Thanks Cameryn!

McKenzie spent the weekend with Cameryn at the beach house. I wish I had pictures but maybe next time. What fun these two girls have together. We really appreciate Cameryn and her family for allowing the girls to spend so much quality time together. I think they learn a lot from each other. Thanks!

Merry Christmas to all....

....and to all a good night!

After about 4 hours of sleep last night and a day of driving to Lincolnton, NC and back, we are calling the 2007 Christmas rush officially over. As we reflect back on this year we wish to thank each of you for the enrichment you bring to our daily lives. We could not make it without you!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday Mom!

(or 2-Momma as these three would call you)

Holly

With the much anticipated arrival of Santa Claus, tonight also brings a bit of sorrow knowing that Holly must return to the North Pole. You see, Holly is a Christmas Elf and is only allowed to visit special boys and girls when their "jobs" are finished. McKenzie wrote lots of letters to Santa asking for Holly to visit again this year and PLEASE come soon. Holly arrived with a grand entrance and lot more rambunctious this year. We caught her swinging from chandeliers to fishing in the fish tank to even driving. This morning we searched forever it seemed, looking everywhere. Holly left us lots of clues...she had taken Dad's keys and hidden them, Mom's money and credit card had been moved, magic snow was everywhere....but No Holly to be found......then finally we spotted her sleeping bag in the garage....then we followed more snow outside......HOLLY! She was in Dad's car at the steering wheel, thank goodness she was safe and sound but what had she been doing? Dad looked for dents and McKenzie helped all the little "friends" out of the car and found a wrapped present from Porter's Gift Shop. Apparently like last year Holly wanted to give McKenzie a special gift to remember her and I think the little hippo webkinz will do just that. Thanks Holly...you're the best!

Road Trip!

We decided late Saturday to take a road trip to Asheboro, NC to exchange gifts with my dad who was having Christmas with my sister, Leigh. The weather Sunday was dreary but we loved the time together, just McKenzie, Stan and Lana. Thanks to Dad and Pat for allowing our short notice adventure as well as delivering packages to Leigh's house (I know that Caroline and Cooper would not mind opening an extra present or two). Thanks again, we enjoyed our visit!

Farewell!

Christmas came early to our house, after nearly a week without heating and air the old gas pack was taken away...a new one has now arrived. May the old Amana rest in peace. Hello Trane!

What A House!

Stan and I attended a wonderful Christmas Drop-in Sunday night in Effingham, SC (a community just outside Florence). We drove the 15 minutes to find a very nice, non-assuming, beautifully decorated old homestead filled with holiday guests. Once we walked inside we were in awe with the antiques. Unlike my house which has an antique or two in each room, this home was completely furnished with antiques. I'm talking antique vases, sconces, chandeliers, etc. The details were so perfect I wasn't sure we hadn't stepped into a time machine and landed in the period of Gone With The Wind. These cell phone pictures just do not do it justice. Believe it or not this was a bachelor's house who is not a decorator by trade, just a collector of fine antiques. What a wonderful event!

Happy Birthday Mary!

We enjoyed the Taylor's company over dinner at this great little Italian Restaurant Saturday Night. Dinner was great and the company even better. To bad I did not get a picture....but she would probably kill me if I posted it anyway! Maybe next time.....Have a great birthday Mary!

FIRE! (well...maybe not quite)

At 1:58 a.m. this morning we awoke to think black smoke filling our home....Thank Goodness after a brief panic we realized it was just smoke no flames. Seeing that this type thing had happened one other time (Thanksgiving Day 2001) we were not as moved to start throwing all our worldly belongings onto the front lawn, although it was scary enough for Stan to send the fire trucks to a different address BECAUSE he forgot our house numbers! Thank goodness I was running by at that moment and yelled....."no, it's 2833 not 2811". Within minutes we had two volunteer firefighters in our house....literally minutes. Turned out it was our gas pack (downstairs heating unit) telling us it was overworked and finished. Everything is okay now, except for the thick electrical burning smell that still lingers throughout the now cold downstairs. In every challenging event we try to find all the positives that GOD has given us and other than the obvious (our lives, our safety, a quick emergency response team, our house, etc...), we were so thankful that McKenzie had spent the night away.....She would have been completely freaked out!

Join me in singing this year's Christmas songs.... "All I want for Christmas is a new gas pack, a new gas pack, a new gas pack......" followed by... "I'll be poor for Christmas...."

Deer Crossing!

And the Spartanburg Deer said, "Tag, You're It"

Blake and his friend were fine....Can't say as much for his car. We will get to see the true extent of the damage when he returns home on Holiday Break.

Happy Birthday Dad!

December 4th

Happy Birthday!

(watch your mailbox)