Visiting Will and Krystal in Charlotte, NC

In June, Will and Krystal were in Charlotte on a business trip. As soon as Krystal told me they were coming, I made plans for us to meet them! It had been much too long since we had seen them...Will and Krystal, Matt and Megan took an Eastern road trip a few weeks after Helena was born, so we saw them in October of 2007. It was soooo good to see these 2...we love them immensely!!!

On Friday when we arrived, Krystal met us at our hotel. Soon, Will was done at his meeting downtown so we all drove to pick him up. We went back to Will and Krystal's hotel to swim in their pool. After cooling off, we went to Cracker Barrel for dinner. Krystal, and Will, but especially Krystal, LOVES sweet tea...plus it was fish fry Friday. We headed back to our hotel to put our kids to bed...I, fortunately, packed our video monitor so we were able to hang out in the lobby with Will and Krystal after the kids were asleep. It was so fun to be with adults, especially people that we have known and loved for so long! Krystal and I met, in 1998, while working on our Bachelor's degrees in Speech Pathology Loma Linda University and have been friends ever since!

Saturday morning we met for breakfast at the Original House of Pancakes. That was so delicious....if you ever eat there you HAVE to try the Dutch Baby. It sounds very strange, but is surprisingly really good. After breakfast we dropped Will off at his meeting and headed for the Discovery Place museum.

Krystal helping Helena identify the animals.




Helena enjoyed the play area...she's is quite the adventurer.




They happened to have a circus exhibit the day we were visiting...here are Michael and Sebastian trying on some circus-wear.


About the time we were done with the museum, Will called and said he was done also. We picked him up and headed for the Billy Graham Library. It was such a hot day, but it was well worth the sweating and heat. What an impact this man had for the Lord!

Krystal and I...the grounds are beautiful and that barn! You have to see it, if you're in Charlotte. It's gorgeous!




Smiley girls! I do realize that I have very few pictures of this trip and I am so embarrassed. Thinking back, I kind of think the problem was having to wrangle Helena, who is so inquisitive and into everything, as well as taking care of Sebastian, who had just turned 5 months old. Maybe it was the heat, too.



While at the library, we all went on the tour. Helena lasted, maybe, 15 minutes. So...she and I went on the back porch of the library and played. They had rocking chairs, tables and chairs for employees to eat lunch, and a beautiful grassy yard to play in.







My little girl...she has the 'baby' face still here. Oh, how I love her imagination and energy!


After the tour we headed to Waffle House, yes, you read that correctly, for lunch. Not my favorite place to eat, but (I'm pretty sure) Will and Krystal hadn't eaten there before. We headed back to their hotel for more swimming before we had to say good-bye. It was so nice to be with them. We really missed not seeing the Matt and Megan play with Helena and Sebastian, but that means we have something to look forward to! Love you, Stauffers!!!