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....

 

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.