The past two weeks have been extremely busy for us. Zak started school, we took a mountain trip, threw a homecoming party, and we had a visit from my in-laws. Oh and I didn't mention a teething baby. Busy. This is Zacharys third full week back at school and things are going very well for him. The start of a new year is always hectic, but he is pushing through it and giving this year a great start!  Zak has his own class this year (plus two inclusion classes) and we are really excited to see the progress his kids make this year, I thought inclusion was rough, but having your own class is very challenging. I certainly couldn't do it. God bless our teachers! We paid Uncle Art and Aunt Kathy a visit in Black Mountain last weekend, our home away from home. Black Mountain is such a beautiful town with incredible people, if you've never visited I strongly encourage you to do so. We wanted to make it up at the end of September for a yard sale we enjoyed last year, but we aren't sure about being able to go, so hopefully we can find time in October to enjoy the fall festivities up there. Leaves changing, yard sales, apple cider, a pumpkin patch...what wonderful things. Our friend Brian took a cross country biking trip this summer and returned safely two weeks ago so we threw him a welcome home party on Labor Day. We loved having good company and good food. Days like that are some of the most precious moments we will always cherish. Brian wrote a blog during his trip and posted a ton of gorgeous pictures so go take a look at his adventures (Read his blog here). My in-laws came down and visited! They drove down Monday, Joyce dropped Richard off at the Raleigh airport and he flew home while she finished the drive. She stayed the week and we picked him up at the same airport on Thursday, he visited for the day, and they both drove home Friday morning. As always, we had a busy week. I was able to sleep in for a bit while Joyce took care of Zaylen, we "saved" Zachary money while we shopped every day, I was able to get some errands done faster, we enjoyed our favorite taco joint as well as a huge Southern thunderstorm, and we all just took in the time together. It was a very nice visit and we are looking forward to seeing them on our trip to Rhode Island in November. Also, Zaylen got his first two teeth this weekend!! He has been teething for a while now and we could feel something under those gums for a few days, but Saturday he took a nap and woke up to have two tiny teeth popping up from his lower gums. It is remarkably relieving to get those first two. He is having a time with teething and I hope the saying "it gets easier after the first one" holds true in our case. I had to take him to the doctor the other week just to make sure it was all teething instead of an infection or anything. Zaylen was running a low grade fever, pulling at his ears, had a runny nose and cough, couldn't sleep at night, woke up screaming at night, slept all day, fussed and fussed, drooled a ton, and lost his appetite some days amongst other symptoms. I was 95% sure it was all just from teething, but "moma" came out and I had to get him checked. We were both having a rough time. The first two teeth are so sweet and I am looking forward to an easier road with the rest of them.

Oh and one more thing, I finally had a girls night after over a year!! Talk about much needed. It's a group of four of us who have been friends for 11+ years, you don't find friends like that every day. We talk almost every day (Thank The Lord for group messaging) and we all see each other pretty often, but with us all living in different towns and having different things going on in our lives it's pretty hard to all get on the same schedule and get together. We were all able to go out to Winston this past weekend and enjoy dinner and a few drinks with each other to celebrate Bailees birthday that's coming up. I haven't been out since the beginning of last June. I have gone on a few dates with my husband, but I haven't been out with my girlfriends or been able to order a cocktail. Girlfriends and cocktails are extremely important necessities to a good life. I would be miserable without my girls. I feel like we are in a marriage. We have been there through the bad and the good, sickness and health, breakups, boy troubles, lowest of low points, job offers, births, marriages, college, graduations, parties, birthdays, everything. I can call any one of them any time of day or night and they are there to let me talk and give me good sound advice. I have had many a friend steer me wrong. It's easy to do when you think they are your true friend, but when you have a real true friend it's something you know in your gut and it's a person you never let go of. They aren't out for themselves, they will tell you how it is, they will be brutally honest even if it means your feelings will be hurt, and they will support you to the ends of the earth. I mean support too. I have made so many mistakes in life and some of them my girls even warned me against, but they said their peace, let me make the mistake, and then was there to wipe my tears and pick up the pieces with me. That is a true girlfriend. When you find friends like that, never ever let them go.

Okay that was it for an update. It's a rainy day here in Greensboro. It's also laundry day. Mondays are gloomy enough on their own, but add in chilly rainy weather and laundry and that makes for an almost unbearable day. We are going to make the most of it though. Zak and I had an amazing morning together, I was able to get a lot done before the little one woke up, and now Zaylen is playing while I finish writing. Come to think of it, I'm not really sure why Monday is my laundry day, I should look into changing that. But in the mean time, I hope each of you have a great Monday and an awesome week this week!! Be Blessed!

xoxo
Cursty