Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Ahhh.....Summertime!

Brothers and Brothers...Love these boys, Jake and Alex are brothers and the same age as Justin and Ryan. Best Friends!

Monday, June 24, 2013

J-man's 12th Birthday

Justin is 12!!  Where did the time go?  It seems like yesterday he was turning 5 years old and headed off to kindergarten. Now he is in middle school.  He has grown into such a sweet caring boy.
We had a great day. I took the boys bowling in the afternoon and then later to Genghis Grill. 



Justin was rockin', he bowled a 122 and 125. At Genghis Grill they gave him a brownie sundae, rang the gong and sang happy birthday.  His face got a little red.  So he had 2 birthday treats, went home to have ice cream cake, his favorite!  I put candles on his candle not knowing they were trick candles, and they kept lighting back up!
 
 
 
 

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

High School Ends....Life Begins

I can hardly believe that Nick has graduated high school.  Not that I'm surprised, of course but time seems to move quicker and quicker as you get older.  Am I the only one that notices this?! Wonderful and proud day.
After the graduation, several of Nick's friends parents put together a party.  Don headed over to help decorate. 

Nick and his friends headed to Florida the day after for some fun in the sun.  What a great day!

Monday, June 10, 2013

End of Year Party!!

Yep, it is that time of year again.  End of the school year and what goes with that PARTIES!  Ryan's 3rd grade class had there school party on Thursday but today is the actual last day of school. So much fun to see how they have grown.



Middle school doesn't have parties but Justin will be heading to an after school swim party today.  Although with the torrential rain we have been having it may turn out to be just a party without the swimming.

Friday, June 7, 2013

From the Heart

How could I forget to write about the sweetest, most thoughtful gift I received from my Justin for my birthday.  Here is the background of the story....my dad before he died started making birdhouses to keep himself busy and to keep his mind occupied.  Well when he died he had started 2 that he never had time to finish, they were constructed and painted but he didn't have to decorate or put the backs on.  Craig recently gave them to me to give to Justin and Ryan. 

Justin took his birdhouse and with his dad's help put a back on, touched up the paint and painted a Texas flag on the front.  I can't tell you how touched I was when I opened the gift.  It came straight from his heart. He understands how much my dad is missed and how much I loved him.  The boy has a heart of gold!



Thursday, June 6, 2013

Our Track Star

Ryan has always talked about wanting to run track but there was nothing available for elementary school kids.  I told him that he would have to wait until middle school. A new program called Waxhaw Track and Field was started and he loves it!  He told me last week that this is 'his passion'!  So cute.  He has practice 2 -3 times a week on top of his 3-4 classes of karate a week.  I usually frown on over scheduling for them but he really wanted to do this and his friend Alex was joining, !yah! carpool!

He had his first meet this week.  He ran the 100m, 200m and 4x100 relay. I video taped his first 100m dash, he is the one in the royal blue shorts and gray shirt.

It was a beautiful spring night as well.  Usually by June it is hot here but there was a cool breeze, so enjoyable.  One more meet this week and he will run the same events.

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Good luck but Not Good-Bye

Our good friends Frank and Jennifer are moving to Florida this month. We are happy for them but sad for us!  A new journey for them together in Florida.  We met them out for dinner in uptown Charlotte last week.  Don and I took the light rail in and met them at the Epicenter.  Great new bar opened up at the top of the epicenter and they had cornhole boards. The evening was perfect, nice cool breeze, the moon was out and good friends and of course cornhole!
We always have a great time together.  So many great memories: they were one of 2 friends that came to our wedding in the outer banks (3 years this August!); martini-palooza will never be forgotten and Frank's sense of humor..."it's time to go"... But we will make new memories in FL and will visit with 2 kids in tow!!  Ryan is already excited to visit them so we can go to the Kennedy Space Center!
Don hired Frank as a police officer in Huntersville, they have been friends for a long time and so many stories.  Don knew Jennifer before she was even married to Frank. Me I'm the new person added to the mix. They will be missed in NC!

Monday, June 3, 2013

May Birthdays

May is always so busy with Mother's Day, my birthday, Nick's birthday and my mom's birthday.  We all added another year to our age. Nick's birthday was May 20th and it was a big one....18 years old, now he can legally vote, buy cigarettes and a lottery ticket and go off to war. I hope he doesn't buy cigarettes, I do hope he votes and he has already joined the army and leaves for boot camp on July 9th.

We celebrated with a few friends, a cookout and of course Nick's favorite...cheesecake.  I didn't get to make one, just no time but TJ's has a great one he loves! Hard to believe in a month he will be leaving us to head out into the world on his own. We wish him nothing but the best for a safe and happy beginning for him.  But he certainly will be missed, he is loved in this house and always has a place with us!

My birthday just another year added on.  Mom took me out to lunch and we celebrated with margaritas and fried ice cream! Got to spend the evening with my 2 guys! And celebrate again with Don, my boys, mom and Terry the next day.  I'm a lucky girl!


Mom's birthday rounded out the month of birthdays.  Don, Terry and I went to dinner with mom. Sat out side on the patio at Portofino's, what an enjoyable evening with a cool breeze.  Ended with yummy cake!