surprising Melanie!

This year for Melanie's 40th birthday, all us sisters decided to fly out to Chattanooga for a surprise visit!  It was so exciting to plan... mostly because I knew that she would be absolutely thrilled!  Melanie has always been such a rock for our family. As the oldest sibling, she has led by example. She is an incredibly faithful, kind, compassionate, sensitive, fun, and industrious woman. We are all so blessed to have her in our lives.  After she moved away to the South, we have missed her and her darling family of boys so much. There was a hole left in the family here. After all, they had spent most of their marriage close by, raising their boys with all of us there at soccer games and birthday parties.  From talking to Mel over the past several years, I also knew that she was very lonely for her sisters.  She struggled a bit moving so far from family and friends and never really found any local replacements for the relationships she left behind.  She is definitely a "bloom where you're planted" kind of gal though so she doesn't complain!  Anyway so I KNEW that she would absolutely love it if we surprised her. And never in a million years would she ever suspect that we planned it since we all live so far apart.  As it turned out, every one of us, including Mom, made it work and we all ended up in Tennessee for a long weekend with our wonderful Melanie.  Brad planned it so we had their van at the airport when we arrived, then we drove to their favorite restaurant where he was taking Mel out to dinner for her special birthday.  We were all on pins and needles with excitement waiting for her to arrive! Seriously it was so fun! And we were not disappointed when she saw us - she was SOOOO surprised and happy!! I just get a lump in my throat thinking about that trip.  It was 5 days of the best girl time in the world! We relaxed by the pool, went shopping and sightseeing, visited an art gallery, ate yummy food, and mostly just talked and laughed together. It was incredible! I have the best sisters and mom in the world! What a treat it was to have that time together, with minimal distractions and no responsibilities.  I love these women with all my heart and cherish my relationships with them.

Waiting at the restaurant for Melanie to arrive... we were so excited!!!

Amy, Erin, Mom and Ririe, Mel, me, Mindy - all together!

Coming home to celebrate with the boys!

On the Chattanooga Bridge - pedestrian only and so pretty

Pastries at the beautiful garden cafe Rembrandt's

Touring historical Chattanooga - the art district.

I miss her!

The sacred Blue Hole at Red Clay State Park.

Bridger, Mindy and Ririe, TJ at Red Clay State Park - the last gathering place of the Cherokee and the place where the Trail of Tears started.

Coleman was always making us laugh!

Those boys had some awesome moves on the diving board. We had a blast trying to out-do each other!!

 Cool dude Bridger and cute Melanie

Connor, Ririe, TJ - all the boys doted on Ririe, it was so cute. They are getting so big and grown up, aaah!

Love these ladies - beautiful inside and out.

This was the night we stayed up til 3:30 am talking!!! 

Enjoying amazing Southern food at Tupelo Honey Cafe. Wow.

Mel got to meet her newest neice - we were all loving on Ririe the whole trip!

At the airport.  Love you sis!!!!