ACC in Winston

As usual, Laura and Robert were extremely gracious hosts for the ACC this year.  We had quite a crew roll in!  Marion & Lucy with Gene & Sonya (& baby Cisco---8 months) all shot over from TX. Ernest & Shirley's crowd all made it...Will & Kristi plus James & Kate (who announced they are expecting in September - woo-hoo!).  Mary Katherine finally emerged from traffic Saturday evening to announce that she is moving with her company to Raleigh next month.  And the Ferguson Clan (9 adults complete with all 7 kids in tow) rounded out the craziness. 

Folks were in and out to games in Greensboro, but Laura & Robert's comfortable house made for a perfect home-base.  Saturday was gorgeous, so we enjoyed their stunning patio and yard all day.  Watching the St. Patty's Day race one street over, a trip to the local park and fire dept rounded out the activities for the little ones that didn't head to the stadium.  By Saturday night, we were all in one place, celebrating the boys' March 12 birthdays (5 & 6) and toasting James & Kate's and MK's great news.  Granddaddy would have been so pleased to see us all together.  This family reunion is what he envisioned these tickets would create.  As always, he was truly missed. 

First up in the truck!

"Look!  A computer!"

Em and Andrew in the $750k firetruck.

Displaying the mask on board - boys mesmerized.

Cheesey, cheese.

Quite pleased with herself, as usual.

A seatbelt - wow!

Driving already - uh-oh.

 

Happy Nicholas.

Cousins getting settled on the truck, that they pulled out of the house just for us. 

These were the nicest, most entertaining fireman:)

Margaret flirting already - we're in big trouble!

Robert sweetly singing to Matthew.  Someday, he'll know him as "Big Rob", or as Margaret has been saying, "Robin". 

Sonya meets Matthew. Lucky boy!

Cisco (8 months) and Matthew (8 weeks) check each other out.

How handsome Cisco is!

Margaret hitching a ride back from the fire station.

How old is this???  And why is it sideways when the original is not?!?

Slugs & Bugs concert in Cville upon our return from Winston Sunday afternoon.  GREAT music and the kids are obsessed with the CD we got. 

"I'm Gonna Make You Smile!"

Finally caught this precious smile on camera:)  I've scratched my face a couple of times, but who cares?!?

 

Meeting my third aunt!

Birthday Week!

During the week of Andrew's birthday (March 12), the dear child could be heard singing "Happy Birthday" to himself in his room during quiet time.  Guess he wanted to practice up for the big day!

In the months leading up to the big day, we kept asking him what he wanted to do for his birthday.  We offered ACAC's great set-up for parties, Bounce N Play, etc., but he kept saying he wanted it to be just his family at home.  We finally all agreed to have 5 friends over for his 5th birthday.  After being typically shy the first 15 minutes his guests arrived, he finally decided to have fun with his buddies.  Then, Andrew, Wilson & Edward (his best boy friends from school) proceeded to jump in the bounce house, take a turn on the trampoline, and run circles around our property for the next hour and a half, only stopping briefly for pizza and cupcakes:)  They were happy boys!

Sweet Isabelle was out of town, but we sure were glad dear Anna could make it!

We LOVE Wilson, as evidenced by how much we hear about him!

The gang, minus Isabelle and Elaina...Anna (watch your hand!), Wilson, & Edward.

Cupcakes in a 5.

What a sassy look for a cupcake!

Margaret chillin' at the party.

Finally, cupcake time for little Miss!

Matthew's take on birthday parties:)

Hanging out with neighbors - Lily adores Matthew:)

Drop off at school with Emmy (while Mom's at home mulching!).

Lowes Build & Grow.  Monster trucks this week.

"Eat breakfast. Brush teeth. Get dressed, put on shoes and off to school." ---Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood

Shaving on Sunday morning. 

This is actually a tame riding of the horsey in the basement, complete with her rendition of "Go Tell it on the Mountain", in case you can't catch all of that!

 

 How patiently she waits for us.   Saturday morning reading (and tearing out of pages - oopps!).  I hope this continues her WHOLE life!

Finally, a "snow day" with---drumroll, please...SNOW!

I've lost track of how many days school has been cancelled this year for snow that never came to be.  We've had cancellations that amounted to 30 minutes of flurries, and even just rainy days.  But today was the real deal, complete with a foot of snow, they say (I haven't check the news), and no power (of course).  But Daddy made the snow day SO much fun that even after the power came back on shortly before sunset, the kids insisted on still “playing” no power.  So we finished art projects by candlelight, ate dinner with flashlights, and built sleeping tents in their rooms.  He's so good HE should be the stay-at-home" parent!

Andrew's art, turned the wrong direction.

Míchael's art - 1,000 times better than anything I could have created!  You should see the birds in person.

 

Margaret's art - she didn't get the concept of holding up her paper NEXT to her face instead of in front of it, but I assure you she was howling "cheese" behind the paper! 

Margaret's tent

Andrew's Tent

Singing, "You are my Matthew, my only Matthew" (i.e. "You Are My Sunshine") before heading out in the snow.  It's amazing how intently Matthew listens/watches whenever either one of them speaks or sings to him.  It still brings a tear to my eye everytime I walk in on the spontaneous moment.

A split second after the biggest smile I've seen...no camera in the world is fast enough yet, but I promise it's a really, really sweet smile:)

 

 

 

This all occurred after a failed attempt to get to Richmond, fearing our power may be out for a couple of days.  The interstate near Charlottesville was fine, but as we drove, it got significantly worse very quickly.  This picture doesn't do it justice, but the road was awful, alternating between slippery pavement and mounds of packed down snow/ice, forcing 5-15 mph travel.  It was one lane zig-zagging to avoid the dozens of trees that were down sometimes within just one mile.  It was luck there was never a tree tall enough to completely cross the road... at least there wasn't before we turned around. 

 

 

Saturday Morning Wake-Up Call

Andrew LOVES anytime he has Matthew in the bed with him.

Proud sister!

The big kids are already teaching little man to tickle them!

LOVE how Andrew sweetly says to him, "Awe, he's so adorable"!

"CHEESE!"