Today was Char’s confirmation at church – the first time I had been to an inside church service since March. During the actual service, when Charlie was kneeling at the altar, they were surrounded by their families and mentors, so we couldn’t see him at all, and this was the only picture I could get of him during the service, when they turned around to walk back to their seats. That’s his blurry mom standing next to him.

At the reception afterwards, with his mentor Curtis Blackwelder, who was also his church league basketball coach. Such a special day.

Tomorrow is the last day Krispy Kreme has the sports doughnuts, so I stopped and picked us some up today. How cute is this?

Today we’ve done two things we haven’t done in really almost a year. The day started out with us meeting my brother Zollie and part of his family at Gran’s house, where we got to see his granddaughter Mary Cooper for the first time since last Thanksgiving weekend. She is the cutest thing. We had such a good time playing peek-a-boo over her momma’s shoulder 🙂

From there we headed to the BMX track, where we watched the boys in action for the first time in almost a year. They don’t usually race on Saturdays unless it’s a big competition, but they are trying to make up some of the track time they missed during the months when everything was closed down. Charlie did great – won his division. That’s him on the orange bike at the starting gate.

Charlie’s mee

t today was at Rock Hill High – his home course – so we rode over with Addie, Lee, & family to cheer him on. We got this picture of him with his cheering section before the race, except for Addie & Jenny, who were taking pictures. We were having a hard time getting everyone ready at the same time 🙂

And I got this one after the race. He’s shaved 30+ seconds off his time from last week, on a much harder course, so he was proud. As were we.

Today was the annual event, but at Rock Hill Country Club instead of Waterford, where some work is being done. It was a chilly day to be out all day, but Mallory must’ve warmed up while she was walking the course and playing, because she’d taken off her jacket before I got this picture.’

Saturday, as is his tradition, Mason had his birthday party here.  He’s done several different things with his friends over the years, but this year it was a nerf gun war in the woods.  It really is the easiest party in the world – Addie & Lee bring bags of chips and cupcakes from Food Lion & bottles of water, and the boys play for 3 hours while we all sit on the porch and visit. :-).  Here he is blowing out his candles.

Friday was Mase’s 11th birthday, and after I finished helping pack food for our monthly food giveaway at church, I headed over to their house to visit with him for a little while. His party was the next day here at our house – a nerf gun battle in the woods – and he was excited to show me the new mask he’d gotten just for that event. Crazy kid 🙂

We were at Northwestern High today for Char’s first race of the year. He didn’t run his best time, but we look forward to seeing him improve as the season progresses. And we were very proud! Here’s one picture before the race, and one in the midst of the action.

Today Meg & I went on an outing for the first time since pre-covid days – to go walking and get a milkshake at Goat Island in Cramerton. When we parked in town to walk to the park, this mural was on the building across the street. I did not realize that khaki was invented for the US Army at Cramer Mills during WWI. Very interesting.

Just a beautiful area and a beautiful day to be out for a walk.