Thanksgiving in New Bern

We had a great Thanksgiving getaway at Mike's parents' house in New Bern. The weather was beautiful for a few days (mild, sunny) and then turned rainy (perfect for shopping) and cold (perfect for traveling). :)  We did all the familiar activities and loved every moment of it.  We had an amazing Thanksgiving feast prepared by Bob & Peggy.  It was perfect.  I am so thankful for family.








Our attempt at a family picture (self timer).  Perfect example of why 2:30pm has terrible lighting for photos.  Its all of us, though, so I love it anyway.  :)


New Bern is celebrating its 300th year this year, so all around town are painted bears to celebrate. We picked up some maps at the visitors center and found as many as we could.





We also played around near the water. We fed the ducks (those pics are still on my camera, so they'll come in another post), played tag, and the boys put on a show for us.



We went to the playground, played on the equipment (no pics), played soccer (no pics) and drew with chalk.



(griffin asked me to spell elephant for him)

Noah learned to ride a 2-wheeler!! (Better pics coming this week)


Oh, and did I mention that Noah lost his 2 bottom teeth last month? :)  LOTS to be thankful for!

Dinner Club

Each year, my dinner club has a weekend retreat in the mountains.  The time spent is relaxing, rejuvenating and rewarding.  I always leave with a full heart and re-energized soul.


On Friday night we celebrated my friend Peggy's 40th birthday. Our tradition is to shower each friend with 40 gifts on her birthday. Its the best. Most of the gifts are in the theme of "my favorite things", so its fun to check out everyone's favorites during the unwrapping. I always write a poem or song for the birthday girl, so guarantee I'll cry at least once during these fun celebrations. No surprise for anyone who knows sappy-old-me. :)



Most all of us went out walking on Saturday. One group did some serious exercise down the mountain. Another group did some strolling up the mountain to see some sights and just breath in cold, fresh air. I was part of the latter group. :) We all met at the top for a picture. On Saturday I was part of the group that skipped the walk all together and jumped into the hot tub instead. :)


Leigh lives in Spartanburg now but was able to join us for the weekend. LOVED having her and Ashleigh Paige (from DC) there.


We did a little holiday shopping on Saturday afternoon (and maybe picked up a few things for ourselves at the same time).


On Saturday night this group of fun ladies MIGHT have busted out our ipods and MIGHT have danced from 10:30pm-1am and MIGHT have sat on the floor and sung to ballads from 1-2:30am. We MIGHT have had one of our best nights ever. MIGHT.


We drove home on Sunday afternoon tired, but happy. This is not the weekend that I catch up on sleep. This is the weekend that I fight the clock. That I stay up for hours talking, dancing, singing, laughing. That I wake up early to talk to my roomie and then inch over when another friend comes in to join us. This is a weekend for old-fashion girl time. Its the best. Really wish I had a weekend like this with each of my different groups of girlfriends.


(maybe we're getting too old for the "funny picture"? haha)

Basketball Clinic

Noah and Griffin are in the middle of a 6-week (3-5 year old) basketball clinic at the Y.  It is so cute.  I can't say that they are best players, but they are out there doing all of the drills (verses watching from the sidelines) and they are really loving it.  The most exciting part of it is that ALL of the boys are now excited to play basketball at home.  We bought them a new basketball hoop that goes up to 6 feet and our in-ground hoop goes down to 7 feet -- so they have all of the heights covered.



The Y focuses on skills, and good sportsmanship and faith.  The kids all make prayer requests then pray together at the end of the clinic.  (look how close griffin is sitting to one of his coaches...haha)


Then they all come up with a group cheer and 'break'.



Even Miles, who for years has been a "basketball hater", now loves it.   He and Mike shoot around on the other side of the gym during the clinic.  Miles has been spending a ton of time outside practicing his skills and is doing awesome making baskets.


...all just in time for (Mike's favorite) Carolina basketball season.  :)

Adelaide

I spent another weekend with sweet Adelaide and Lindsey in VA. Jason was out of town for a conference, so I drove up for a girls weekend. My sweet niece just keeps getting cuter and cuter!







(cute onsie made my aunt dana during lindsey's shower last summer)

(getting a skype-kiss from aunt dana)


we went to the beach for a photo shoot there too.  one of these days i'll get through all of the pics.  in the meantime...love this little girl! :)

Halloween

On Halloween night we joined our other neighbors at my good friend Allison's house.  She hosts an amazing party every year (martha stewart style).  Afterward we all split up and go trick-or-treating in the 'hood.

Griffin and his neighborhood BF Jack (isn't Jack's costume amazing?!?!  It was handmade by one of Allison's aunts.)


Griffin cracks me up in this picture.  He's standing with our neighbors Elloree and Davin.  He'd been walking around in his Elmo costume without the hood all afternoon.  Just before I snapped, he had whipped up the hood/Elmo head to entertain them.  :)


My boys spent almost the entire party taking turns swinging on Will's awesome tree swing.  Here's Noah:


Here's Griffin waiting his turn.


Griffin and his friend Elloree.  There are just a couple of months apart. 


Miles, Noah, Griffin and our neighbor Will.


A couple of days before Halloween Noah's school had a "trunk or treat" event. It was really cute. The kids have a Halloween parade in the school's gymn and then the kids trick-or-treat out of parents' trunks. (thankful now for this photo-op with Noah since i didn't get any pictures of him at our family's halloween party!)