UNC Move In Year 2 Chaos

Well, somehow summer is over, and it's time to move Savannah into UNC again. I'm not sure how that happened so fast, but nonetheless, here we are!  This year the feelings are all different since she knows what to expect and is SUPER excited about being an RA in the same dorm, but it's still an emotional time for us all.

Savannah warned us that the elevator usually breaks for RA move-in, but I was like no way... and guess what???  The elevator broke while we were trying to move her in.  I wish I could adequately capture the chaos of move-in this year, but there just simply aren't words LOL  

Being that she has her own room, she brought LOTS more stuff, and heavier stuff too.  Fridge, microwave, huge storage shelves, etc all was piled on the elevator only for it to break, with Preston on it!  He tried to call campus police to get him out, but the number was not working, so we prayed and did a lot of running up and down to different floors to try to get the stupid elevator to just move!  Finally, it did get to her floor, but the doors wouldn't open.  It was just insane.  He lived to make it to dinner, and we somehow got everything in her room (although only a fraction of the room was really set up before we took a dinner break and then had to travel back to Charlotte)

I'm so mad that I didn't get a picture of him sitting on the elevator filled with Savannah's stuff, but he spent his time sending video updates to his friends and this is the start of one of them. :)

Here is my girl, all excited about her single room and the start of a new year!

We had dinner at Buns before leaving her with hugs and good luck for organizing.

She will eventually get all settled, I think.  I plan to head back in a couple of weeks to take things that wouldn't fit into two SUVs . . . so it will all be okay.  But one thing is for sure, none of us will soon forget the insanity of the year two move-in (even though she was literally the only person moving in the entire building!)

Annual Poats Lake Adventure

Preston was SO excited to be invited to the Poats lake house again this year.  Although the weather was crappy, he made the best of a day on the lake.  Not many people wanted to ski and tube, so he was literally in the water for hours.  (Which is probably how he ended up with swimmer's ear)  

It was so good to catch up with friends and be treated like royalty once again with way too much food and just enough fun!  We had an earlier dinner, delicious BBQ and all the fixins, and headed back to Charlotte to get ready for Savannah's UNC move-in tomorrow!

Wilmington Getaway

We FINALLY made it away for a short family vacation.  After driving to Wilmington Friday afternoon, we had dinner at a recommended local place, Poe's Tavern, and then drove to walk the beach a little before bedtime.

We were up earlyish the next morning to browse the farmer's market, and then drove to the beach for the day.  It was a gorgeous day of fun in the sun and sand.

We heard thunder late in the afternoon, so we packed things up and headed back to the condo.  As we were driving back, the rain started, which made traffic crazy, but we eventually made it back and showered to walk to dinner.  There was a small wait, so we enjoyed (okay, sweated it out) walking on the Riverfront.  One of the main reasons we picked Wilmington was that the TV series we just finished watching with the kids was filmed there.  It took us about a year and a half to watch all of One Tree Hill, but we just finished once Savannah was home for summer.  So our first tour stop was the Riverfront table that was featured in the show.

We enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Rooster and the Crow and then headed downtown to walk and see more of the filming spots.

Downtown Wilmington was super fun to walk around on Saturday.  We wrapped up the evening and then packed up on Sunday morning to leave.  We spent Sunday driving around town to see more favorite show spots and took a tour of Tric, the bar that was used in the show.

Savannah had to get a picture in front of Brooke's house!

Although it was fast, it was a nice getaway and a super fun trip to enjoy as a family!  

 

Preston's Lake Presentation (Beg)

 A kid at church invited Preston and a few friends to go boating on the lake one day this week.  Being the overprotective mom I am, it was an immediate NO!  I had no idea who this family was or who he would be hanging out with, and I mean, the lake is dangerous!!!  BUT, Preston was so determined, he did lots of research and assembled this elaborate PowerPoint presentation about why he should be able to go.  It included data about the lake and stated that a drowning had never occurred with anyone wearing a life jacket.  He also had researched the dad who would be driving and assured me he had passed his boat safety course.  So with the promise he would wear his life jacket at ALL times he was allowed to go . . . and did indeed have a blast!

A Very Low Key Independence Day

We had a super low-key July 4 as a family.  We went to the pool, grilled out, and watched a fabulous fireworks display at Food Lion.

The highlight of the day was probably when Dave found Preston's birthday gift from Uncle Mark (that we apparently received on 6/19) in our bushes!! 

 This kid is crazy . . if only I had a video of him singing God Bless America holding his sparkler!! LOL  Truly, we are thankful to get to live in the land of the free!

And He's Officially Driving Solo!

The long-awaited DMV appointment finally arrived on Friday, and this kid passed with flying colors.  Apparently the test administrator said he was an "excellent driver".  It was a VERY long morning, even with an appointment, but he is so happy to finally have his license!

His first official drive was to take Savannah to get gas and Wendy's frostys!

But then today he was off to fly a plane in Rock Hill . . . a very long, stressful 40+ minute drive on I-77 and I-485 solo!  I was a nervous wreck all day, but Dave said we had to let him try it solo at some time (since there are a lot of these trips in the future!), and Preston did great!  It helps that he has driven this route with Dave monthly for two years now, but still, I was so anxious.  I think it would have been easier to watch him skydive! LOL

 

Preston's Sweet 16!!

Preston was at Carmel Student Camp for his birthday this week, but we had this surprise yard card waiting for him when he got home today!  Where does time go!?! I have no idea how he is already 16, but he is THRILLED!

He chose Texas Roadhouse for dinner to celebrate his birthday.

 And we surprised him with an icecream cake too!

One of his gifts was a new massive soccer goal, so the boys went to work putting it together.  This kid definitely keeps me on my toes.  He continues to be super active with soccer, track, church, friends, and everything aviation related!  He has a huge heart and a lot of common sense, which is rare for a teenage boy.  He still insists on Sunday pizza dinner and loves a good dessert. . . it's insane how fit he is for as much as he eats.  So excited to see what the Lord has planned for him and am praying this coming year is filled with fun, adventure, and great memories!