TRIP: PHASE TWO

Downtown Charlotte: Queen City

We had a couple hours to kill,

so we went to the Nascar Hall of Fame. 

Giddy boy. 

Excuse our childishness for the next couple of hours.

It was hilarious. 

Hardest racing simulator EVER.

Unbeatable. 

 Pit crew race.

#1 baby! 

Then we hit up Mert's,

"the best soul food in Charlotte"

and had Fried Green Tomatoes, Collard Greens,

and Salmon Cakes, all for the first time.

Holy goodness.

We then headed to Fort Mill, SC

The Peach Stand

(where they used to get Filet Mignon)

 The road he lived on

 His old house!

 Same road

 Parking lot they used to race their bikes on

 The huge bump in the sidewalk they'd jump off

The spot where his companion flipped over his bike

(which Phil teased him for relentlessly, of course,

and then Phil crashed HIS bike there the same day!) 

The road to the Ciarrocchi's

which they rode often, apparently 

and we finally made it to the Ciarrocchi's!!

We played with the kids for a while 

And kicked the boys' butts in football

until Bella got hurt... 

That night, the girls let me do their hair!

(my co-workers are convinced the key

to being a good mother is being able to do hair) 

Besties!

Elizabeth and Bella. 

 And who could forget Gabe??

He took a little while to warm up to us 

Saturday morning, the toilet upstairs exploded,

so we spent most of the day entertaining the kids.

 Doing magic tricks

Saturday night was Mark's surprise birthday party! 

Phil loved getting to reunite with some people he remembered

 Bill Fox, Phil, and Mark

 Again, more kid-time

Love my Bella!

 Sunday, we went to church with the fam.

The girls loved my "clacky" boots

 And they let me do their hair again!

 Then at night, Bella did MY hair!

 Monday morning, we watched Mickey Mouse Club

while Gabe conducted the songs

 Gabe LOVES twirling hair!

He just snuggles right up to you and twirls.

It's freakin' adorable.

 Decorating the tree

 We love these kiddos!

 Thanks Carolyn and Mark for everything!

It was so great meeting you!

 The house. Which they're selling.

So we'll probably never see it again.

Thanks Fort Mill!