January 2015

Rachel's whole family had the flu so Jonas spent his days with us for a week.  It was a cold, rainy week so we had to have fun inside.

Play-doh was a lot of fun.

  He watched a few movies on the Kindle.

Towards the end of the week it finally stopped raining and warmed up a bit.  We spent the afternoon picking up sticks from the yard and then burned them in the fire pit.  They were damp from the rain so they didn't burn well, but they burned well enough to roast marshmallows.

Both Rachel and Emily gave me canning supplies for Christmas.  I couldn't wait until the summer to use them so, since we were out of jelly, I made some preserves. This canning lid holder is one of my new favorite things.  No more burned fingers getting the lids out of hot water.

I used some frozen strawberries and blackberries to make preserves. I also used some canned peaches to make peach preserves but I didn't take any pictures of those.

We visited our Virginia family.  This is Sam with an elaborate Lego complex he built on his desk.

 We played a game called Quelf. (I'm guessing at the spelling.) 

Jaclyn and Sam are conferring on their next move.

Jack is plotting something sneaky.

 

Caleb seems confident, but in the end, I was the winner.

Phillip doesn't play board games, so he spent the time bonding with Isla.  She's a good dog.

December 2014

I went to Polar Express night at Chapel Grove Elementary School with Lilly and Lucy.  The highlight of the evening was the "snow" that fell in the school courtyard.

Jonas had fun with the singing Christmas wreath.  It's motion-activated, and it opens and closes its eyes and mouth while it sings.  

 We celebrated Laura's birthday.

Lilly came early and helped me get ready for the family Christmas party.  She worked really hard.

For the first time in several years, our entire family was here for the Christmas party.  My camera's battery died before I could get many pictures, but these are the best of the ones I was able to get.

Jonas and Jennifer

Daniel, Lucy, Sam, and Jon

 Caleb

On Christmas Eve, Rachel invited us for brunch at her house. 

Laura and Lucy

Lucy with her mug of hot chocolate

Christmas Day photos

 

 

November

Our annual family camping trip took place in October and November.  The November part wasn't as stormy as the October part.  It was colder but we all managed to stay warm and have a good time.

 Jennifer and Jason cooked a delicious supper one night in their Dutch oven.

 Lilly and Lucy always like to keep their hair braided when we go camping.  It's easy to care for and they look really pretty.

 

Lilly found some hickory nuts and Phillip cracked them for her.  

 Lilly and Rachel staying warm around the fire.

 We went adventuring one Saturday.  This is Caesar's Head State Park in South Caroling.  I see more of a monkey's head or a dog's head in this rock formation but I guess someone saw Caesar's head.

The views from the observation points were beautiful. 

October Adventures

I am really, really late with the post for October.  There's no excuse.  I just couldn't get motivated to do it.  

We started the month with my 60th birthday on October 2.  It's weird being 60.  The other day I was listening to a news report about an accident, and the reporter referred to the victim as "elderly."  The man was 62.  From my point of view, this fellow wasn't elderly at all.  He was just getting started.  But I am so blessed to be this age, to see my children and grandchildren.  I don't deserve any of these blessings.  It's all the grace of God and I am thankful.

 I'm wearing the beautiful gloves that Hannah gave me for my birthday.  They are the perfect gift for me.  

 We visited the Natural Bridge in Virginia where a chunk of rock fell off and almost hit us.  That didn't happen 42 years ago when we were there on our honeymoon.  I guess the bridge is aging and getting a little shaky, just like we are.

We spent some time in Radford to see our Virginia girls, Jaclyn and Emily and their families.  Caleb celebrated his 14th birthday.  That's almost as hard to grasp as my 60th birthday.  He's grown into a young man so quickly.  I didn't take any pictures.  The boys have gotten camera shy as they've gotten older, which I completely understand.

 Our Lucy girl spent the night with us.  She is playing games on my Kindle and eating bunches of candy.  We used our new patio for the first time.  We roasted hot dogs and marshmallows.  I hope Lucy had a good time; we certainly did.

Laura got a new car.  Her old one finally gave up.  It was a good car and she drove it a long time.  I hope this one gives her that kind of service.

Hannah grew pumpkins this year.  She carved one to take on our camping trip.  This is the beginning.

And this is the result.  She did a great job on this little owl.

We ended the month with our annual family camping trip at Kings Mountain State Park.  If you're from this area, you may remember that there was a significant storm on Oct. 31.  This picture shows our attempts to stay dry.  Since it almost always rains on our camping trips, we should have been better prepared, but we survived and had a good time.

September

We started September with a beach vacation. 

The NC Aquarium featured a butterfly exhibit.  It's hard to see in this picture but the air was full of butterflies.

There were employees stationed at the exits to be sure no hitchhikers rode out with us.

 Phillip and Hannah on the Southport/Fort Fisher ferry

We celebrated Hannah's 20th birthday. 

We drove to the Blue Ridge Parkway one Saturday.  This beautiful pond was at one of the overlooks.

We went camping to try out our new tent.  It was Lilly's turn to spend the night so she went with us. 

 Work started on the patio.  This is beside the carport at the back of the house.

Beginning in September, Phillip is only working 4 days a week.  He is easing into retirement.  His plan is to retire fully at the end of the year.  I completed my training for the Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee and I'm looking forward to the opportunity to volunteer in this capacity.