Weekend

So...these two are turning one this week. They were suppose to have a party Saturday. 

BUT, one of them AND mommy got sick. Soooo, party rescheduled!

This grand fell and hurt his elbow so he had a pretty miserable Sunday!

These grandgirls were sick and missed a fun day for a special cousin's baby dedication!

More on that baby dedication later.

Off to pray for some grands.

Wordless Wednesday......The Girl Grands

Was This A Bike Trip Or A Food Trip???????

To say that the seven days crossing North Carolina was great is an understatement.

Hubs left Brevard, NC last Sunday and cycled 500 miles to Carolina Beach, NC with over 1,000 bicyclists. I don't have a lot of great pictures but I have some fabulous memories. While he pedaled I set out to explore every small town along the way. My goal was to find small mom and pop restaurants and bakeries and to see if there were children's shops along the way.

WE celebrated our 37th wedding anniversary on the day we left. We spent the night in Brevard, NC at at Bed and Breakfast called The Red House Inn.  If you are ever up that way, stop in. It is a precious place (we stayed two nights in the cabin out back), and is operated by the nicest couple!

 We saw some beautiful waterfalls while out exploring and spent some time in Waynesville!

 His first ride was from Brevard to Lake Lure...talk about BEAUTIFUL!!!! We spent the night at my *home away from home*....Camp Lurecrest.

From Lake Lure he pedaled to Shelby, NC. Sweet town with a wonderful diner!!! If you are ever there, eat at The Shelby Cafe'!  They have been in business since the 1920's and man can they cook! If you go, ask for Billie. She is the owner and a sweet, sweet lady!!

Oh, and this is how you dry shoes and clothes in a hotel if you pedal in rain so hard you can't see your hand in front of you:

Shelby to Matthews, NC was our next day. I have some family and friends that live close by that came to cheer hubs on!!! How encouraging is that????!!!!! Our family cooked our meal in Matthews....fish tacos that were oh so yummy!!!

Bright and early the next morning we headed to Rockingham, NC.  Hmmmm.......my mom always said *If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.*  I feel bad for Rockingham. Since the major Nascar Races are no longer held there, the town has lost a lot of its revenue. I sure hope they are able to revive what is left of Rockingham and that one day soon it will flourish again. If you know of a great cafe' or restaurant there I hope you'll visit them. All we could find was a chain barbecue restaurant that we eat in at home. So, barbecue it was....and it was good!

From Rockingham he rode to Lumberton. Lumberton was sooo friendly. Who knew????  The bikers had their warmest welcome in Lumberton and hubs and I fell in love with a crazy good restaurant there named *Candy Sues.*  Best meatloaf and ribs we may have ever eaten and some to-die-for fried cheesecake with blueberry compote. *Slap Yo Momma* good! We met the owner, Candy Sue herself , and quickly realized why it's a popular place not just because they have good food! Lumberton was a pleasant surprise.

Our next stop was White Lake which was a beautiful lake with a white sandy bottom!!! It's a great place to take a family with children....especially if you like to camp. We spent our *down* time in a town five minutes away. Elizabethtown was one of the best little towns we visited. There are some quaint cafe's and a hamburger joint, Melvins, that was written up in Our State Magazine. There is also a bakery, *Burney's Sweets and More,*  that has fabulous cream cheese croissants and doughnuts and just about any other homemade dessert you can think of. I can still smell those warm pastries fresh from the oven!!!

The last day of the trip was from White Lake to Carolina Beach, NC. It was the most beautiful day of the entire week. The day was sunny with highs near 80 degrees. Their 500 mile ride was complete!! We celebrated with a meal at Michael's Seafood!  All the seafood at Michaels is steamed, broiled or grilled. I highly recommend this restaurant....especially if you've just pedaled 500 miles across NC on a bicycle!!

 I am so proud of Hubs for his commitment to cycling across North Carolina. He has dieted and exercised and committed himself to a healthier lifestyle. However, I would be remiss if I shared all this and did not share what REALLY made a difference to us during this trip.

The people.

Hubs rode with a man he met on the trip named Buck....I call him Santa Claus.

 Buck is from the mountains of West Virginia. He is all that is good in this world. The salt of the earth. He cares about those less fortunate and lives his life to make a difference. It's good to know a man like Buck. He restores your faith in mankind.

