Pinehurst

Since we were planning such an unbelievable trip (and a kidless one at that) we decided to go BIG and finish out the fun trip at Pinehurst! So Sunday we hopped in the car and drove an hour to the beautiful golf resort. (but not before making a quick pit-stop at the Carolina Inn.......a Southern Living dream....once owned by the college (UNC) now a fancy southern hotel!)

 Kelley and I lounging in the lobby

this sun courtyard was so beautiful! 

Now on to Pinehurst....and our own beautiful cottage (Kevin had a connection there so we got an awesome place to stay for the weekend)

 the sitting room

 dining room

 kitchen

 um.......our shower had EIGHT shower heads!!! pretty cool! 

 the owner of the home is an artist and made this golf club out of metal, copper, and wood

 We had to make out first stop the famous Pinehurst porch for cocktails

 We went out for a delicious dinner and home to more cocktails 

 the next day Kelley and I spent ALL DAY at the spa and the boys went golfing.....such a treat

 That night we went to dinner at this cool farm to table place called the Roost

 us with our host for the weekend WALLY

We sat in the chicken coop for dinner! 

Tuesday morning we woke up and headed to the airport....with a quick stop for some southern bbq!

It was such a special trip with two of our favorite people! We decided every two years we are picking a city and hitting up a fun sporting event......WHERE to Next?!?!?!?

hardest ticket in sports

We realized a few years ago that we had a connection to the hardest ticket to get in sports.....Duke vs UNC at Cameron Indoor!! Patrick is friends with a coworker whose dad is the AD at Duke and this year we finally asked if we could get the hook up to celebrate my SIL Kelley's 40th birthday.....and they said SURE!!!!!!!! We have been soooooo excited, and the weekend did not disappoint! 

Kevin and Patrick (twinsies) in the hotel on game day getting ready to go check out Duke's campus! 

So you would NEVER guess from the next two pictures that Duke students (who are paying an unbelievably high tuition rate) are living in squalor........

THIS is Kville......otherwise known as students home away from home for 9 weeks. They camp out for 9 weeks (day and night) in order to get tickets for ONE three hour basketball game against their biggest rivalry....CRAZY.....but we love the loyalty to their team! 

We wanted to check out the basketball arena.....and to our SHOCK, they let us waltz right onto the court!!!! It was AWESOME! 

Patrick practiced shooting a few baskets.....

We hung out on the Duke bench.....

check out that door way architecture.......this arena was unbelievably gorgeous... (even the bathrooms were brass and marble!) from the outside you can't even tell it is an arena! 

meeting Rece, one of the gameday crew

getting our own moment in the spotlight

dinner before we head to the game

WE ARE HERE.....AND WE ARE EXCITED!!!!

WE ACTUALLY GOT TICKETS....... SO PUMPED!

So these students have EARNED their name Cameron Crazies sleeping out for the entire semester to be here.....and they delivered quite a performance. They sang and danced and cheered and did arm motions in unison for the entire game!!! They are on a set of 8 row bleachers but they stand on EVERY row (even on the row where your feet go when you sit) to make 16 rows. They are so tight in there they have to stand sideways to all fit.....and the costumes and the body paint.....it makes you want to go back to college......SO FUN! 

we sat right behind the band.........and look closely......those trademark blue and white striped shirts aren't shirts at all.............IT's BODY PAINT.....they might have careers at Sports Illustrated one day :)

Our seats were so so great (although every seat in the house is fantastic being that it is so small!)

look who was at the game........Tony Romo......someone looked like a stalker in the background :)

We're on the court! AGAIN!!!!!!

a video of the Cameron Crazies in action

This was a trip of a lifetime......SO SO GREAT.....and the fun was only half over! 

busy busy

We have had a busy few weeks lately.....

I took the girls to see the Jungle Book at Aunt Laura's youth theatre

 Cooper learned to clap

 We received an awesome thank you gift in the mail........so WELL received!!!

 Aunt Paige was in town for work and we were excited to see her for a super short visit

 Laura and I took a cooking class (a belated Christmas gift)

 Laura and I made this yummy bruschetta, the class made.....

 crabcakes

 flatbread

 beef satays

 and delicious cocktails

 and Caroline got her hair cut at a fancy (my) salon for the first time

 her new short summer bob! so so cute!!!!

AND TONIGHT COOPER TOOK HIS FIRST STEPS!!!!!!