Visiting NC

If you remember from my earlier post, we spent 4 days in TN with Greg’s family for our "Christmas #1." Then we drove to see my family in NC on the afternoon of the 23rd (last Friday), after a short 3 hour trip. Funny how 3 hours seems like NOTHING in the car! :) We were there for 10 days and finally back home to AL on Monday night. We had a wonderful time with our families, but it’s nice to be back in our own home!!

But anyways...back to the NC trip...

Saturday/Christmas Eve morning was the big event….Nate’s “Fun Run” & Poppy/Greg’s 5K! We had high hopes for Nate’s first official race, and so did he. Too high, we found out pretty quickly. Greg ran alongside Nate, because there were a LOT of big kids participating (it was 8 & under). About 10 seconds into the “race,” Nate found out he was not going to win & started to cry. It was a 1/4 mile race, and I think he cried for 90% of it. And at one point, Greg was jogging and carrying Nate. So...epic fail. I managed to get some hilarious pics though!



Nate cheered up once he got his medal (all the fun run participants got one, but don’t tell N that!) and some donuts. We had fun cheering on Poppy & Daddy in their race, and looked goofy while doing so with our reindeer antlers and Santa hats on. Even for an old man with a hurt foot, Poppy did awesome and got 3rd place in his age group! Nate slept with both his medal & Poppy’s trophy at naptime. Too cute!!







We came home from the race, and quickly made cookies for Santa (and a huge mess) because the kids were fading fast and were ready to nap.



(See my previous post here for Christmas Eve & Christmas day highlights)

The day after Christmas was my “baby” sister’s 30th birthday!!! Though we had surprised her with a birthday party in Charlotte 2 weeks earlier, it was still fun to celebrate with her in person on her big day. Well, actually...she & Mike slept in while Nanny & I woke up early to hit the after-Christmas sales!! When I texted Bec “Happy Birthday,” I asked how the kids were, since she was at home with Greg and them. She reported that Nate and Greg were taking turns shooting each other with guns, and were also shooting O’Malley. Poor dog!! We took a quick trip to the playground at Tanglewood before lunch, and then settled in for afternoon naps. For Bec’s bday dinner, we all went out to Village Tavern...SO good! I had the most delicious shrimp & grits...yes, I am truly a Southern Belle now. Abby had fun eating off of EVERYONE’S plates, and Nate dazzled us in his new “college professor” outfit. He was just too stinkin’ cute, thanks to Aunt Bebe.


The kids helped Aunt Bebe blow out the candles on her carrot cake when we got home, and then we laughed our heads off at the cheap-o party hats & blowers my dad had gotten. I think they were on clearance at the dollar store.


***Did I mention that my gorgeous little sister is PREGNANT!?!?!? Oh yes, she is due in July with little "Tater." Here are the proud parents-to-be!***

Can you tell I'm excited to be an aunt!?!?

Bec & Mike had to leave on the 27th, after Abby's first haircut, so we spent the next 5 days spending some QT with just Nanny & Poppy. Some highlights included:
- Watching "The Polar Express" in the at-home movie theate... complete with popcorn, pillow pets, and Abby's 100 stuffed animal friends

- Mine & Greg's TWO dates: one lunch date at the Loop (be jealous, Dixie!) and a very delicious dinner date at Paul's (lobster ravioli, so good!!)

- Playgrounds and walks and throwing rocks in the creek with Nanny
- "Battles" with the nerf guns, machine gun, wolverine claw, and Ironman gloveshooter

- Watching Abby run, with arms outstretched to Poppy every morning. They really bonded this trip & had fun giggling together!

- N&P braving Chuck E Cheese alone with the kids



- Yummy meals at IHOP and Mi Pueblo
- Everyone enjoying Nanny's new Kindle Fire

- Nate asking when Deedee was going to come over (So sweet!) She ate 3 dinners with us, and liked watching the kids play. Though it was sad b/c she had NO idea who they were. Alzheimer's is the worst.
- Watching Abby race down the driveway hill like a wild woman!!

- Shopping with Mom (we didn't do as much damage as usual)
- Nate asking for his "Weapster" every morning

- Poppy & Greg going to the WFU vs. Yale bball game, or as Greg called it: The Battle of the S.A.T's
- The teeth/skeeball game and chair lifts at Sciworks





- Visiting with some friends from high school whom I haven't seen in years!
- Building forts

- Poppy & Greg doing a 5K at MIDNIGHT on New Year's Eve at Tanglewood, through the Festival of Lights. Greg enjoyed it b/c he got to try out his new shoes, but Poppy might need a headlamp for next year b/c it was so dark!
- Abby chasing poor O'Malley around the house, pulling on/riding his tail like he was a dolphin

- Nate asking to turn on the gas logs first thing every morning (till they broke), and cozying up with Abby in front of the fire in their pjs & snuggies