NOTHING COULD BE FINER...

NCSU WOLFPACK 41

UNC TARHEELS 10

Enough Said :-)

My 5 seconds of fame...

So... at the chili cook-off last weekend, I was interviewed for a little pre-game piece along with Don, my godfather, and David, his son. I guess it is my 5 seconds of fame... click on the link below to see highlights of all of last weekend's ACC football games. The NCSU pre-game piece starts at 2:12 in the video. You will also see my sister, Shelly, holding my adorable niece, Sydney before the actual "interviews" begin. Go PACK!

http://www.theacc.com/library/acc-06-video-iframe.html?&videoToPlay=http://mfile.akamai.com/8108/wmv/cstvcbs.download.akamai.com/8108/open/acc/08-09/video/m-footbl/11nov/111908-thisweek-fb.asx

Ashley Ward Photography

Sunday afternoon, we had our portraits taken at Swan Lake by Ashley Ward. Ashley is a friend of mine... and her daughter, Riley, is a good friend of Jessica's. Ashley does such a wonderful job photographing children! She is so patient & lets them spend most of their time playing. The shoot lasted almost 2 hours... we were not at all rushed, we walked around the entire lake, and we all had a great time playing & feeding the swans & geese! Ashley has put up preview pictures on her blog... so check them out! If 25 people comment on HER blog (link is below & on the right side of my blog), we will get a free 5x7... so look & comment! I am excited about seeing all of the proofs this weekend!!!!

Ashley's Blog: http://www.ashleywardphotography.blogspot.com/

Tailgating... WOLFPACK Style!

Don & Linda's Annual Chili Cook-Off! The highlight of the NCSU football tailgating season... I believe this is the 15th year for the cook-off?? Don & Linda are my godparents and they have always been an important part of my life... and we LOVE tailgating with them! I don't remember how old I was when I went to my first NCSU football game... but I know this is where we were tailgating! This weekend the Wolfpack played Wake Forest and it was the only game this season I made it to (James was able to go to two others)... but I made it to the chili cook-off game! James' parents were able to come to our house to keep the kids... so James & I got up early Saturday morning to leave for Raleigh. We actually got to the tailgate spot BEFORE anyone else... first time in my life! I made my delicious pot of chili the night before and it was on the grill in time!

Jessica snaps our picture before we head off to Raleigh...

Ready to tailgate...

Chili Cook-Off "rules" include:

- You cannot add ingredients after the chili is on the grill (except you can see Tina stirring in some wishful thinking...)

- Significant others of contestants are NOT allowed to judge (Tina tried to buy votes here, too...)

- Judges must know what chili is supposed to taste like (well... not sure this happened...)

Last call for chili entries...

We love you, T... but no amount of wishful thinking will help you now ;)

Once everyone arrived... the ACC camera crew arrived to interview Don & David A. about the tradition. Somehow, I ended up on the wrong side of the camera, too... we will see how the interview turns out...

David gets interviewed while we stand in the background trying to make him laugh.

My turn now...

The contestants...

Some of the judges...

Two "lucky" contestants receive the Hot Dog Award and the Spaghetti Award... my mom is familiar with the Spaghetti Award (especially the year she went with the bean-less chili WITH mushrooms... hello?) And the results are...

Hot Dog Award - Linda

Spaghetti Award - Charlie (and he owns several restaurants?? I recommend his spaghetti!)

Third Place - David A. (somehow, Darrell won $40 on this one?)

Second Place - Will

And the First Place Winners ARE.... Madison & Ashley!

Don gives Linda her "Hot Dog Award"

Madison receives his 1st Place Award!

Somehow... I didn't place in the top three this year??? Like I mentioned earlier, not sure if the judges really knew what good chili is supposed to taste like! I already have my "chili" plan for next time...

James & David C.

The cutest fan at the stadium... Sydney (my niece)

Before we go in to the game... the tradition is that we have to touch the Wolf on top of the Big RED pig cooker...

