbury Hills UMC Summer Camp. This week he will: swim, hike, climb, zip line, Bible study, worship service, concerts and so much more!! Thankfully, they have an online photo site for parents to see what they are doing. I'm hoping to see some shots of him having fun.

Ben is in the "Palmetto" cabin which he was told at check in was the best one because of its view of Table Rock. Can you tell he does not want me taking a picture of him? He was so funny, he kept telling us "bye" and hurrying us out of the cabin! I guess he is growing up!

Summer Trip to the In Laws

My inlaws made it to their Hendersonville home over the July 4th weekend (after returning from an exciting safari to Africa!) and we made plans to head to cooler temps and visit them this past weekend.

On Friday we arrived to a delicious meal of sauteed squash/zuchinni/onions, hamburgers, corn on the cob (none for me...thanks, braces) and homemade baked beans. It was soooo good. After dinner we did our gift exchanges. It started with souveniers from Africa for us (beaded tribal bracelet cuff for Ben, beaded necklace for me, and an African fly swatter for Glenn), then my birthday -- which I recieved a wonderful gift for....a NOOK (to replace the Kindle that died a while back), and then Glenn's mom's birthday presents.

Saturday we headed to the curb market for jellies, tomotoes and squash. We were also hoping for another Gamecock couch door stop to take to the beach, but she didn't have one, so we ended up with Gamecock napkins for tailgating, pink seersucker napkins for summer at home and aqua napkins for the beach. There we ran into family friends: the Kuhns and the Bonds. The Kuhns just bought a new house so we stopped there to visit and then headed to lunch at 2 Guys Pizza. After a little rest, Glenn and I laced up our shoes and drove to Jump Off Rock for some hiking. Dinner on Saturday was at a new Mexiccan restaurant Sol Y Luna.

After breakfast on Sunday we all loaded in the car and drove to Jackson Park for a two hour nature hike. Lunch at home followed and some TV/reading time before we had to leave this haven in the mountains and drive Ben down to summer camp in Cleveland, SC!

Hiking at Jump Off Rock

Jackson Park Nature Trail

wild turkeys at my in law's place

Happy Fourth of July!

Having just returned from vacation we ventured straight to church on Sunday for our new pastor Jeri Katherine's first service. She did a very good job! After church and lunch we loaded up again and headed to Scottie and Kat's house for a full day of Fourth Fun....food, friends, swimming and darts. We learned that Ben LOVES darts and makes friends around a dart board quite well!

Picture 1: Ashley's USA brownies!; Picture 2: After church; Picture 3: Yes! That is Ben in the middle of the dart players --- he's taking score and heckling in case you wonder; Picture 4: Ashley, Connie and me; Picture 5: Ben losing all of the water in the pool!

Little Sport

If you can't tell from the fact that we do an inordinate amount of sporting events, Glenn is a BIG sports guy. (ESPN is the only channel he knows! Okay, he does watch other shows, but the majority is sports related. Its a good thing I love --have grown to love in some cases --- sports, too.) Ben loves this and thinks that Glenn should spend all day, every day playing some form of sport with him. Its been great for both of them though as they have a fun time and get some excercise! On Friday Glenn left work after lunch so we could go to Target and get a baseball glove....for him (he's already given Ben his from childhood.), so he and Ben can play catch. They proceeded to spend the rest of the day doing just that.

I had found some flat basketballs in Glenn's junk room, so I offered to buy them a pump if they would use it and actually go play basketball. Glenn LOVES to shoot hoops and hasn't in years, so he was thrilled with the idea, as was Ben. And on Saturday afternoon (while we listened to the Gamecocks first win in the Supers...Omaha bound! YAY COCKS!!) we took Ben and one of his friends to a local park to play and try out the basketballs. I am proud to say that I was the first to make a basket!! :)

Ben also asked (while we were at Target) if Glenn has golf clubs and does he play. Because he has decided that he wants a set and they should go play. (I'm believing this one is his Poppie's influence!!) He has decided that he wants to try it all and see what he likes best!

And, so today he started soccer camp. In this awful, horrible heat. But, he LOVED it. (He's so worn out that he is napping instead of watching The World Cup --- which is all he has talked about.) Glenn had to pick him up for me because of summer school and got there a little early to watch from the car. He was SO excited to text me that as he pulled up --- Ben scored a goal!! Way to go, Ben!

Weekend With Ben - Part 1

I picked up Ben on Friday evening in the Vista and I was so excited to see him!! We got him settled in, had a hot dog dinner at home and spent the rest of Friday night watching Disney shows together.

On Saturday he helped me run some errands before lunch at his favorite place, Pizza Man! After lunch we rested before going to my friend Christina's new apartment and pool. Ben had a blast playing video games with her boyfriend, Dray (his name and his father's name is Damon Ray, so he is nicknamed Dray, but Ben renamed him "D-Rock"!) before we all headed to the pool. Ben is such a little fish and he had a terrific time playing in the water with Dray, Christina and another friend also named Ben. After a little while, Christina took him to the game room to play skee ball and foosball.

Ben LOVES swimming and the water!!

My little fish and his new friend "D-rock"

Playing in the game room

Christina and Ben playing foosball

One of mine and Glenn's friends graduated from USC yesterday and her mother hosted a dinner for her last night. So, Ben stayed and swam, played video games and watched TV with Christina so I could go congratulate Kat on her graduation. It was a yummy spread of food, too!! She sent Ben a piece of her awesome cake so he was thrilled.

When I got back to Christina's, they were all eating homemade ice cream! Ben and I stayed to visit for a little while and then headed back to get ready for bed!

Ben and Ben eating homemade ice cream and Kat's graduation cake!

They also just got a Harlequin Great Dane, Lexi Jane, and we got to play with her! She is such a sweetie!!

It was a busy Saturday!! Today, we went to the Zoo, so watch for that post later!