Like pulling teeth

This past Saturday Andy and I joined my family for a picnic and "half-way to Christmas" get together.

As always, it was a lot of fun to see everyone and catch up. It seems like as we all grow up and start lives of our own getting the whole group together is difficult. Even on Saturday there were some people missing; my brother and his brood and two other cousins.

When I was a teenager I missed a lot of these family time things because I was working or "had more important" things to do. Then I grew up a little bit and lost a couple of family members and realized how much they all meant to me and that we wouldn't all be here forever. This has become even more clear to me since my accident in April. My friend Whitney said it best when she said, "We're all young and in our twenties and think we're invincible, but any day it could all be taken away from us."

I don't mean to sound so gloomy, but it's the truth and sometimes it takes a traumatic event to make you realize what's important.

So whenever an opportunity comes up for me to see my family or friends I like to do what I can to make sure I'm there. I also come with camera in tow because I think it's important to document these activities. If we don't get to do it again for a couple of years then we'll be totally different, there might be a few new family members, or maybe even one or two less. So I've made it my mission to capture everyone on film at every opportunity.

No matter where we are I take our tripod with me and I make everyone line up for a group shot. There is much moaning and groaning and someone usually points out that we did this the last time we were together. But I don't care.

One day, maybe years from now, they'll be glad I made them do it. And these pictures will probably be most meaningful to the biggest complainers.


Left to right, starting in the front:

Aunt Lea, Aunt Pam (with Sophie), Uncle Todd, Me, Andy, Mamaw
Wes (Luke's friend), Caleb, Luke, Bekah, Elizabeth, Hannah
Uncle Tony, Aunt Donna, My parents - Julia and Terry

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A weekend spent out of doors

We've had a really awesome weekend. It's so nice to be out and about doing things again.

Yesterday I traveled to Greensboro for a joint birthday party for my oldest nephew and niece. I was worried for a couple of reasons. First, I was pretty sure I was going to have to drive all the way there and I haven't driven on the interstate since before the accident. I did indeed drive, but it wasn't as bad as it could have been. The traffic was really not so bad and there weren't too many crazy drivers out there. Second, I'm not used to the heat in the lower part of the state. My mountain has hardly seen 90 degrees yet this summer and I was not at all looking forward to being outside with all the extra heat and humidity. But, once again, my worries were for naught because it really wasn't all that awful. We picnicked in the shade and while I did sweat more than usual I wasn't miserable. So that was good.

The party was at Bur-Mil park and after the picnic the kids were going swimming at the pool there. I went prepared to swim with them, but my ankle was swollen pretty bad at that point and I was already exhausted. So some of us decided to call it a day and head home. The journey home wasn't too bad either, but by the time I got back up the mountain to our apartment I crashed. I took a lovely little nap while Andy went for a bike ride and then we went out for a late dinner.

I made these cupcakes for the party.
Butterflies for Veronica and trains for Jerem.
I got the idea from Hello Cupcake! which my
mother-in-law gave me.
The butterflies are in the book and the
trains were my own creation.
The cupcake recipe came out of it too.
Banana Chocolate and they were yummy!

The baby was passed out when she got there

Alex, chowing down on some chicken.
We had KFC and you can't go wrong with
KFC at a picnic.
Jerem had a blast!
I asked Veronica to pose and this is what she gave me.
She's going to regret this one day.

Today was much more low-key. After sleeping in a bit Andy got up and went for another bike ride and I watched a movie I had rented. Then we headed out to a local lake to have a picnic. The lake is small, but it has picnic shelters, a play area for kids and there is a beach area with a doc and lifeguard so people can swim. Today has been so nice out and we were definitely not the only ones enjoying the day. We didn't swim because we had some other things to get done today, but we spent a while laying on a blanked and people watching. People watching is one of my favorite things to do. I wouldn't mind if we made this a Sunday ritual.

Our view of the lake

Feet on the picnic blanket.
Andy says his feet look bad.
I guess that's why he's curling his toes under.
Watching the clouds
The "beach" and dock are on the other side of these trees

The Party

After a little meltdown by the birthday boy we had quite a nice time yesterday. We're still not sure what triggered the little crying fit, but he got over it and enjoyed his party. That's really all that matters.

