Last night Jeff & I were honored to host Lesley & Connor’s engagement party – a surprise for Lesley, planned by Elise and Connor. They did a fabulous job of keeping LP in the dark, and it was just so much fun. Got this picture of the happy couple – they were just glowing.

Elise had great decorations planned, and all of the cousins helped put them up when they got here, so it would all be perfect before the newly engaged couple got here. I love this picture of Connor and his dad Rusty looking at the pictures that were on display as part of the celebration. Just such a special evening.

We’re having fun this year going to see Mason and his CHS 9th grade team in action together on the court. I got this picture at his last game. That’s him in the navy.

Last Saturday we were at June’s Christmas dance program. It was so cute and June did a great job, but I did not get a single decent action photo of her. At then end, though, when all of the dancers came out on stage to take a bow, each of the older girls brought out one of the youngest dancers. I thought that was so cute.

We were so proud of our star.

A couple of weeks ago Jeff & I met Lindee & Clara and Andrew & Jenny & Charlie & his girlfriend Lola in York for a concert by Acoustic Syndicate, a band that Jeff & especially Andrew have loved for a long time. It was a fundraiser for the WNC mountains to help them in the efforts to recover from Hurricane Helene, and the show as just great. The sun was so bright I couldn’t really tell what I was getting a picture of, but here is what I got when I pointed the camera toward the stage :-).

Lindee & Clara had left by the time I took this picture, but did get this one of the Jeff & Andrew, along with some friends, having a great afternoon.

As is our tradition, my extended family gathered to celebrate Christmas on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and as often happens, it was held at our church. We always have a time when everyone can share their talents if they so choose, and this year June showed us the turns she had been working on so hard at dance. Of course none of the pictures that I tried to take when she was actually turning turned out, so I just have this one of her explaining the turns to us. Ha.

Family photo on the stairs. I especially wanted to get this one with the tree this year, since Addie & Lee single handedly put the tree up and decorated it. They were such good helpers 🙂

We had a good Thanksgiving – and I am even finally getting pictures downloaded. Here is our traditional group picture on our front steps. I took the picture, and Andy is sitting on the bench because he was scheduled to have hip replacement surgery just a couple of weeks later. Bottom row is Mallory, Amy, June, her friend Lexi who likes to come celebrate with us because her family doesn’t do Thanksgiving, and Little Hope. Second row is Jackson, Clara, Cinnamon, & Mike. Third row is Lindee, Dennis, & Meg. Standing are Lee, Mason, Addie, & Jeff.

The kids: Hope, Lexi, June, Clara, Mallory, & Mason. Andrew’s family was in Cameron, SC, with Jenny’s family. We missed them, but with her sister living in Texas, anytime they are in the state of course Jenny wants to visit with her. It was a great day.

I had this puzzle about half finished, and it sat on the table for probably three months until I got back to it, but finally finished it up a few weeks ago. 1000 pieces.

This morning after the service was over, Addie & Lee came over to the church to help start decorating for Advent. They got the Chrismon tree put up in the lobby,with June’s help, got the lights put on, and got it decorated – all before they had to leave to get home to see the Panthers game. Lee is behind/under the tree in this picture, unfortunately. They were just a huge help.

I got this picture of the beautiful arrangement on the altar this morning while we were there. Just so, so pretty.

After the grandkids came over and spent the night to surprise me for my birthday, their parents all came over to surprise me with breakfast and gifts the next morning. It was just the very, very best weekend. I loved it so much. Here are the fourteen of us, minus Jenny, who was taking the picture.