The Fountain of Life

We found it. The fountain of life resides in our fair city Asheville, NC.

It is called: Splashville.

You can't take your kids there all the time or it will lose the magic. But on a beautiful weekend, when friends are here and the Asheville Arts Council is throwing a fun event in downtown, it really shows off how amazing our city is.

Also, it wears the kids out beyond belief.

Anyone who tells you that this fountain and park wasn't worth every single penny is crazy.

This park is the showcase of our city and we passionately love it.

LOVE IT. Behold the beauty.

Lucy was working hard at giving herself a low-budget enema. Awesome.

These two will definitely be trouble at a later date.

So much sass in such little pants.

We are so not ready for summer to be over.

May Tea Party

Our Amy Noll finished her Sophomore year in college this week! Amy is a big fan of tea. Lucy loves being a princess. What better way to celebrate than to go to a fancy Tea Room and have High Tea together, just the girls?

I mentioned it to Lucy in the car and Asher fell apart at the idea that he was not going to get to go to drink tea and have cakes and be fancy. He really doesn't want to do any of that. He just wants cake.

So, I came up with the quick idea that we would have an impromptu tea party to get Lucy ready for the next day AND let Asher have a little cake. Voila!

Yes Shellie, your son time-traveled here and was sitting at the table with Lucy.

Yes, those are Backyardigan Cupcakes. Perfect for a Tea Party.

Check out the Half-Windsor that I tied on Asher's little tie. I felt very accomplished.

A lady must wear pearls at tea.

Daddy came home early from work to participate in the tea party.

I am so glad he did not miss this.

Check out the little miss with her pinky out, ring on the finger and all her jewelry. She was very "fancy".

We picked flowers from the yard.

We used a little hand-blown glass pitcher that my grandmother gave to me.

IKEA tea-party sets are amazing. AMAZING.

They have the best colors, come with little spoons, forks and knives and are adorable.

We've broken about half the set so we have to buy another one.

Good thing they're about $15.

Then came the real deal. Chelseas's Tea Room in Biltmore Village.

We got really dressed up. Not pretend dressed up.

Yay for Amy finishing the semester!

Typical.

Lucy didn't really want to drink tea. Lemonade was more her style.

But the teacup was as big as her face. We had to keep telling her TWO HANDS!

I swear, she was going to drop that china teacup and it was going to be tears and snot.

But she never did.

Thank GOODNESS.

Look at the joy on her face!

I can fully recommend the food. Yum-ola.

Winter, What Wrath You Hath Wrought

This is about the only good thing to come of the cold. Adorable child looking even more adorable.

I admit it.

I moved to the South to escape feeling cold all the time.

I was cold ALL the time in high school.

And warm, sunny HOT freaking HOT Columbia, South Carolina was right up my alley.

The temperature in the last couple of weeks has bugged me.

I am cranky.

I don't have time or energy to get into it all here, but this week in particular has been especially cranky.

But this sign, from when we went to the swamp over Christmas for a hike-reminded me of the sweet times that are to come in a few weeks (hopefully). Oh just think of when we can just go outside and get all bit to 'you-know-where' and LIKE IT.

I would rather like to feel a mosquito war zone as opposed to the personality war zone that has been in my little neck of the woods. But spring will be here soon and I will be lamenting that rainy cruddy muddy weather perhaps? Or will everything feel fresh, new and full of hope? Gosh I hope so.

Shindig

During the summer in Asheville, the city puts on a weekly concert series of bluegrass and traditional clogging in downtown called "Shindig on the Green."

It is really fun and family friendly, particularly while downtown is under massive renovations and has been for the last three years. They have relocated to a baseball field and your kids can't GO ANYWHERE.

But it is really fun and relaxing to listen to the music, eat dinner and visit with friends while your kids can run around freely and dance.
It is a great reminder that Asheville is the perfect size city...where you can still trust people and your kids to have "small town" events but all the conveniences of a bigger city.

It was a great night-and the fact that we were out was definitely proof that our kitchen was nearing completion!

Lucy and Bennett were stealing a moment together over candy necklaces.

that's my girl. all sass.

my two men.

The Knauer's!

If Lucy and Bennett do end up marrying each other, there will be enough attitude
to power a city.

Aww. Newlyweds Andrew and Suze joined us!