This week's family moment!

Every year the Jackson Springs Community has a Chicken-n-Dumplin' dinner and auction.
Although Tim could not join us due to his work schedule, the kids (Walker, Hunter and Danielle) and I joined my in-laws for a delightful evening. The food was good and the auction was fun. Hunter had his eye on this beautiful knife. After $25 my bidding ceased. After $525 the knife found its new owner! WOW! I did purchase a bread tray. Very simple and sturdy. I used it to carry leftovers to Tim and his co-workers as well as my staff. Great fun for everyone!

A Very Interesting Video

A very nice clip.

Walker at 9 and 1/2 months

Wow is all I can say! He has really started doing some cute stuff! He's taking steps-being mighty brave some times! He has learned to wave "bye-bye". He loves real-people food- to heck with that smashed, yuk!, baby food! He loves drinking from his sippy cup! He climbs on everything - out of the highchair! up to the top of the couch! into his baby rocking chair to stand up! up the side of his crib! up my leg! he hasn't mastered climbing into the dryer, but the thought has been there! He's a lot of fun - he can even wrestle with Hunter! (But let me remind you, I am not 20 any more, so whew!)

NC State Fair 2006

We are truly a family laid in tradition. For the 9th year in a row, we have traveled the hour and a half trip to Raleigh to spend our money and enjoy all the festivities the fair has to offer. The Village of YesterYear brings back memories and offers lots of stuff to learn to the amazement of our kids. This is where we find the paintings of wildlife or the challenging "screws in a jar"! (That's Tim trying to figure it out...minutes pass, and then more minutes pass, the sun begins to set and still sits Tim. Finally, Whaw La! With a little guidance from the Tarheel girl, he figures it out!) Hunter enjoyed seeing the tiniest horse, the largest snake and the meanest alligator and the tobacco hanging in the barn. The musicians were quite amusing as was the crazy lady dancing ,and singing along and playing that tamborine! (Hunter hid behind his sisters, but Walker smiled at his silly mommy!) I tried to get Danielle to audition for a commercial, but no luck. She was not impressed with my acting ability, thus fearful that my lack of pazaaz would be an inherited trait. Then there was the trip us three girls took to the Levi jeans measurement trailer. I'll not share the discoveries made there, but suffice it to say, I was flattered! We took pictures like Telli-tubbies and Brittney kissed the pig! The cotton candy and dill pickles were our first treats. Flinch was created at the "Make a Bear", "break mom's pocket book" booth. Now a new member of the family. Hunter carried him all day. Danielle got a cute purse with the letter "D" (reminded me a Laverne and Shirley show) We had the good ole hot Apple Cider and tasted "kettle corn". Pizza, stromboli and a Blooming onion joined the list of endulgances. Later we added the funnel cake and NC State Ice Cream! The best part for the kids was the $40 worth of rides. Hunter took Brittney's place in wanting to ride those that truly had "ride me and throw up" listed on them. Nevertheless we all had fun. Last on our list of fun adventures was the family moment on the ferris wheel. (The scariest ride of all according to Hunter and Brittneyas we all 6 climbed aboard) The lights from the fair seen way up high were amazing! Our day ended with feelings of exhilaration....for the kids anyway. Exhaustion was my perspective, but loads of fun and smiles!

More Ocracoke Pictures

Ocracoke Island, NC 2006

All year we look forward to our trip to "the island". My mom and dad fly in from Texas and enjoy a week full of sun, fun, beach and sand, fishing, eating, and non-stop chatter of grandkids!
This year my little brother Jerry and his son Rowdy joined us as well. Although I always feel guilty for the long expensive plane ride, then the long 6 hr drive to the Island, along with the relaxing, but long 2 and 1/2 hr ferry ride, my family takes it all in stride and goes with the flow. This year was a blast. Walker, Jerry and Rowdy's first trip! We fished, played beach football, attempted the skim board, fished some more, escaped a shark, rode in the back of the truck in the cold and in the rain, dug lots of holes, ate and ate and ate, rode bikes, watched movies, enjoyed the local coffee shop, did some shopping, listened to some folk music, went sight-seeing, enjoyed the local hang out as well as Howard's Pub and took over 500 pictures. Most importantly we were all together enjoying just being a family! Until next year........