Things I Love Thursday // 7.25.13

• Our pool! We have been out to the pool every day this week with plans to go back for a couple hours tomorrow as well. Surviving summertime in Charlotte requires pool access (at least for these west-coaters, it does!)
  
• The hysterical line of greeting cards I discovered this afternoon at Green with Envy made by Frank & Funny. These are cards written by stand-up comedians and I restrained myself by only purchasing five! 
• The barre classes I've been taking (and being SORE again)
• The fact that my girls love nature, bugs, creatures, getting dirty, etcetera. In fact, P is often referred to as "Buggy Louise" and here is her little swimming pool-puckered hand holding one of her latest "finds" (a CICADA). These are the lovely insects that "sing" in choruses of thousands out here in the south, this time of year. In fact, the moment Greg got us home from the airport after our Oregon vacation, I stepped out of the car to a sticky, warm night and asked, "What is that noise??" 
  
• Grits. Specifically addicted to the Geechie Boy Mill grits that our babysitter/house-sitter just brought back for us from Edisto Island, South Carolina. I'm not sure if I especially love her or hate her for recommending that instead of cooking them in 3 cups of water, I substitute 2 cups of cream! 
• Listening to my Bachelorette CD in the car (only when the girls are NOT with me). Memories...! 
  
• The new plan I've adopted of having the girls take turns once a week to plan and cook (with my help) the dinner of their choice. It was Geneva's turn at it first this week. She made one of her favorites, Weeknight Bolognese and it was absolutely delicious. I loved watching her enjoy how much the rest of us enjoyed her cooking.
• The new Deer sweater I just nabbed at the Anniversary Sale. Now bring on Fall! (Just kidding, I'm not quite ready yet.)
• Signing the girls up for a French cooking class at Whole Foods. Who knew?? I'll be sure to let y'all know how it goes. I have high hopes.
• Finding thoughtful little surprises hidden in my note paper. :) 
  
• The fact that I took the girls to the library this week for what I thought was an arts and crafts session that turned out to be a simple "Story Time" with some music and silly dancing mixed in. The reason I ended up LOVING this outing was because my 8YO still had a blast and it was nice to see that she wasn't "too big" to thoroughly enjoy her time with much younger children.
• Air conditioning. Seriously.
• Discovering and enjoying new places in Charlotte with an old friend (An afternoon (morning or evening) with you, Miss Jillian, is always a pleasure!)