Then, there was a young man who rode the entire 500 miles......he is paralyzed from the waist down. He pedals and brakes with his hands. His strength, both physically and mentally, is nothing short of amazing, And how about the man in his 70's who is autistic? Yeah, how about him? His bicycle was pieced together with pieces of 2x4's. He had a tachometer off a car rigged up to keep up with his miles. He inspired everyone to be thankful....and pedal on. And what about the retired gentleman who has ridden in 50 rides this year alone.....thousands and thousands of miles!!! There were groups that were riding for cancer and a group of men from Lexington, NC riding for a children's home. There was a woman from High Point, NC who had JUST started riding and through tears made her way each day to the finish line. She never dreamed she would make it. 

The People. 

Better than the food or the bike ride.

Hubs can't wait to do it again next year.

Me either. Oink Oink.

To My Sisters With Love

 Happy Birthday Sweet Sister. You mean the world to me and so many others. I love You!

And to THIS sweet sister, who died on your special day, thank you for the years we had with you.
 You are just as missed eight years later as you were that first year.
 We look forward to being with you again. 
In the meantime, we celebrate as you would have wanted us to.

My older sister and her oldest daughter three weeks before her death at age 49.

Celebrating life and death on the same day...and thanking Jesus for being all we need.

Cycle North Carolina

Hubs is pedaling over 500 miles across NC this week....From the mountains to the coast! I am pushing the pedal in the car and meeting him in each town!! :)  We had some family and a friend meet up with us in Matthews, NC!! Thanks for coming!!!

I have lots more to tell about this trip....but we are OFF to the next town this morning!!!!

Five Question Friday...On Saturday

1. Do you prefer to drive to your vacation spot or fly?

Drive. 
I will fly...i do fly. 
But, confession here, I am SOOO claustrophobic!!! 
So, most trips are road trips.



2. If you could live any where in the world, where would you go and why?

Anywhere my family is. 





3. Should grown women wear leggings?

I seriously want to read other people's answers to this question. I never knew people thought this might be inappropriate. That being said, I don't like leggings without a long top..... no matter the age. 




4. If you could change your name to any other name, would you? 
And what would it be?

It would feel weird being someone else.

 Hmmm... maybe Berkeley. I love that name!



5. What magazines do you have subscriptions to?

Our State
Southern Living
Parents
 

Happy 37th Hubs

you are still the one.

after 37 years.

after three kids

and five grandkids :)

after 36 christmases 

and 37 easters.

and after 37 valentine's days 

that you only got right after about 30.

:)

after lots of coffee

and diet cokes.

and after several houses.

some good

and some not so good.

after learning our differences

and accepting them.

after capturing my heart as an 18 year old.

and thanking Jesus He got it right

cause we never could have.

you are still the one.

and i'm so glad.

cause I wouldn't want to spend 37 years with anyone else.

thank you for loving me well.

you are still the one.

Random

Fall is here people. And it is G O R G E O U S in North Carolina! I try to spend as much time as I can outside in this glorious weather. I am sad that daylight is getting shorter and shorter. I have it figured out. It's not so much the cold weather that bothers me. It's the lack of sunshine. I think I could take the cold if the sun was shining. Know what I mean?

I took a road trip this past weekend with my friend, Pam. We went to Florida to see her daughter compete in a cooking competition. She works for Univers*l and competed against 11 or 12 other teams. Yall, it was just like those cooking shows on television. I mean they had the count down of the time and everything. I thought I was going to be sick I was so nervous for her. They did great though and it was a really fun experience!

Baby B and I hung out for the weekend a couple of weeks ago. We did lots of fun things but I captured the one he and I love a lot...eating. :) The boy loves to eat, which is funny considering he had a rough beginning with food. Didn't care much for it for a long, long time. He's making up for it now...and Nonny is helping too! :) He is such a fun boy!!!

The twins turned 11 months old this week. ELEVEN months! They are HAPPY boys and smile most all the time! They pull up and go from place to place holding onto things. Active is an understatement.

The girls started a new preschool this year. They love it! Well, most days. Some days the two year old doesn't love much of anything. :) They are 2 1/2 and 4 1/2. I LOVE their ages. When I drive up to see them they RUN out and jump on me to welcome me. I know it won't always be this way. I notice and drink in every moment.
First Day of Preschool 2012:

 

Hubs starts his bike ride this weekend. He's biking from the mountains to the coast in seven days. I will follow along from town to town....in the car. :)  He would love for you to pray for no rain.

I pray this post finds you all in a good place. 

HE is still a God of mercy and grace.

Happy Fall!

Five Question Friday

It's Friday.
And I'm going to sunny Florida today for a few days.
With a friend. 
In a car.
Just the two of us. 
Need I say more?
On to the questions:





1. What is one grammar issue you cannot let go without correction?

there, their, they're   seriously...oh, and 's and s'
 

2. What's your favorite thing about fall?

Brachs Candy Corn mixed with salted peanuts.

