The White House

Monday, October 15, 2012

Oldies but goodies

While poking around in our picture files looking for an elusive photo, I couldn't resist the urge to post a few of my favorite shots of Emily. Hasn't she grown? Hope you enjoy the retrospective!

Monday, September 24, 2012

Well, not the whole team - just one! Matt Boscher, the punter for the Falcons, visited a local Publix and we took Emily to get her Falcons jersey signed. She was so excited to meet a real Falcon - you can see it all over her face in the pictures below. She was also really jazzed to get an autograph for one of her favorite teachers at school. He collects players' autographs to display in his room and she can't wait to take him his prize tomorrow. She is truly equal parts me and Donald. I can paint her nails and give her crazy hairdos and he can plan excursions like this. Fortunately, she's equally excited with either activity. Rise up, Falcons!

Looking a little rabid in this one!

Freddie the Falcon

And just because we bought five specially marked items at Publix, we received this "free" football, which Matt also signed. Fantastic marketing ploy! At least now I'm stocked up on Clorox wipes and Glad trashbags for a bit.

Applepicking at Merciers

Donald and I took the girls for our annual trek to Blue Ridge to visit Merciers Orchard. It's such a great place! We came home with loads of delicious apples to eat and to share. Tonight I'm going to try to make applesauce in the crockpot and tomorrow....drying apple rings in the oven! I'm a regular Betty Crocker these days. Enjoy the pictures!

Love those sassy sunglasses!

Hairdo of the day - double lace braid headband

I would really like to live here!

Hunting the perfect apples

Such a grown up girl!

Cute Cousins

I snapped these cute pictures of Abby and Emily playing on the swingset at Mim and Papa's house the other day. They were having so much fun spinning each other around on the tire swing! Amy and I used to roll each other across the yard in a fiberglass barrel that Papa brought home from work. Those were the days....

Tuesday, September 04, 2012

Hot Air Balloon Festival at Callaway

Photo courtesy of www.callawaygardens.com

Donald and I took the girls to see the Sky High Hot Air Balloon Festival at Callaway Gardens this year. We've never been before but think we'll add it to our yearly to-do list now that we've experienced it. I don't think I've ever been that close to a hot air balloon before. We had a picnic on the lawn while watching braver park visitors take tethered rides in the balloons. Then we headed over for some miniature golf and spider jumping before the big balloon glow at dusk. Seeing so many balloons lit up around the beach was spectacular! Our pictures just don't do it justice. I borrowed the picture at the top from Callaway's website because it does a better job of showing the balloons at night. Who knows...perhaps we'll even go for a ride next year!

Enjoying a litle dinner and people watching

Check out that cool hairdo - that's a new style we've been practicing

Thanks to Emily, we have a shot of the two of us!

First launch!

Don't worry - they're just posing. There was no balloon attached to the basket!

Best seat in the house!

A little putt-putt before the big show begins

Both girls have mastered the back flip on the spider jump!

It was amazing - you could feel the heat all over the beach from all of the balloons!

The Harley Davidson balloon was really dramatic when it was all lit up.

Happy birthday - Part two

A few years ago, we put in place the tradition of having Chinese food with our closest family and friends to celebrate Emily's birthday. We always have the "kid" party (see sprinkler post below), but we also have a family get together at her favorite restaurant. This year we had a delicious dinner and were served by Emily's favorite waitress. The entire staff stopped by the table to visit and wish her a happy birthday. They all commented that they had watched her grow up through the years - very sweet! They even dug up a 7th birthday candle to present her with her celebratory orange. We also feasted on another birthday tradition - Krispy Kreme doughnuts! We make a special trip each year to pick up doughnuts for Emily's party. This year two dozen were sent to her classroom to share at snack time because the Kona Ice truck came to her birthday party. I know her teacher was thrilled this year. Emily actually shares a birthday with another student, which meant there were doughnuts for snacktime and cupcakes for lunch from the other family. Just imagine - 22 sugared up 7 year olds all packed into one classroom! We couldn't resist picking up a couple dozen more Krispy Kremes to share at dinner with our family. It was lots of fun watching our sweet girl open her birthday gifts. When we asked her later which gift was her favorite, she replied, "All of them! I couldn't pick a favorite!" Well played, Emily!