Palmetto Parade and Festival

Emily and Abby were invited to ride in the Mayor's car and throw out candy during the Palmetto parade and festival to celebrate the opening of the newly renovated train depot.  They had a great time tossing out candy to everyone along Main Street and checking out all of the booths at the festival afterward with their friend, Selena.  Emily's sporting a big gap in her smile in all of these pictures - she lost her front tooth the night before!

Posing in Uncle Larry's cool fire truck

Woody Wagon!

Look at that gappy grin!

Getting ready to head out on the parade route

Here they come!  Emily has great aim, by the way.

Papa John hitched a ride to meet us at our spot with a member of the parade entourage.  He just had the guy pull over and he hopped out to meet us.  That's traveling in style!

Having some fun at the festival.  Emily's representing her Dawgs!

Homecoming at Palmetto UMC

Emily and I recently attended Homecoming at Palmetto Methodist Church to celebrate 160 years of worship.  It was wonderful to be part of their service and share lunch with everyone afterwards.  It was also great to see our two girls serving as acolytes and lighting the candles before the service.  Beautiful service with beautiful people. Come visit sometime!

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!

Meeting the Falcons!

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....