J J's Birthday Party

These pictures were taken at a bowling alley on J J's birthday party December 2005, on JJ's sixth birthday.

We had a ball (excuse the pun) bowling! I had fun since I love to bowl. I didn't do well that day, but I had fun, and really had a lot of fun watching the little kids push the ball down the alley. Gwinney was only about two and a half, and she kept running back to get another ball to push it down the alley again. She didn't see why she had to wait any turns. She never threw a fit about it though. She's the one in the purple.

Vacation Plans

Our dear friends just left on a late summer/early fall trip. They got a great deal on one of those Outer Banks rentals and I'm so jealous! They are spending a lot of time there, but then also travelling down to Florida to meet their kids and grand kids at Disney World. To be honest, I don't know which I'm more jealous of.

We are heading to Utah later this week for a big family reunion. I can't wait. What a great group of people I happen to be related to--and although it isn't North Carolina...it should be a really fun trip!

Driving Habits

I was talking to my sister the other night and reminicing about past vacations. She reminded me of the time our other sister, with no motorhome insurance, took her rv down to southern Utah. As we were driving home up and down mountain passes, this motorhome seemed to keep up with us just fine. As we pulled in to a rest stop for a few minutes she had the thought to pop the hood on the thing and see if it needed a bit more water. Shock of all shocks the engine was glowing a bright RED! A few minutes later (after a couple of more hills) I'm sure it would have caught fire due to the extreme heat! Not so funny then...totally hilarious now!

Elyse's First Birthday Party

Sherri and Steve's youngest child, Elyse.



We have 19 grandchildren and Elyse is the second to the youngest. This is her first birthday party. It's amazing that we have pictures of it, because I was in the hospital and missed it.

Mike had absolutely no sleep that night because we were putting things away in our new condo, and he was still awake at 2:30 A.M. when I went into the living room where he was putting the sound system together in the entertainment center, and told him that my heart was racing.
It only took us a few minutes to decide that we needed to get to the hospital.
It took the doctor and lots of medicine 8 hours to bring my heart rate back to normal. I am wheat intolerant and have blood sugar problems also. I had been eating wrong all week, and earlier that night had a small piece of a homemade cinnamon roll that our new neighbor Pam brought over as a welcoming gift.

It sent my blood sugar up to diabetic numbers, and then dropped to hypoglycemia numbers, and when it fell it took my potassium with it, which in turn made my heart race.

Mike didn't get any sleep while we were in the hospital. In fact, he only had a hard chair to sit in, and couldn't even get comfortable.

He finally went home to get a little sleep at 6:00 and had just gotten to sleep when R. C. Willey called and woke him up, to tell him that they were bringing our new kitchen set. He stayed awake waiting for them, and they didn't show up until several hours later.

Then he came back to the hospital at 12:00 or so, and got me, and then went out to Sherri's for Elyse's party, which started at 12:30.

That's my husband. He's a trouper. Always taking care of everyone else! I'm glad he took pictures, at least I can feel like I was there!

The dark-haired little girl is Sarandon, Heather's daughter.

What A Gift

Why is it that you have to be old to start checking out life insurance quotes? Ok, so you don't really have to be, but every commercial on TV gives the price for the average 45 year old man. Or, if you are a non-smoker over the age of 50. Mind you we fit that age range, but what about my kids. How much more do they have to pay for life insurance because they aren't even close to 40 yet?

There was a really cool moment I saw several years ago. We were at the high school graduation of our nephew. And his maternal grandpa pulled him aside and gave him his gift. It turns out the day this boy was born his grandpa took out a policy on him. He paid the premiums every month of this boys 18 years--and now as a high school graduate, his policy had matured--and this boy actually had an asset in his pocket. He could use this policy as collateral for a home loan if he wanted--I mean, that is planning ahead! I look at all of our grandchildren and even though I know nothing like that is possible with ALL of them, how nice it would have been to be able to do something like that!

Fun Back Yards

I was just over at my sisters house and you should see it! It's a children's MECCA! There are swing sets, climbing toys, trampolines and an in ground swimming pool. It's truly amazing!

I have always been afraid of trampolines, too many kids being injured on them--but the kids all seem to love it. There was a funny moment when one of the kids noticed both the trampoline and the swimming pool. You could just see the gears working inside their head on just how to get the two to work together for maximum fun. Luckily for us, they are at least 100 feet apart--and I'm thinking none of the kids have the ability to work that one out!