3. What's your favorite dish to take to a potluck?

Dessert...probably *Yummy Bars*....everyone loves them! 
 

4. When do you start Christmas (Holiday) shopping?

The first week in November. Give me a list and some $ and I can knock it out ! I actually order a lot of the gifts I give and the children are so easy....because they are still little and like everything! 
 

5. Did you move homes a lot growing up?

Actually, no.  I only lived in three homes. The last one from age nine until I married. So, I feel like I lived in the same home all my life. That's a good feeling.

Phone Dump

 Baby B is ready for Halloween

(I slid the bar on the straps up before we drove)

 Lunch with Nonny

 Tired Baby B

 Dance Class for EC

 Preschool Pick up

 Dance for A

 Mismatched pajamas and lots of rings

Twins having dinner outside 

Bath time in the sink

I have been blessed to spend the last few days with the grandchildren. I snapped some pics with my cell phone.....some of them are very blurry but I wanted the memories, so I kept them. I got my hair colored this morning and today may have been the first time I have sat down without a child on my lap since last Thursday night. It felt good to sit down. :)

Five Question Friday

1. How long did it take for you to find your wedding dress? (Wedding dress pics anyone?)

My mom made my wedding dress! She actually made it for my sister, and two years later I wore it. I was engaged in August and married in September!! (And nope.......No babies for two years!) Special memories! 

Oh, and I know...I look like a baby in my wedding pics!!! :)

2. Someone in your general vicinity releases NASTY smelling gas. Do you say anything or blow it off?

Say nothing. RUDE.


3. What is the scariest thing that happened to you or scared you recently?

I live in the city...like so close I walk downtown. This morning when I backed out of my driveway in the dark, my headlights shown on a FOX! That's scary to me!


4. Favorite brand and flavor of ice cream.

At home:

Breyers Mint Chocolate Chip

In an ice cream store:

Hersheys Coconut Almond (Nutty Coconut) 
or
Hersheys Black Cherry




5. Are you able to sleep well in hotels?

Yes and no. I have trouble sleeping on the first night away from home. It helps if I remember to take my fan that I am use to sleeping with. I love the noise of a fan. I am not use to sleeping where it is so dark but that's not really a problem for me. I always wonder why people can't sleep if it's not dark....my eyes are closed anyway!! :)

So.....have a great weekend. Is it *fall* where YOU live????????

Fall

I had my first one of the season this past weekend. It puts me in the mood for fall. Our mornings here in North Carolina have been cool and though I am definitely a summer girl, it has been nice . I've decorated for fall...even though it was 92 degrees the day I put out my fall things!! :( I am TRYING to embrace every season. For the most part, we have all four seasons here. I usually whine all winter about how cold it is and how the sun never shines and how dark it gets so early at night. I resolve to be positive this winter....don't hold me to it though. :)  I have a very busy fall planned. My plan is to embrace it and enjoy God's goodness and the masterpiece He paints for us. How about you? Is fall your favorite where you live?

Five Question Friday

1. What is your favorite fall family tradition?

For years and years....actually, the entire time my children were growing up, we had a bonfire at my mom's house on the weekend closest to Halloween. We roasted hot dogs and marshmallows over a fire outdoors....and all the family came. I hope my children have good memories of that time every fall. We have since stopped that tradition at my mom's house but I think next year I will begin that tradition at my own home!


2. If money weren't an issue, how many kids would you have?

Five.


3. If you were to get a tattoo, what would it be and where would you put it?

Hmmm...never given it much thought. If I were going to get a tattoo, I guess I would make it visible....what's the point in having one if you are going to hide it? So, I guess the place would be next to my ankle. The tattoo would be Nonny....surprise! BUT, don't look for it...I'm past the tattoo days!


4. What condiment is a must in your house?

Good Seasons Italian Salad Dressing. I put it on salads, tomatoes, sandwiches, bowls of veggies...you name it! I keep them in business!


5. How did your spouse/fiance propose?

At a stoplight. Romantic, huh? He had the ring in a box under his seat and couldn't wait. Oh well, 37 years later I can say it didn't make a difference!!!

Have a great weekend! Tell me, would YOU get a tattoo?

The Twins

The twins just turned ten months old.

About a month ago they had a photo session.

Allow me to brag...I'm the Nonny:)

photos by Kate Overby 

See why I

 LOVE BEING A NONNY!