Perry Family Heads to the Magic Kingdom!

Last year we spent our spring break in Ohio...in April...in a blizzard!! So this year, we decided to head in the opposite direction and visit Mickey Mouse in sunny Florida! My parents went with us and we had a magical time!! Although, I think we all agreed that 4 straight days of Disney is exhausting and it would have been nice to have a day to rest in between :)

Dodger's Growing Up Fast!

Dodger is already getting ready to turn 1 and we have been experiencing all the joy and trouble that comes with a border collie! He is as active and smart as we hoped he'd be...catching frisbees and pushing around soccer balls are his two favorite activities. We've taken up frisbee golf as a family and he anxiously waits for his turn to run one down. And he is helping Jake with his dribbling, because he's almost as good a basketball defender as I was :) If Jake can get the ball past him, he can get it past anyone!!

First Trip to the Dentist

After Dylan turned 3, it was time for him to make a visit to the dentist! He loved every minute of it, especially the very cool sunglasses he got to wear so the light would not be too bright in his eyes. He even got to wear a pair of the gloves, just like the hygienist wears. He got a very good report and lots of fun goodies for his first visit :)

Dylan Turns 3!

I can still hardly believe it, but in January Dylan turned 3 years old! He celebrated with a homemade cake made by his Dad. When Jake was 3, I made his cake and we had to nickname it the San Andreas Fault cake because of the crate down the middle...guess I've been demoted :) He loved his birthday hat and rarely took it off that day.

Dylan had a small family party and then met up with a couple of his friends at Chuck E. Cheese for some birthday fun. His favorite present by far was his new scooter. After watching his brother whiz around the driveway enough times, he's thrilled to finally be able to chase after him! Until the weather gets warmer, we'll have to settle for laps around the kitchen island :)

It's a Hockey Night in Charlotte

Dylan got a new set of hockey sticks and nets for Christmas and could not wait to get out in the driveway and give it a try. He's really got the stance down in this adorable picture :)

We also like to take in at least one Charlotte Checkers hockey game each year. Last year we took Jake and all he remembered was blood on the ice from the fights! This year we got to see a little bit more action...and well, Dylan just kind of eats his way through these events...popcorn, pizza, ice cream...but we all had a great time!

Family Trip to Charleston

Brian and I have lived in Charlotte for almost 15 years now and had still never been to Charleston. So right after Christmas, we decided to go with Brian's parents and take a family visit. It was a truly amazing visit and has us really wanting to go back for a romantic weekend :)

We were able to pack a lot of activity into just a few days. One of our favorite things was the carriage ride through town...we got to see all those wonderful homes you always see pictures of and hear all the great history behind them. And the food was incredible of course. We were also able to spend almost an entire day visiting an old Charleston plantation. Even in the winter time it is still amazing to see. We took a nature tram ride, toured the gardens and even went through a huge maze of bushes. The boys also enjoyed the petting zoo, although one goat seemed to have it out for Dylan!!

We had also heard great things about the Festival of Lights, surrounding a lake in the area. It was absolutely spectacular, just driving through the park looking at all the lights. But we were also able to park and roast marshmallows, take a train ride, and shop a little. It is definitely a must see and we are already anxious to go back again.

Perry's Race for the Cure

We recently participated in the Race for the Cure with my parents in Charlotte. We have done this race several times and this year, my Mom is celebrating 18 years since having breast cancer. She has been healthy and cancer free and we are constantly grateful for that.

The boys enjoyed all of the free goodies at the pavilion and the kids bounce house. They both ran in the kids 50-yard dash too. But my favorite part is always when they honor the survivors by giving each woman a balloon for every year that she has been cancer free. Jake and Dylan helped their Grandma hold her 18 pink balloons this year and then release them all into the sky. It was very memorable!