Straight out of the Wolf's Den...

The Half-Time Show...

reminding me to look UP!

NCSU 21 - WF 17... A WOLFPACK WIN!!!!!!!!

After the game, we went out to dinner with friends, watched a movie, and crashed at David's house... thanks for letting us stay with you! We had a nice time... especially not having to worry about any little ones underfoot! Thanks to Anne & Jimmy for coming to stay with them! We woke up early Sunday morning to head home to a busy day... another post!

Fire Station Tour

Last week, I took Jamie & Jacob on a tour of the fire station with our playgroup. Jacob LOVES fire trucks... and dump trucks, garbage trucks, tanker trucks, tractors... you get the point. It seems that as far as little boys go... they love balls & sports, dinosaurs, superheros, trains, or cars & trucks... and our little man goes for the cars & trucks! Needless to say, he had a great time. Jamie wasn't too sure about listening to the firemen, and wasn't terribly impressed with the big red fire engines... but Jacob loved it. He followed the firemen around without even looking back to see where I was, he was speechless as they showed him the tools & equipment on the trucks, and he was the first in line to shake the fireman's hand as he dressed in full bunker gear. Jamie... well, she wouldn't even look at them with their gear on... but did reluctantly give him "five" when he took his gear off. Afterwards, we headed to Moe's to grab lunch with a few friends... we had a nice morning.

Jacob is impressed with the equipment on the truck!

After the demonstration... Jonathan, Jamie, & Jacob wonder how to get up the pole!

Jacob... quick to give a hand shake...

Jamie only does so when the gear comes off!

Jonathan tries on the coat... he has a little more growing to do!

Jacob, Jamie, & Cameron on the vintage fire truck!

A Camp Out, A Picnic, Family & Friends...

We had a fun and busy weekend... this fall weather is the best... cool evenings... warm & sunny days! Friday night we decided to have a camp out with our neighbors... in Hunter's back yard! Troy set up the PERFECT fire pit & we all had a great time. We cooked hot dogs over the campfire... they were delicious! We also made s'mores... Jessica & Hunter LOVED them... the other kids (myself included) preferred eating roasted marshmallows and the Hershey chocolate bars separate. Afterwards, we ended up with three guitars and all of the kids sitting around the campfire playing music and singing songs. I think ABC's and Twinkle Twinkle were probably sung the most. The kids were able to run around and play tag in the dark, while James, Troy, Londa & me enjoyed the campfire. At bedtime, I took the twins inside to sleep while James, Jessica, Jaycie, Troy, & Hunter slept in tents. The kids watched a movie in the tent before falling asleep. One of the best things about camping in the backyard... they woke up in the morning to a light rain... and just came inside! I think we will definitely do this again! Once we get a bigger tent... we will definitely have to start doing camping trips again... we don't all fit in the tent we have anymore ;)

Hunter, Jacob, Jaycie, & Jamie playing in one of the tents while James & Troy are setting up the other.

Campfire Hot Dogs... Yummy!

Hunter volunteers to taste the first S'more...

"Can I have S'more please?"

Jacob & Hunter leading the campfire songs...

Troy & Londa

James & Me

James & the girls are ready for bed... sleep tight!

Nana & Papaw came to visit this weekend, too! Mom & I had a chance to do a little shopping on Saturday morning - which is a bit limited around here ;) The kids spent most of the day playing outside. Unfortunately, Jessica ended up feeling bad that afternoon and spent that evening and all day Sunday resting... the good news is that she is better and we actually didn't have to visit the pediatrician (considering we have been every week for the past three... it will be nice to have a week off... it is only Tuesday, but we hope we make it!) Sunday afternoon, we had a picnic in the back yard with Nana & Papaw before they had to head home... beautiful day... relaxing picnic!

Jaycie, Jamie, & Jacob ended up coming to be with us in the shade...

Jessica & Baron ended up taking a nap on their picnic blanket.

They all decided they needed a good wrestling match with Daddy...

