Bridge Run Weekend

This weekend was Cooper River Bridge Run in Charleston. Walter and I have been going since we moved back to Charlotte but this was the first year that we trained and were planning to run together. 

Friday night we ate dinner at Halls Chophouse on King and it was amazing. The food was delicious and the service far exceeded our expectations. 

Saturday morning was the run and we got up super early. No shuttle from the hotel so we had a car pick us up and drive us to the Mt.P side. It was a beautiful 68 degrees and once the sun came up it was a gorgeous Charleston day. 

We finished in under an hour which was our goal time. Walter did fantastic and finished in 55:14 and I finished in 58:02. He smoked me. I looked up at the start line from starting my watch and he was gone. He took off running. I am so proud of him for holding his pace. He is a machine. 

After the race we headed to roof top bar at Market Pavillion to hang out with our friends. It was so nice and sunny and the views were great. 

We bailed after an afternoon of shopping and fun and had dinner in our own at Hanks Seafood...one of our favorites. It was great to be back in Charleston and visit our favorite places and a great weekend for us to reconnect! 

2nd grade Manners Luncheon

Today was the manners luncheon for 2nd grade. Boys and girls were to dress in their Sunday best and they were served spaghetti to eat. During the lunch they had a teacher walk then through how to eat correctly and what utensil to use. All the students looked so great and Walter was even eating a salad. It will be interesting to see what he says about it today after school. 

Reunited with Holly and Liz

After a day of traveling we all finally are together. The 3 of us haven't been together since 2003. We have 3 days full of fun planned! Holly lives on Travis AFB and her view of Sacremento and Napa is beautiful. Her home is beautiful as well and she makes it so inviting! 

Boosterathon Fun Run

The past week at school has been our annual boosterathon fundraiser. As much as I dislike this, this kids love it!

They raise money by pledges and have to run a fun run at the end. This year both kids did fantastic on raising money...thank you Daddy and on running. Ann Elizabeth ran 51 laps and Walter ran 41. They had a blast. I am so thankful that Walter was able to be there since I couldn't be. And a special treat...Boppy and GiGi where there too! 

Randomness of the last 2 weeks

The last 2 weeks have been really crazy! After Walter's birthday I got sick with the stomach bug and was out of work for 2 days. It was misery! Ann Elizabeth then followed me and missed school for a few days as well. 

Thankfully the boys missed it!

Our school once again participated in Stop Hunger Now and the students filled up bags of food to be shipped to those in need. They all had to wear hair nets..and Walter thought it was super cool!

The weekends around here have been fantastic. In the high 70's and sun shinning. We have needed it! The kids used this opportunity to get the water balloons out and play. 

Daddy...what can we say about him. Always working, even when driving a car. We love that man! And what the kids don't know...this may be our new jeep! YIPPIE!

Walter's sweet teacher sent me this picture the other day! Walter has started a trend in the classroom with the reading timers. This is the only way he can make sure he doesn't go over his 30 min of reading a day! Obsessed with time!

This past week has also been very bitter sweet. My Aunt Becky passed away after a long battle with cancer. She was the only living sibling left of Dads. They did a service for her in Rocky Mount, NC where she lived but then came to Rock Hill to bury here with her parents and other siblings. This is a picture of all the cousins. It was great to see them all again...just sad the reason we were all together. 

And this weekend, Ann Elizabeth started in her Yes I Can basketball league. She is super pumped up about it. She has had much encouragement from her PE teacher at school Marlene Jeter and is really motivated. She is even on the Tennessee Vols Team...same one Coach Jeter played on in college. She is pumped!

Walter is 8!

How does this even happen? I say this every year when the time seems to pass more quickly than the last. He is so big now. My sweet first born boy! I love this precious boy! 

Right now he is in the 2nd grade. He really likes numbers and math....like obsessed with it, and is a fantastic speller and reader. He is always challenging us on the things we know, with some secret hidden fact he can't wait to spill on us. He is so kind and caring and always considerate and thinking of others. (ie. for his birthday, he wanted to make sure that his sister had a present to open because he didn't want her to feel left out!) He loves The Lord and is really a fanatic about his bible verses and bible facts. 

He is really into basketball and baseball and obsessed with Nike Elite socks-that is all he wears. He loves his basketball shorts and his jerseys and is always talking sports talk. 

I am so thankful to have these days with him. He brings us joy and laughter into our hearts and home, more than we have known. 

Happy Birthday sweet boy! We are so thankful for you!

Friends at school that he chose to sit with him at lunch. 

Gram and Papa came and had lunch with him at school.

Georgia Football goodie bags for the birthday party!

Laser tag at Sports Connection

Homemade cookie cake by request

Birthday dinner at Red Robins

Birthday treat for dinner!

Taking back parenting!

Taking back parenting with these 2 tools. The parents will come out on top!

Hornets or Cats

Walter got some awesome tickets to the Charlotte Bobcats game on Saturday night so we took the kids. The seats were great and the game was a nail bitter. 

The Charlotte Bobcats are going back to the Charlotte Hornets next season and the hype is continuing to grow again for them. 

We had the Hornets here when I was little and I use to LOVE going to see them play. The name and colors will be the same as the old school team and the mascot has an updated look. 

I am really excited. Hopefully it will get the city back excited for the game of basketball and the fan support will show. 

The kids loved seeing the game and really understood it since they are in the middle of basketball season too. We love sharing sports with them and taking them to enjoy the same things we do. 

Halftime show was a group of guys doing flips and dunks off of trampolines. It was awesome!

We started the night with Bobcats shirts and ended the night with Hornets shirts (I forgot to get a picture). 

Awesome family fun!

George W. Bush in the 2nd Grade

Walter has been studying Presidents in 2nd Grade and as a celebration of  President's Day, each 2nd grader had to pick a first lady or president to dress up as, research and give a speech to the class on. Walter chose George W. Bush. He did great. He looked adorable and loved the facts that he researched on George. He played the part well. 

Walter and his friend Alex...George Senior!

The whole 2nd grade class as Presidents and First Ladies. 

Snow Tubing at Winterplace 2014

Every year we try to take the kids snow tubing at Winterplace. This year was fantastic...probably the best we have ever had. West Virginia has received so much snow this year that the ground was covered in fresh powder. No ice on the ground at all. It made for great. tubing. 

Our friends the Kransteubers went with us and Ann Elizabeth, Walter and Allie had a great time. We met for dinner on Saturday night and then headed tubing on Sunday. 

After being home for a week with our own snow, it was "snow" much fun to get away and go somewhere different. The weather was freezing with temps in the 20's, but the fun the kids had made up for it.