We consumed pizza and cake and opened presents then pilled in the car and went to the town park. That is, after we went to Dollar General to get shoes for the guest of honor. My mother wouldn't be my mother if she didn't forget something.

Here are some pictures to chronicle our adventures.

A glimpse of things to come

The party's over.

Pizza and cupcakes were had. Presents were opened and enjoyed. Mylar balloons were fought over. I have lot's of pictures and a few videos to share with you, but I'm exhausted and right now all I really want to do is sit on the couch and recover.

So I'll leave you with this and a promise of more to come tomorrow.

Finally some pictures

Here are pics from the birthday party.

Some of my decor.
I put 3 of these on each table.
I had about 30 different pictures of him.

The cake.
I got an edible image cake
from Lowes' food.
It was really good!Getting to the party. He had just realized he'd been duped.

Getting food!
Terry with Annie Lou
(His mom)Mom & Terry.
He's wearing the "Looking good at 50"
hat that I made him. It has googly eyes.

A baby and a bride

Wow, what an exciting weekend!

Tuesday, June 3rd, Jenn had her baby. Michael Coleman came into the world that night. He weighed 5lbs 13 ozs and was 19" long. Of course I had to go see the little peanut. It worked out perfectly because Saturday I went to pick Shannon up from the airport for Whitney's wedding this weekend and we stopped in on the new family.

Cole is such a little cutie. And man is he ever little. He's so tiny he almost doesn't look real and then all of a sudden he moves his head. It's so cute. And his cry sounds like a little cat. It's so tiny. I'm sure Jenn and Jeff don't think so, it's probably pretty loud to them. Jenn's sister Laurie came by also with her girls, Jordan and Peyton. They are growing up so fast and they are so much fun!

We had planned to only stay an hour or two so we didn't tire them out too bad. But we didn't get out of there for about 5 hours. Wow. It was so great to see everyone though. It's crazy that Jenn and Jeff are parents, but I can already tell that they are going to make great ones.

Cole was snuggling with his daddy when we got there

Cole and Mommy

Looks like he's a snugglerTiny baby feet

Jordan wanted her picture taken,
but she wouldn't sit still so she's fuzzy.

Peyton is fuzzy too It's good to be together again.
Even if it's just for a few hours
This is what Cole was doing when we left

Sunday we spent the morning lounging and eating Bojangles (you're welcome Shannon) and then we started getting ready for the wedding. Shannon and I were guest registrars. We did the guest book and programs at the ceremony. And then at the reception they had a special picture guest book. So we manned that one too. We had to take the guests pictures and have them leave well wishes in the guest book. I'm not sure that everyone understood what was going on, but we got the job done. Some of the elderly guests thought we worked there. One lady asked me where our restrooms were located and an elderly couple told Shannon that they didn't have any money for her to take their picture. She had a hard time making them understand that we were friends of the couple and doing this per their request. No charge!!

After our duties were done we commenced enjoying ourselves. Much food and wine was consumed and I actually found some wine that I like to drink. Shocker! There was lots of organized dancing and I think that was the best aerobic workout that I've had in a long time.

All in all, the day was wonderful. The bride was beautiful, the groom was handsome and they were the very picture of the happy couple.

MOB (Cindy) Putting on the veil.
Whitney wore her mother's wedding gown and veil.

Looking in the mirror.Trying not to cryThese are our "corsages " So cute!!Nobody's getting past us!
Shannon is laughing at me for being stupid.Giving the bride awayThey're Married!!Cildress Vineyards The reception site was beautiful!The "cake" They did cupcakes like Andy and I.
The topper is the small cake they cut.Table centerpiecesReady for guests to arrive at the reception.The happy couple! Posing with the brideCutting the cakeCake in the face!Seated at our tableShannon and I were dance partners.
Andy isn't big on dancing.Cutting a rug!In the conga line!Last dance of the night!
"New York, New York" was the song.
Kind of a strange choice,
but it was fun to sing along.
In the car ready to go home.
I was a hot mess, literally.Shannon passed out on the way home.
She doesn't look very comfy does she?Oh yeah, my car hit the 200,000
milestone on the way home.
Wow!

Congratulations to Jeff & Jenn and Daniel & Whitney. It's such and exciting time for you guys! I can't wait to see what the future holds for all of us.