Duke - Syracuse

History:  Granddaddy went to Duke.  Got two tickets to Cameron.  When we lost him when I was 15 (long before we should have), Dad, Laura and Ernest vowed to do what it would take to keep the seats in the family.  

This year, I was included on the offer to our generation for the tix that Mom and Dad couldn't use.  Maryland was a Saturday day, so I quickly snatched them up, planning to take Andrew.  (I know my husband loves me, but he still doesn't love basketball---the explanation is a good one!---and he still pulls for anyone but Duke.)  Then my cousin James emails Dad asking if whomever had the Maryland tix would mind switching for the Syracuse game.  REALLY??? Would I mind switching for the game against the top 5 opponent?  Done deal.

Andrew and I road-tripped to Durham for what would be his first experience in Cameron, and only my second.  Emily and I went to a William and Mary game during college over Christmas break...tickets that were happily passed on:)   Icing on the cake?  We stayed with our former youth director and his wife (and precious 1-yr-old), who are finishing up seminary at Duke.  What a fun way to reconnect! 

The game was amazing.  Andrew loved every minute of the pre-game action. Early in the evening, he bounced along to the cheers and music.  By the second half, he was fully engaged in everything.  His only question?  "Can we stay for the whole game this time, Mom?"  Ah, we drove all the way from Cville to Durham for an evening game in Cameron against two top 5 teams the last week of the regular season.  Yes, Andrew!  We can and WILL be staying:)  

Sunday morning, Andrew and I went to church before heading back to VA. Andrew's first sighting of the chapel and he said, "Now that's what I call a chapel scraper. It's like a church and a skyscraper."  Good observation - well said!

It was only a 24-hour trip, but it was amazing.  I haven't had much one-on-one with Andrew since Margaret was born.  The child, not quite 6, was 5 going on 25.  He was completely mature and delightful the whole time.  He said he missed the whole family and wished that they could have been there, but rallied and we just had an awesome time from start to finish.  What precious moments.  

The 2014 Snow (Valentine's Day!)

From 5:00pm February 12 through 5:00pm February 13, it snowed.  And it snowed almost the entire East Coast.  For 24 hours with only a brief break, it snowed.  And I don't even have to write that Michael was out of town.  Official measurements in our neighborhood range from 16-19".  But then today, for Valentine's Day, the sun came out, the skies were blue, and the drip, drip of melting ensued. It was a Colorado storm.


The Duke-Carolina game was supposed to be last night. That was the only perk to Michael being out of town during the storm---I could at least watch my game in peace!  I had Matthew ready and everything, but the game was postponed 8 days due to the weather.  I failed at stuffing Matthew into this 2T outfit...don't think I can even pretend to squeeze him in it next week.  

The first morning of the storm, only 12 hours in of the 24.  I shoveled the driveway the night before after the kids were down.  Then in the morning before they were up and moved the Tahoe to the end of the driveway. And then it kept snowing, and snowing, and snowing.
  

After bedtime shoveling session #2 - the deck this time.

Ready or not, here we come!

My little buddy! I told the kids that if Matthew wouldn't tolerate the backpack or the snow in his face that I'd have to go back inside and they would need to play on their own. Praise God, Matthew seemed to love the pack!  Not only was that his ticket to being outside and witnessing the neighborhood fun, but it was MY only hope for keeping up with the shoveling.  And yes, my back is sore today! 

Narnia?

14" and counting...hours before the snow finally ceased.

 Day 2 was for sledding, snowmen, snowball fights, and eating snow!

Building a fort with Tristan and Grace.

 The morning after is always so beautiful. 

February, Part 1

Go Pro at Vail!  Michael experiment with the new camera on his early birthday trip this week to our beloved Colorado.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efetUteuVWA

With the Olympics on this week in Sochi, Russia and Michael skiing in Vail, it was natural for Andrew to ask, "Did Daddy do the Olympics?  He went skiing, you know." 

This week's "Out of the blue at dinner Moment" provided by Andrew:
"Someday I wanna be rich...because then I can go to the store and buy things for other people.  I like sharing with them...like gifts." Of course it's a different story when it comes to sharing with your sister!  Guess she doesn't qualify as "other people". 

No matter how I rotate this picture, it comes out this way:( But the sentiment is still there.  Dody visited one night to hand-deliver precious Valentine's books and left a note for Andrew (it had been a rough week for Andrew at school.  He read every bit of it by himself---clearly it wasn't memorized! 

And just in time for her visit, Mom's delightful armarylis finally bloomed. Gorgeous, and a beautiful reminder of her all day.

Strike a pose!

I can't get enough of the Bitty Baby pics. 

The cuddling each night is just priceless.

Melts your heart when your kids can write you their own Valentine's...and it was completely his idea.  Not a school project or "independent time" activity.

Sarah and Abby came to stay the night and Sarah loved helping Margaret keep her momentum on her new big girl bike.

Sometimes, even a cookie isn't worth staying awake for when Mom's been lugging you around all morning.

Ready for school!  The "ABCD dress", as Margaret refers to the precious jumper, was hand made by Dody #1 (MY grandmother) and "Bama" (my great-grandmother), who was actually Lena Margaret.  To be honest, I didn't realize there was a Margaret in the family when we named our little girl (named years before she arrived), but it certainly seems fitting now:) Originally stitched for Kate, it's been worn by every little girl since (Anne, Emily and me, then Sarah, Abby, and now Little Miss Margaret). 


Watching them on the monitor---priceless comments and hugs are abundant.

Andrew and I happened to notice Matthew take a step or two from the coffee table to the train table in the playroom.  Who knows how many times we've missed it.  We failed miserably at our attempts to capture it on video, which was our attempt to get him to try a few more steps.  

Richmond Symphony Orchestra, Broncos, etc.

Andrew proudly set up this shot

And this is the result of falling down the stairs in the morning.
Yes, it was as painful as it looks.
Thankful I wasn't holding anyone.

Who says babies can't communicate??

For the second year, the Richmond Symphony Orchestra came to Charlottesville for their instrument petting zoo and a kid-friendly performance. The musicians were wonderful with the kids, showing them how their instruments work and letting them try them out. The reading of Peer Gynt and accompanying performance was really fantastic.  Andrew and I had a fantastic time on our date!   

It was Super Bowl Sunday, hence the Broncos t-shirt.

 Curious what the neighbors are up to...his first sighting of a pogo stick:)

Super Bowl Sunday - we all dressed in Bronco colors for church, AWANA, etc. We had our cheer down and everything.  Oh, well.  Maybe next year, Peyton & Co?