Saturday at the Beach

Another great day, hanging out, visiting, being lazy, and celebrating Boo!  It was a beautiful sunny day, but coooooooold out on the beach.  I think most people ended up getting out there for at least a little while, but as you can see, it was pretty empty when Jeff & I went out for our stroll 🙂1-10-14 Boopalooza Saturday 006

The plan had been for everyone to wear their Panther clothes and colors for a group picture that night, since we were celebrating while watching our Carolina Panthers in their playoff game.  Everyone did great getting dressed for the occasion – those of us who had extra Panther shirts brought them to share with others.  However, it was my first time using the timer on my camera, so it didn’t work absolutely great, as you can see.  I’m not sure what I did to get Whitney and Debbie cut completely off in this picture.  Other than that, though, I think you can see everyone, so I’m pretty proud of that.  And luckily I was just the backup photographer – surely Bill’s pictures turned out better than this!  Good, good times.1-10-14 Boopalooza Saturday 021

Boopalooza – Friday Night

This past weekend we headed to Ocean Lakes at Myrtle Beach, to spend a couple of days celebrating Boo’s 50th birthday.  There were 24 of us there altogether – his siblings and their  spouses, his daughters and one of their friends, one nephew (Cooper), and several of his lifelong friends.  What a fun, fun time it was.  People just drifted in Friday as they could get there – Andy and Amy were overseeing the event, so they got there early, as did Boo and Shea and the girls.  We got there maybe around 7-ish, and we were probably about in the middle of people arriving.  That night was just a fun, hanging out night.  Most people knew each other, although some better than others, of course, but everyone just had such fun together.  Here is a picture of the youngsters hanging out, in between rides on the golf cart.1-9-14 Boopalooza Friday Night 002

Some of the guys hanging out in the Big House – Zollie, Jeff, Boo’s friend Lee, the Birthday Boy in the bright blue Panthers shirt, and his friend Steve.  Just a great way to kick off a fun, fun weekend.1-9-14 Boopalooza Friday Night 005

Panther Display

I’m running a little late downloading pictures for the last couple of weeks.  This is one I took weekend before last, when we were getting ready to watch our Carolina Panthers play in the Wild Card Playoff Game against the Arizona Cardinals.  Apparently all our good luck charms worked – and apparently I should have carried all of this to the beach to set up for their game with the Seahawks last weekend.1-3-15  Panther Display 001

Friday Pictures

Friday morning when the four grand ones who spent the night woke up they headed outside almost immediately.  These are some outside playing kids!  I got a few chores done, and then called them in to make Snowflake Tortillas, as their cousins had done earlier in the week, for breakfast.  They were just as big a hit with these four as they had been with Mallory and  Clara.  Here they all are, working on their masterpieces.12-2-14  Charlotte's kids, C & A's first basketball games 005 That evening Charlie & Adam had their first basketball games of the season.  This year they are playing on different teams, which will no doubt make for some interesting Friday nights for their mom & dad – especially considering the fact that their dad coaches Adam’s team, and their mom often has to work on Friday nights.  We will be able to help them out with transportation some, as will Elise, and there are others on their teams in the same situation, so it should work out fine.  I forgot what really bad pictures my camera takes at a basketball game, but here is Charlie throwing in an inbounds pass during his game.12-2-14  Charlotte's kids, C & A's first basketball games 016

Visiting at Gran’s

New Year’s Day Sherri came up for a quick visit with Gran – just an overnight.  I love, love, love that she is close enough that coming just for an overnight is so doable!  I went over to see her that afternoon, and Andrew came & brought the boys, and Addie & Lee brought June & Mason.  The kids all stayed and came back here with me to spend the night.  Here they are with Sher just before we headed back to Clover.1-1-15  Sher's Visit to Gran's 001

Tortilla Snowflakes

What a fun day we had yesterday when Mallory & Clara were here to stay all day, since school is still out for the Christmas break.  They were here Tuesday, and spent that night, so yesterday morning everyone could just sort of sleep in.  We had a pretty lazy day – watched some TV, they played outside a little while, but it was pretty cold, so not too long.  And we made tortilla snowflakes.  Sherri had actually sent me the instructions for making these last year, but we just now got around to actually making them.  The girls LOVED doing it, and they were pretty tasty, I have to say.  Charlie & Adam are spending the night tonight, so I’m going to stop and get another pack or tortillas so they can make some, too.  I’m not sure if it will be as big a hit with them, but we shall see.  Here is a picture of their finished masterpieces.12-31-14  Tortilla Snowflakes 005

Saturday Pictures

Saturday morning we had our family Christmas here at our house – brunch, presents, lots of laughing.  I made June and Clara hats from “Frozen” – Lindee braided the hair for me.  Here is Clara modeling the Anna hat.  Those were their costumes for Halloween, and alas, I managed to give them the wrong hat – Clara actually needed the Anna hat.  They got them traded, though, and everything worked out fine in the end 🙂untitled

That evening we met Jeff’s brother Dennis & his wife Cinnamon for supper, and then to go to a Hornets game.  It was the first game I’d been to since the Bobcats changed back to the Hornets.  It was a fun evening.  Just a great day.untitled

Friday after Christmas

The day after Christmas Charlie & Adam came back over to hang out.  Since they come so seldom now, it’s really special having them twice in one week.  We started off the day painting the magazine trees we’d made earlier.  Adam assured me he was an experienced spray painter, having spray painted rocks at the Gold Rush Cub Scout campout he goes to every year with Andrew & Charlie.  And sure enough, he did a great job.12-26-14  Charlie & Adam come over 001

Charlie brought the new football he got for Christmas with him, and he & Jeff had fun doing a little passing that afternoon.  It was a good day.12-26-14  Charlie & Adam come over 005