Spring Break in the 704

When my friend Le Anne and I discovered our kids had the same spring break, we quickly made some fabulous plans that included RVing to Charleston. As with a lot of our plans, they were foiled by Bob's crazy work schedule, but Le Anne and Marc were kind enough to invite Owen and I to spend the week with them in Charlotte and we eagerly booked our flights for two reasons:

I adore the Kieffers, and I loooove Charlotte! Trip on!

As you may remember from earlier posts, Owen, Rhys and Elloree were all born in Kokshetau; and we've spent many wonderful vacations with them. Upon our arrival last week, Rhys and Owen headed straight upstairs and spent the next few hours gleefully stuffing random objects under rugs to make jumps for their monster trucks and playing Minecraft on their tablets. 

What was most interesting this trip was how well Owen and Elloree got along; they became almost inseparable on the second day. Le and I have always said that these two will end up hating each other or being married because they are so similar in temperament and personality. In fact we think we'll have to order DNA tests before they reach their teens because they must be related!

We all had such a busy and fun week - Marc took the kids to see a Charlotte Bearcats basketball game and a minor league baseball game; and we all visited the best free kid's library I've ever seen, plus the aviation museum, a plantation with horses, and a raptor rehab facility. 

We had yummy meals at home cooked by Marc, and several at two of Marc and Le Anne's Mellow Mushroom restaurants (Owen's fav is the Ballantyne location because the upstairs tables have computers in them; mine is the newest location Uptown because of the amazing mid-century, "Mad Men" decor Le Anne designed). 

Under a sunny sky the kids jumped on the trampoline and played soccer against the moms. On the rainy days we took the kids to see "Rio 2" and played Twister and Skip-Bo, and on Friday we celebrated sassy Elle's sweet sixth birthday. Every moment was well filled with fun and friendship.

  

Waiting for the metro to take us downtown - two ninjas and a cutie

Outside the free library. Carolina blue sky!

O Man

The world famous "Blonde with Dog"

Playing vet at the rehab center

May all your wishes come true!

Again with the ninjas

Now, let's talk about Charlotte, shall we?

I've become a bit obsessed. Charlotte is a compact, clean, green and welcoming city. I like it. But what I really love is the Kieffer's neighborhood, Dilworth.

Built in the 1820's as Charlotte's first "streetcar suburb", the streets are lined with majestic oak trees; the beautifully kept houses a mix of bungalows, Queen Anne style and colonials. The neighborhood buzzes with friendly folks walking dogs, jogging by, or watching over their playing children. Cute shops and restaurants are within easy strolling distance, as is access to the city center via train, bus or roadway. Sitting on Le Anne and Marc's back deck in the early evening, surrounded by lush greenery and watching birds flit and flirt through the sky while the lights on Charlotte's towers and buildings twinkle is a joy.

I'm working on convincing Bob that any of the following Dilworth for sale houses would be fine with me!

Gotta keep dreaming, right?