A nice long weekend...that was really short!

I can't believe today is the last day of this nice long weekend that was supposed to last forever! Where did it go??? I looked forward to it for several reasons, not the least of which was being off of work. Also, 4 nights spent with Matt = big time bonus! We also were heading to Summerville for the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition (the largest event of it's kind in the U.S. with fine art, conservation exhibits, and demos for sportsmen all centered around animals). If you've never been, plan to go next year!

Matt came in Thursday night and on Friday I somehow convinced him and Finn to join me at the mall. Matt did, however, time me in Belk's and that was the only store he let me go to. BUT, I got what I needed....new jeans! Then we went and ate BBQ at a place we hadn't ever tried downtown. Of course Matt wasn't impressed. He is such a meat snob. In his defense, I have yet to try any pulled pork that is as good as his is. It's prize-winning you know.  5th place in the 2011 St. Patty-Q in Dublin, GA. Anyway, then we came home, packed, and headed to Summerville. We took my car since the Tahoe was getting its 100,000 mile tune-up. The 6 Carpenters were veeeeery cozy for the 2 hour ride.

The weather threatened to ruin our big SEWE plans for Saturday, but just like I knew it would, the sun came out and it was a beautiful day. Tiffany and Austin went with us and we had a great time! Finn went to his first petting zoo. Don't worry, we didn't actually do any petting, just looking. Petting zoos always make me feel sad for the animals though. Put yourself in their shoes....umm, hooves....how awful would that be? We also saw the dock dogs and reminisced about Myrtle's non-jump last year.  :)  We stayed downtown all day and were exhausted Saturday night. Finn had some really good "Nana lap time" and the dogs of course didn't miss out on that treat either.

Isn't Austin the cutest???

Watching Dock Dogs

On Sunday we went to visit Kelly and her new baby Maddox. Little Maddox is special kind of healing blessing for his family. Last January Kelly was full-term when her baby girl was stillborn. A tragedy in it's truest form. They will always miss that little life (I know). It sounds strange to miss someone you really never even knew, but I think what you miss is the chance to get to know them. To find out who they would have become. God didn't send Maddox to replace what was lost but to be his own little soul in this world. Hopefully he can help his parents continue to heal. He is absolutely adorable!!! Seriously, even though I am admittedly biased, look at this sweet face!

On a funny side note, Myrtle's new thing is to go into Finn's room with me at night to put him down and then she stays until he's asleep. In a few minutes I will hear her toenails clip-clopping out of his room and she comes and joins us wherever we are in the house. It is very sweet.

It was dark in Finn's room when I took this picture, that's why she has glowing alligator eyes! :) 

It was a great weekend and it has definitely left me asking "when's the next 4-day???"