an amazing week

Warning: Lots and lots of pictures!

One of my besties Kim visited us the last week.  We had the BEST time! I think we literally ate our way through the South. I mean we are talking fried green tomatoes, hush puppies, collard greens, Cheerwine, fried okra, black eyed peas, carolina bbq, fried fresh seafood, mac and cheese, banana pudding and the list could go on and on.

She arrived late Wednesday night. We spent Thursday shopping and catching up. Thursday night Quinn and I celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary with a fun dinner with Kim and Asher at Lucky 32

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Friday Kim, Asher and I went to the Farmer's Market and  had a delicious lunch and shopped and admired all the amazing food at the Farmer's Market.

Did I mention Asher loves hushpuppies?

We also visited the Temple and then  rewarded ourselves with a New Orleans style snoball...think shaved ice with a huge scoop of homemade ice cream in the middle.

Saturday morning we woke up early and Kim, Asher and I headed  out for Charleston, SC. I have to go on record right now and say if you ever have an opportunity to visit this place you  MUST go...I'm talking run don't walk. It was so beautiful and amazing.

Right when you cross the border from North to South Carolina is this placed call South of the Border. It is a sight to be seen.

Let's just say it is like being in Tijuana.

We arrived in Charleston where Kim's sister Melanie and her fiance Ben were our hosts! After resting and a quick lunch we headed to Magnolia Gardens and Plantation. This place was so gorgeous. I have about  a hundred pictures but that would take way too long to upload. 

We toured the main gardens, the house and the swamp gardens which were like nothing I've ever seen before.

My computer is starting to freak out so I'll have to post the rest later tonight. Stay tuned....

visitors

Quinn's parents came down this weekend for a fun visit. They arrived Friday evening with Asher patiently waiting for them. We chatted and had dinner. It didn't take long for Asher to warm up. Later that evening I got to open an early birthday gift. Asher helped me of course.

I got some beautiful serving dishes.

Saturday morning we woke up and went strawberry picking at a nearby farm. I thought it would take forever but in about 15 minutes we had two big buckets full of the most delicious strawberries. I put half in the freezer and need to figure out a way to use the other half.  I can't wait to go back for more later on in the season.

We stopped by an Amish furniture stand on hour way home and Grandma and Grandpa got Asher his own little chair for our front porch.

We came home so Asher could take a nap. Later that afternoon we drove around and looked at different housing developments, checked out Quinn's office and went for a walk along a lake.

Then we went and had Thai food for dinner.

Asher had his first curry and loved it!

After dinner we went out to a homemade ice cream place on this country road called Sunni Skys. Quinn and Grandpa tried their Cold Sweat.  It is made from some of the hottest known peppers and extracts. Unfortunately Asher had a bit of an accident so Grandma and I were outside with him while they tried it. But they both said it was quite an experience. They also have a flavor called Exit Wound which is 3 times hotter and you have to sign a waiver to even try.

Today we had a lazy Sunday. Although Asher did get in some good walking time with Grandpa!

Thanks for coming...we miss you already!

no phone zone

I know many people have mixed feelings about Oprah, but I watched her show about driving while on the phone and texting so I would be scared straight from doing it (talking that is...not texting...I would never ever do that). Anyway, what I took away from the show was that talking on your cell phone and driving is the equivalent of driving while being legally drunk and texting is like being twice the legal limit.
Anywho, in honor of her National No-Phone Zone Day (tomorrow April 30th) I'm doing my part to spread the word. Check it out here.

a new way to spend our saturdays

We finally gave in and became like the rest of our neighbors and are now the proud owners of our own riding lawn mower. We broke it out this morning for a slightly overdue mow.   Asher and I watched from the deck as Quinn tried it out. Here are a couple of shots of it in action.

father and son

Asher's first word is "dada." It's the only real word he says right now with meaning. He is usually in his high chair eating dinner when Quinn gets home from work and he spies him immediately at the window in the door and shouts "Dada!" and is beyond thrilled when he comes home.

Last night was Boy's Night In as I was at Activity Days at the church. When I got home, I asked Quinn if they had fun. He said they chased each other all over the house and had a great time. This morning I woke up with a wicked headache and thanks to Quinn's flexible schedule he stayed until about 10 o'clock and took care of Asher why I tried to sleep it off. I'm glad he did because I was treated to what it must have been like last night. They were both on the floor, Asher running/crawling for his life while Quinn acted like some sort of wild animal. Asher screeched, laughed and squealed with pure delight. I swear he was laughing within an inch of his life...like if he laughed one bit harder his body would just give out. I love that Asher loves his Daddy so much!

what quinn is working on

This aired last night on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Check it out.

happy wives

A friend posted this link on FB today. Check it out.

mallory + mark

Mark and Mallory were married a week ago today. It was such a beautiful day. 

Mal-pal was a gorgeous bride. They were married in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple.

Quinn and Asher waiting for the couple to make their grand entrance.

Happy and married.

They had a gorgeous reception at Le Chateau in Provo. My mom and sisters did a fabulous job putting the whole thing together.

The candy buffet

The guest book table

The atrium featuring the many poms that we poufed the night before.

The ancestor table featuring pics of the couple, parents, grandparents, and great grandparents.

left to right: Mark's mom and grandmother's wedding dress (they wore the same one), my grandma's dress, my mom's wedding dress

The cake made by my amazing Aunt Candy, Stacey and Sydnee.

Asher and I chillin

Quinn and I having fun on the dance floor.

Jo and Asher having fun walking around the venue.

Sadie getting down on the dance floor.

All in all it was a fantastic day. Congratulations Mark and Mallory! We love you guys and are so happy for you!

allergic

We have been in Utah since Thursday night for my sister Mallory's wedding...a separate post on that to follow...right before we left Asher had his one year well check where the Dr. told me he had a little ear infection. Asher was put on amoxicillin. Fast forward a week. Asher started having a fever on Monday night...two days later he got a rash...Today the rash was pretty hideous so I finally took him to Instacare. Turns out the little guy is most likely allergic to penicillin. Luckily the rash doesn't seem to be bothering him that bad. The doctor also thinks the fever is separate from the rash. Anyway, through it all Asher is still just as happy as ever (thank goodness!).

asher's first birthday

We had the best weekend. Friday night after work we drove up to Virginia to celebrate Asher's first birthday. Asher had so much fun.

Here he is bright and early on his birthday morn.

We decided to get his very first haircut on his birthday. Just in time too. 4 people in the last two weeks had called him a girl.

Those are the before shots.

His first sucker helped him stay still (for the most part).

The after picture.

Daddy and the birthday boy.

His cake survived the journey up from North Carolina. Also, it was my first attempt with fondant and I think it turned out ok for a complete novice. Thanks to the cake master my Aunt Candy who consulted!

Mom and the birthday boy.

Getting ready to blow out the candles.

Not quite sure what to do...

He figured it out.

He received many great presents from everyone!

Asher and Chloe had a great time playing together. Chloe showed him the ropes including the fun that is Grandma's spice cabinet.

After Asher's party we celebrated Cara and Quinn's birthday. I don't have any pictures of that because my camera died, but Cara captured it perfectly on her blog. Check it out here.

Thank you everyone for helping make Asher's first birthday so special!