dream big.

This is probably going to be a long post with lots of pics, just to warn you, but one I certainly want to document. Long post because it was kind of a long weekend for us, since both Chad and I took the day off Friday to kick it off! 

So first, BACKGROUND: Chad's bff4life, since they were little (as in families are bffs, they did vacas together [well, we still do vacations together], the whole shabang. they're seriously like brothers) Casey, has been a professional fisherman for years now. Like, as in that was his dream as a child and now that is his career. Back in 2008, the year we were married, Casey had the opportunity to compete in his first Bassmaster Classic, with the host lake just so happening to be one of our locals, Lake Hartwell. The weigh in was at the Bi-Lo Center in Greenville (now called Bon Secours Wellness Arena) and it was a fun weekend watching Casey weigh-in and all the excitement of the "Bassmaster Classic" (i mean, who knew this was like the Superbowl of fishing? Not me) but that was just at the beginning of his career and as he will tell you, he was "mostly just star struck". 

Well, flash forward seven years and the Bassmaster Classic returns to Lake Hartwell. With much more experience and fishing tournaments under his belt, Casey makes the cut again. Everyone was excited and we've known for months that this past weekend, we would be in Greenville for all the festivities. I was probably most excited for Cade to experience everything this go around. 

So Friday around lunch we all three left for Greenville to hit up the Bassmaster Expo at the TD Convention Center. Just a place where anything and everything fishing (that I really do not know much about except Stratos, because that was the brand of Chad's boat I made him sell before we started our building process. HA, bless. #priorities [but don't feel too bad because he just turned around and bought a toy for hunting!]) You could meet other professional fisherman who didn't make the Classic cut, get freebies, shop, etc...just a huge trade show.

Cade was just in awe. This booth was my favorite, since they made this cool pic of our "Angler of the Year"....

Then we met Kevin VanDam. THE Kevin VanDam. (I know, you're probably thinking Kevin VanWHO?) He is THE man in professional fishing, except ummm not this year because he didn't even make the cut. So therefore he was doing meet & greets and leave it to MY CHILD to get so mad once we got up to him because he signed over his picture that he just had made. Ohmygah.

We exited that scenario quickly. Thanks Kevin. Buh bye.

Anything and everything my two boys (big and little) could gawk over. 

Cade couldn't leave without suckering his daddy into a fishing rod, then I couldn't leave Pleasantburg Drive without suckering daddy into a dozen hot & now Krispie Kreme Doughnuts. Winning!

Then we made our way up to beautiful Lake Keowee to have dinner with friends, as some of Chad and the boy's hunting buddies from Alabama were coming up to stay for the weekend. It was a fun time and Cade had a ball with all their kids, even though they were all at least ten years older than him. He likes hanging' with the older crew!

Saturday Cade and I came home because fashion called.

No really, we both had to be at a fashion show that evening (more on that later) while Chad and the men followed Casey around on Lake Hartwell, watched the next day's weigh in, etc...

Now, Sunday was THE DAY.

The last weigh in, the final verdict as to who wins the Bassmaster Classic and become's the World Champion of fishing. Cade and I rode with Chad's parents to meet him up there at Bon Secours.

Let me just tell you...MADNESS. Cade just was in awe, taking it all in. Heck so was I! 

There he is, representing Donalds, SC. Woop woop. 

That's our new address now by the way. Donalds, no longer Abbeville.

 So we can literally say Casey did well representing the hometown.

Cade and Casey's son Troy, getting wild and cheering him on!

We knew he had done well that day, but no one (not even his parents, his girlfriend, no one...) actually knew what the other guys had and if Casey really had "enough".

Well low and behold, I'll be dang if he did.

Can you say freeeeeeeeaking OUT?

That's Casey's precious girlfriend Kenzie, my nephew Carter, my sis-in-law (also like a sister to Casey) Monica and me in the midst of the excitement.

We attempted a family pic (because we rarely get one) and per the usual, this is what we get.

These boys loved all the fun freebies...

Then we hopped over to the Hyatt for the "after party" to say our congrats! 

These two hunt together, fish together, play guitar together...have got stories to tell that trust me honey, even I will neeeeever know, but I can't tell you how proud my husband was of his best friend. It was so sweet to see. We all were!

Cade representin' his Prodoh from The Frilly Frog. 

This pic has somehow went viral on Instagram! Famous, I tell you.

All "four" of us (yep, even little Charlie bug in the belly) had to get a pic...

Fun, fun weekend of celebrating, friendships, and fellowship. It was awesome to see how many came out to support on Sunday. It was seriously like a high school reunion and fun to see so many familiar faces we hadn't seen in a while.

 Just can't believe out of our little ol' class of 49 graduates in 2002 from Dixie High School (Casey is my age, Chad graduated one year ahead of us) in little ol' Due West, SC could emerge the 2015 Bassmaster World Champion. Definitely another small town victory and proof that dreams really do come true!

I love that we come from a school that taught us that, with friends and family who support that, and more than anything, I hope that is what all of our boys take away from the weekend...

Dream big, oh little ones. Dream "REEL" big ;)