and we had some weekend visitors

Two very special visitors at that.  Matt came to North Carolina for a conference and brought daughters one and two for a long weekend with us.  So Friday AM we met them at the airport with two cars, sent Matt on his way and the four of us had a wonderful weekend.

Picked a few flowers, - some to take home to North Dakota - and some for the counter in in the kitchen here at home in North Carolina. —

At a nearby museum, the kids were very serious participants in science experiments.  Wet cold (for us) Fridays make great days at museums if you have an interest in going I suggest a trip with a kid.

We scheduled our visit to the butterfly house at feeding time and it was lively.  The butterfly house has identification leaflets to aid in identifying the incredible number of amazing butterflies that are in the house. 

For example:  below is the - well, I forgot exactly which one it was— Paper something I think

 and this one is the Owl butterfly — (I am pretty sure), they are both pretty though

We did play some cards, watch Wizard of Oz, (did not stay up to late Laura), did some book reading, played in the cup-de-sac, went for a walk, to church and Sunday School, and had a generally great time.

Went shopping for birthday presents for brothers from the grandparents for upcoming birthdays in March, and "because I was out of town" gifts for their brothers from the girls.  That was a hoot.

And come supper time even had help cooking.  (Matt got back into town Sunday afternoon and took this picture) and then Monday AM the weekend ended and back to the airport we went. —

Such a fast fast wonderful wonderful weekend.

yeah we had some snow

Photo below I understand is a "viral" photo (I got it from the internet) and is of a traffic jam on Glenwood Avenue about two miles further out of town than where we are.  The hills of Glenwood are somewhat of a challenge when iced over and the storm did come very fast as this was just one of many hills that were blocked by a troublesome car or truck around the city Wednesday.  (It is a rather dramatic photo isn't it).  (rest of the story on the car fire — no known cause, no one hurt, but did sorta jam up traffic)

This is North Hills Drive.  A few cars did come by while I was out for a walk.  A fair number of walkers came by — from abandoned cars.  When I started walking the snow was falling but it changed to a very strong wind with a stinging sleet. 

Our house — looked kinda nice — we had four inches of snow — with a sleet cap which made is real crunch. —and it was cold.

 Thursday we started the traditional next day melting.  These are the footprints of the neighborhood coyote.  He has a long stride.  That is my footprint next to his stride.  He came through our back yard, under the deck, across the concrete and down into the woods.  I have seen him in the cul-de-sac, as has Patt.  Patt thinks he may be a fox as his tail is very bushy.  

And this time next week we will have daffodils.  Lots of them.

On Friday 95% of the snow was gone - perhaps more.

one more photo from Va Tech

Told you we had good seats.  Check out the photo below.  Who is between number 20 and number 2.  That would be Travis's Mom (standing in gold and black shirt) and me (in hat).  Mark is to my right looking over Devin Thomas's (#2)  shoulder.  David is to the extreme left of the picture, he was not suited up for the game.  Anna was screened from view by Rountree.  

Photo curtesy of Wake athletic department web page and me copying it.  I didn't take this picture.  (duh)

Virginia Tech and it was Cold, but the Deacons HOT

I hope this picture looks cold. It was cold. Mark and I were in Blacksburg, actual temp about 15 or 18 and wind chill much less and it seemed cold.  We were guests of David and Anna on a tour of Virginia Tech — it is a beautiful campus.  The Drill Field allows for quite the wind effect too.

This arch building whose name I forgot is quite famous and photogenic, it looks out over monuments and onto the Drill Field and into the sun and reflected light from the snow and is not photographable from that angle with my camera and skill level. A missed opportunity.

The inside of the above building, very similar to David's office which he also showed us, as well as the classroom building where he has been studying and teaching these past 15 years. (He is a slow learner)( but he apparently gets there.)

Mark, Anna, and David, in aforementioned building,

Mark and Anna in front of Cassel Gym, even colder, which is home of the Hokies.

We got there early.

I like being early.

Mark and I made two new friends, we tried to trade hats, Mark even offered money, (you know how he can be when he sees a new gizmo or something he thinks he needs.)  ( If you draw his name for Christmas here is an idea.)

The guys above were met by a surprisingly large number of their peers (given the sorry state of Virginia Tech basketball— I mean they were favored by only two points by the gamblers in Las Vegas, — yes Virginia, WF is that bad)  And they were actually fairly loud given that Wake jumped out to an early lead and never trailed — a first for us this year I think— 

Check out the camera angle on the photo below.  yes sir ree-  right behind the bench!  Could have given the coach advice.  Mark got us seats in the parents section behind the Deacon bench. They are real good seats too. I am hoping more parents will not use tickets for future away games and Mark is able to get in line to get them again.  

