Busy, busy weekend!

This was a busy, but FUN weekend!

Friday night the girls from my SS class had a sleepover at our SS teacher's house. I ended up coming home about midnight because I had to get up early the next morning, but it was a lot of fun and we found out A LOT of interesting information about some of these girls (not me, of course, I have no skeletons in my past). Have you ever played the "I've Never..." game? It's where each person is given the same amount of toothpicks and then you go around the room and each person has to say something they've never done. If you've never done what the person said then you keep your toothpick. If you have done it then you have to throw your toothpick into the middle of the group. The object of the game is to be the most innocent person there and have the most toothpicks left...needless to say, I have never won this game. We played this at another SS party and it's definitely an ice breaker....you're just not as intimidated to be around certain people when you know they've been to jail! HA HA

Here we are in our pj's and sweatpants...my kind of party!

After not getting in bed until 1:00, I then managed to get my sister, Shari, and myself downtown by 7:00 so that she could run the 1/2 marathon with my other sister, Andrea - did you get all that? Shari and Andrea did GREAT!!! I, of course, was not able to run the race due to being designated the family photographer for the day.

Bright eyed and bushy tailed...before 13.1 miles!This was about mile 4...Andrea was still smiling!And Shari is still smiling too!After the race...STILL bright eyed and bushy tailed after 13.1 miles!The athletes and their cheering team!!

After being downtown at the race all morning, we then headed to a birthday party for Max's friends, Maddie and Bennett. Max had a blast jumping and sliding on the inflatable slide. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures, but trust me, he had fun!

Sunday morning we went to church then went over to my mom's for a great Sunday lunch. Shari and Eric were leaving that afternoon so mom sent them away on a stomach full of roast beef and gravy...yum!

Then on Sunday afternoon we headed over to our church's fall festival. Andrea and the kids tagged along and I'm pretty sure the kids had a good time - Clay even won a cake in the cake walk! Max wore his "fighter fighter" costume and looked pretty darn cute if I do say so myself.
I think this picture is so cute of the boys! Check out Lily in the purple shirt!Max needed to get a few more germs on his hands before he ate his hot dog...nice.Check out Max striking a pose with his neighborhood friends. As you can see he gently placed his hand in the small of Shaler's back...such a gentleman!

One more thing, PLEASE PRAY for the family of sweet Monica Pryor who battled cancer for the past few years and passed away this morning. She leaves behind a husband and three young children. I went to Bob Jones with Monica and then we were in the same Bible study last year. She had an amazing attitude about her illness and I firmly believe it was because of her unwavering faith in Jesus Christ. You can click HERE to see her CaringBridge site...what a sweet post from her dad announcing that Monica had gone to heaven!

Ahhhh....

Our little excursion was so much fun and it was absolutely beautiful up in the mountains of North Carolina. The weather was perfect - 40's at night and in the 60's during the day. I think we may just have to make this an annual event!

Don and Max checking out the views or maybe a plane was flying over, I don't know.The favorite part of the trip...Max's CUBBY!!! He loved sleeping in this...I mean, what child wouldn't?!?Sitting out on the porchMax making his way to our cabin.Dinner on Sunday night...notice who's doing the talking...my FBIL, Eric.Aunt Shari and MaxMax is pretending to be asleep.The pool water was so warm...almost hot. Unfortunately, I left my thong bikini at home and couldn't get in.Eric and Sondra, my sister Shari's friend.Going on our hike to the "remote cabin." The views were so pretty!
Finally made it to the "remote cabin" and look what we found...a gun to protect us from all the bears. That's my boy...future NRA member!We went on a golf cart ride around the beautiful course. This is Don and Max in their golf cart. I rode with my sister, Shari, and I kept thinking we were on our way to a fire. That girl needs to compete in NASCAR!Check out this view!!Nice smile, FBIL.This really wasn't a posed picture, but I think it's kind of sweet.
Now, it's back to reality!!!

Livin' the good life!

We are leaving this afternoon for the mountains and this is the cabin we'll be staying in for a few days.These are the towels warmers I will gently pull my towel off of as I'm getting out of the shower.And this boarding house is where Don, Max and I will be eating our meals, going in for fresh cookies and coffee throughout the day, and sitting by the beautiful fireplace......or maybe we'll eat a few meals out here.This is the golf course that Don will be playing a round of golf on...and this is also the course that will most likely leave him a very frustrated man.
Okay, I must admit that the only reason we're able to go to this place is because my sister, Shari, and her husband own property at Balsam Mountain. They are here from Texas and will be staying at Balsam the entire week, but we will only be staying for a few days. We went last year around this time and it was absolutely beautiful...everything is so rustic but also so plush which gives you the best of both worlds. Max is making the trek with us this year and every morning when he gets up he asks if this is the day we're going to the mountains...he's so excited and so am I. I have been looking forward to this mini-vacation for several months now because a relaxing vacation for me is cool weather, beautiful fall leaves, fun with my family and, last but not least, great food!

I've got my trusty ole' boots packed...let's hit the road!!!


P.S. A big Happy Birthday to my friend, Kayla, who today is SO much older than me!!! Let me know how 38 feels, okay? :)

P.S.S. My friend, Dolly, had her sweet baby boy yesterday - Michael Leland Seckman II. Congratulations Dolly and Leland...he sure is a cutie pie!

Field trip time!

I had the pleasure of going with Max's class on their field trip to Fisher's Orchard. Such a cute little place that Fisher's is!

Can you tell Max was excited about riding the big bus to the orchard?Wagon ride!
Max got a little pensive and reflective on the ride around the orchard.It was very sunny and poor Max's eyes are so sensitive to light...my sweet boy.We were riding through the picturesque orchard and BAM...there's a double wide.The kids got a few lessons on pumpkins, apples, corn...Check out the cowgirl...she ain't messin' around!Max feeding the germ infested goats with germ infested feed...sound familiar Julie?More germs with the bunnies...but at least they were cute!They got to fill up a bag with apples......and pick out a pumpkin!Max and all his peeps!

We went to a charity auction last night and met up with our friends, Pat and Barb. I don't remember Pat and Barb being so blatant about their political affiliations...did you guys put those stickers on when I wasn't looking? I mean, I know you guys have yard signs and all, but don't you think this was maybe going a little too far?Only in South Carolina...a shotgun was the VERY FIRST item to be auctioned off!

TGIF!!!!