Backtracking~Jan 7th. Abbey and Elijah's first visit to Purdue Hill

In the past few years, we've had very few snow storms. This year, while not a huge storm, we did have enough for the kids to go sledding on our neighborhood's "best sledding" hill.

Solomon took it all in stride!

We all rode several times. After a few times down, Abbey came running to me and snuggled up close. Knowing her as I do, I instinctively knew this meant she had gotten hurt. She wasn't talking and had no more interest in sledding. I knew she must have been hurting pretty badly, as she has a pain threshold that is through the roof. I walked back with her while Elijah and John continued sledding. She explained that she had somehow wiped out and hit her butt bone on the curb. I'm pretty sure she broke her coccyx bone. She was sore for several days.

This was to be our only snow of 2017, (unless we have one next winter). But at least the kids got to experience "The Sledding Hill"

Making little Tarheels!

One of John's customers gave us 4 tickets to a UNC basketball game. Not just any old tickets, but wonderfully close to the court tickets! We even got to park right behind the stadium.
Abbey and Elijah had no frame of reference, but John and I tried to impress upon them how special those seats were. We all had a great time!

For Christmas, our big boys went together and got John and I tickets to see Pittsburgh play UNC. We had a wonderful time. UNC basketball is one of the few things that both John and I thoroughly enjoy!

Both times, we really didn't think we were watching a NCAA championship team, but we were wrong!!!

The Heels beat Gonzaga to win the national championship this year. The next day, the kids and I went to the "Welcome home" ceremony. (John was out of town with work. I know he was green, and I felt bad that he couldn't experience it).

We walked up and down Franklin Street and I reminisced about mine and John's days here.

This line was to get into Johnny T Shirt. I had already ordered our shirts and hats online. (Smart! I was glad we didn't have to wait in line just to get into the store)

We went to a Chinese restaurant for lunch.

and then made our way to the Smith Center.

We were early and got really good seats.

Abbey was a bit of a sourpuss. She was upset to be missing swim practice. (Yep, hard to believe, but true). But my man, Elijah....he was into it big time. He went down on the floor and tried to get on TV behind the news guys.

The bigger kids were blocking him out, so I went down and held him up. We got on TV! Several Facebook friends started messaging me that they had seen me on TV, so Elijah got his wish.

Finally the team arrived.

Several key players and Coach Roy Williams spoke. There was lots of cheering. At the end everyone stood up, linked arms and sang our Alma Mater song, "Hark the Sound". It was definitely a chill bumps moment.

By the end, little miss "I don't want to miss swim practice", had put down her wall and really enjoyed herself. As we walked back to the car, both kids were heard exclaiming, "I want to go to school here one day!"

Mission indoctrination successful!

New Year's Eve and Day 2016-2017

We spent New Year's Eve and Day at the beach.
That evening was spent rather quietly.
The kids had some pre-midnight snacks.

John and I watched a movie

The weather was a little chilly, but that didn't stop us from walking and walking and walking. We walked down to the pier to see the Polar Plunge.

Abbey made John promise they would participate next year!

The other day we walked to the end of the island.

They had been dredging the beach and it is now so wide.
Solomon loved frolicking on the expanse.

He also loves being on the look out and alerting us if anyone happens to walk by our house.  He really gets going if they happen to have a dog!

Because of the dredging, shell collecting is super easy!

My Jr. photographer took a great picture of her little brother.

The sunset was beautiful

Welcome 2017!!

Another year the Lord has given us. I know His plans are good, so I look forward to seeing what they are!