Sunday evening, we hosted a potluck dinner with our small group. We had a really nice time (except that Jessica had to stay in our room watching movies b/c she wasn't feeling well... but she was a trooper and got her much deserved milkshake last night for being such a good sport!) James actually fried a turkey... his first time ever... and it tasted wonderful! Several of the kids ended up getting into the dress up box... so we had a visit from Cinderella, Tinkerbell, Sleeping Beauty, and Peter Pan! The girls did a show for us... they were so very cute! I have the privilege of teaching several of the kids on Wednesday nights... and I just love spending time with them. Thanks everyone... for fun fellowship and a delicious dinner!

Justin & Carter

Lilly, Jaycie, & Sara... now these are three SWEET little girls!

Thomas... I mean, Peter Pan

King's Tree Trials

On Saturday, we took the kids to the "King's Tree Trials"... a local horse race. It was our first time taking the kids to a horse race (James and I went to the Camden Cup once before the kids came along, where I was out of place w/o a HUGE hat & lots of jewelry... this was not the case this time... I didn't even see any big hats!) The weather was beautiful and the kids had a really nice time. James' company had reserved a spot at the finish line and the kids were able to stand right at the front of the fence... they were running a betting table... $1 per entry... and James lost a few dollars. Jacob actually picked 2/4 of the races we watched... he would just look up and say "That's my favorite!" James should have listened to him. After awhile, the kids were getting hot being directly in the sun... we were on the "inside" of the track... so we moved to the "outside" track where people could watch who had not reserved a space. Surprisingly, there were $100 bets going on over there?!?!?! Anyway, we sat in the shade and the kids had space to run around and play. Afterwards, we walked around and were able to pet a few horses, the highlight of Jessica's day... they were beautiful. Jessica told me that if she ever gets a horse, she will not race him because she thinks it is too hard on the horse... I agree.

Jessica & a new friend, Mackenzie, wait for one of the races to start.

Jaycie fans Jacob... a sweet moment.

This horse smiled for the cameras while posing for his 1st place photos!

Cooling down after the race...

Happy Halloween!

Our Halloween Adventures...

- Halloween tattoos for everyone before school!

- I started my Christmas shopping while all the kiddos went off to school (everyone is healthy!)

- Since the girls only had a half-day, we met Margie, Allie, & Melanie for pizza!

- Daddy safely arrived home on time from his week in Texas... thank goodness!

- Daddy & the girls had time to carve a quick pumpkin... we weren't sure if this would happen since James was out of town... we kept our pumpkin pattern simple this year... it was a Jessica & Jaycie original!

- We decorated Halloween cookies with Hunter!

- All of the kids excitedly got dressed & ready for trick-or-treating...

- Hunter & his parents came over to trick-or-treat with us... we should be safe with two superheroes!

- We met up with Allie & Melanie while trick-or-treating... making the girls extremely happy!

- Jamie & Jacob REALLY got into trick-or-treating this year... they loved it! Jacob has done well understanding that he can only eat the candy we choose for him... thank goodness!

- After about an hour, Jaycie, Jamie, Jacob & Hunter were cold and tired, so we returned home... Jessica continued on with Allie & Melanie & Mr. Mike. She was so excited to be able to stay out later than her younger siblings!

- Jaycie, Hunter, Jamie, & Jacob enjoyed passing out candy to all of the princesses, superheroes, ghosts, goblins, and witches that came by our house. I think they enjoyed this as much as trick-or-treating...

- We enjoyed our annual first pot of chili on Halloween night after trick-or-treating... this has become a tradition for our family.

- We said goodnight to Hunter, Londa, & Troy... Jacob blew out our pumpkin... and all the kids went to bed... so did we!

We had a great day... but we definitely thought about our friends in NC. We hope Emma & family had a great time trick-or-treating... and I hope my "Core Four" friends & family had a fun time, too... from the preview pictures, it looks like it definitely would have been an interesting night... as is par for the course! We miss all of you!