Saturday, February 21, 2015

One little detail


Proof that my little girl is learning the art of the "spin" of the tale.

We have been dealing with a couple of inches of sleet for the past 4 days. The kids have enjoyed sledding










and building, an "Ice Man"



This afternoon Abbey and Elijah were playing outside for quite a while. Abbey came in with her eyes half closed and said, "Elijah hit me in the eye with a ice ball!" I promptly began to examine her eye, and pronounced that she would continue to live with both eyes intact, and that Elijah would be dealt with. As a precaution, and because I've been a mom for a few years, I asked, "Did you throw one at him first?" "No, " was the immediate answer from my precious, innocent, little cherub.

Just then,  the "offending" little boy comes in the door. I get ready to pounce on him, and Abbey quietly adds, heavily stressing the second word, "I accidentally hit him with a stick!" A-ha, one little detail she had left out of her sympathy gaining story.

So there you have it, she has learned the fine art of getting sympathy first before divulging the incriminating details of a story. I wonder where she learned that skill from??


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Monday, February 16, 2015

Truer words….


have never been spoken….

After asking at what age she would go to high school, Abbey calculated how many years until she was a teenager.
"Five years until I'm a teenager. Gosh, I'm just growing up so fast!"



To add insult, today while watching "Frozen", she turned to me and said, "I want a boyfriend!"

Oh me oh my! Waaay too fast for my liking!


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Wednesday, February 11, 2015

UNC vs Notre Dame


One thing that everyone in our family enjoys is attending an UNC basketball game. This year the Rams Club was offering tickets to the game against Notre Dame for a very reasonable price. So, John, Daniel, Abbey, Elijah and I went to the Jan. 5th game. We missed the beginning due to more horrific than usual traffic in Raleigh. But, we still had a great time, even considering the Heels lost by one point!





Elijah really got into it. Here Carolina cut the lead to one.




Tonight for his bedtime song, Elijah asked for "I'm a Tarheel Born"(as he said). I sang the whole song and as I was leaving, I heard Elijah singing to "Hark the Sound"… "Hark the herald sound of Tarheel voices…." The tune was a mixture of "Hark the Sound" and "Hark the Herald Angels Sing".  It reminded me of Daniel, when he was little sang, "I'm a Tarheel born, I'm a Tarheel bred and when I die I'm a dead Tarheel". We all gotta start somewhere! The indoctrination will straighten out Elijah's lyrics in no time!

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Friday, February 6, 2015

Christmas Vacation


This year wasn't our year to have Beth, Greg and Evie for Christmas, but I'm very grateful that Beth was able to drive with Evie here and spend a few days with us after Christmas.

John, Elijah and I were able to take Miss Evie Claire for a park playdate








One afternoon, Beth took Abbey and Elijah to the movie, so Mimi and Papa were on babysitting duty.



All too quickly, it was time for them to journey back up north. We took Abbey and Elijah to Monkey Joes to jump their sorrows away.



So, Christmas 2014 ended on a calm, fun note.
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Wednesday, February 4, 2015

The inaugural year of Doz-A-Way


If someone had told us in the beginning of 2013 that by the end of the year we would be the owners of a beach house, we would have looked at them as if they had three heads. That just wasn't on our radar at all. John had always dreamed of it, but both of us thought it was unattainable. But, in November of 2013, we discovered differently. We became proof that you don't have to be rich to have a place at the coast.

As I wrap up the year 2014 in pictures and blog, I can see what a blessing this house has been to our family, and hopefully, to those who chose to rent from us.

We've seen some wonderfully beautifully sunsets







Had a lot of fun playing at the pool and on the beach














Getting together with friends




We've share lots of family dinners, both at restaurants and at home.








Enjoyed the concerts at the pavilion







Watched grandchildren get acquainted with the beach and each other






Went fishing





Watched dolphins



Had a feathered houseguest



and four cannine ones


Even during the off season there have been special moments

Sand written messages that last a while


"Digging to China"

The wildlife gets to enjoy the beach undisturbed


Skating with ease on the flat, deserted streets




Christmas celebration at the pavilion






and one of  my favorite things, long walks in any season








I'm more and more grateful for this place every day. I'm looking forward to great times in 2015!

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