If you saw the game on the TV, you saw me.  I was sitting beside that woman.  She is the mother of Travis McKie, Wake's only senior and that night's best player.  She was on her feet a lot, loud and very happy - so was I.  She was sent texts by many of her friends who said they saw her on TV.  So there!  

We did not get to listen in on time out discussions, much to my disappointment, but we did get to enjoy the emotions of the bench interactions and the comings and goings on the bench and reactions to game action.  It was fun.  Especially since Wake won. Yes won an away game — a most unusual occurrence.

And the post game - hugs all around. 

 I got one from Travis's Mom.

Still a lot going on

Even though we are down about five grandchildren, the house still is busy.  That is because we still have Raleigh.  He who is in now in constant motion.  If it is not going up the stairs, singing too, in a sort of humming sing song voice, he will be unloading a cabinet in the kitchen.

or the tree.

One morning, out of nowhere and not repeated, he did sit quietly with me while I read the paper and drank coffee.  For about four minutes.  It was nice.  

and once discovered the fireplace and the heat coming from it, well it is a very nice place for us both to sit and share stories of the trials of being so young.

it was a bit of a whirlwind

The umpteenth annual CFC was preceded this year with the reinstitution of the Cookie Caper from years ago.  Niece, Cousin, and now Aunt Susan brought back Aunt Eleanor's Cookie Caper hosted at Aunt Marie's.  Old recipes were used by the youngest set, offspring of the 2nd generation who used the same recipes as children.

The basement in Mark and Marie's home also was an entertainment center.  Clean up in both places was probably a challenge.  Well certainly, not probably.

I like the shirts.  Seem appropriate.

Are appropriate.

the kitchen was full — and events documented too.

 and the fruits of labor enjoyed with lunch.

While the cookies were cooking, the 1st Annual CGO was being played on one beautiful and not quite as cold a day as it appeared to be.

The actual CFC held in our house with activities centered in the basement was a whirlwind of activity with lots of kids, presents and movement.

This event, like the cookie caper, was held under the cloud of the state and nation wide virus that has been causing stomach and lower intestinal distress across all age groups, especially the younger ones.  Our families were no exceptions. Plural is intentional— multigenerational is included.  For a while my attendance was in doubt as I spent time in the emergency room with bleeding associated with the virus. — and sure enough, after the event, more people were sick.  Whether or not attendance was the culprit, we will just have assume it was not.

Tags were read.

occasional levity broke out.

Uncle Lelly even found humor in the evening.

off the books trades were brokered 

(the CFC group photo goes here).

The next day was a Sunday and after church we enjoyed the Panthers victory — and the kids continued their development as football fans, knowledgeable ones at that too. And then we were able to do the family photo - with all, or nearly all eyes, toward the camera.

and Patt and I are quite happy.

(Thanks to James and others for the photos!)

Christmas Eve Eve and Christmas Day

Christmas Eve Day ended with the twelve of us attending one of the "Family Christmas Eve Services"  (our church has five services Christmas Eve - we chose the 5PM one).  The Family Service involves audience participation.  We contributed two angels.  They were marvelous.  

Not only amongst the cutest but brave as they were home based from the balcony and had to go all the way down to the alter at the front of the church.  Of course Dad accompanied them.

Home after church and after a great Patt black bean chili dinner we had three grandsons in the tub— a hoot-- and Jen and Matt did the washing too.

Christmas morning started with Julianna tugging on our sheets at 5:45 telling us it was 15 minutes before 7.  We established that she was an hour early, got her in bed with us and waited till we heard the two Dad's taking the boys down stairs some 30 minutes later.

Present opening was a hoot, lots to open and lots of group opening and oohing and aahing.

A big hit was the iPad for the Big three.

Stephen and Raleigh represented the southern contingent of our family as Jen was a bit under the weather — well a lot actually under-the weather and until late in the day was pretty much bedridden.  Raleigh was also a bit lethargic.- putting it mildly —  (This is a harbinger of things to come)

Trucks of all sizes motored across the floor, and games were played.

Got in a family photo, with most looking at the camera.  Matt thinks he has a good one or two on his camera too.

And we ended the day watching a movie in the basement, just before sending the kids off to bed and the adults having a quiet glass of wine. Well that was not to be. The second round of under-the weather hit the Eastern contingent of our family about the time Lydia got in bed. 

Laundry is being done now and other adults are not feeling so hot.  It may be a long couple of days.  Tonight probably will be long.