Trick or Treat! 2010

We had a great first Halloween in North Carolina! Our new neighborhood really goes all out...great decorations, lots of food, campfires, and socializing. Can't beat that, huh?

Before trick or treating, Ron and Donna had a bunch of us over for an early supper.

Skeleton Diva and Iron Man

Gimme some candy!

Doc Holliday and lady friend

Dylan and Laney

Iron Man watching Spider Man meet Spider Man.

Candy Corn Witch and Miss Nerdy

This is serious business. Isaac informed us he wanted to walk all night, and actually showed no signs of slowing down, so we had to change directions without him knowing.

Arianna, Olivia, Kat, and Diana -all 5th graders living within a few houses of each other - and they all get along great. Sweet girls!

Buddies

It's not Halloween until someone loses a tooth. I'm sure the tooth fairy is booked overtime. Unfortunately, Scott lost a crown while eating a tootsie roll. In other words, Scott got the trick while Grey got the treat.

Donna manned the candy table while we walked with the kids.

And this is what happens the day after too much chocolate and sugar with too little sleep. Don't worry, he's not driving.

Tornado Update

This is from the Charlotte Observer:

Posted: Friday, Oct. 29, 2010

TERRELL The National Weather Service has confirmed that a third tornado struck the region

northwest of Charlotte this week, at Lake Norman in extreme eastern Catawba County and

southwestern Iredell County.

National Weather Service officials in Greenville-Spartanburg confirmed late Thursday that a

tornado path began at Kiser Island Road and Lee Point at Lake Norman in southeastern

Catawba County.

The tornado then moved northeast across the main channel of the lake and lifted just east of

Bayberry Creek Court and Kemp Road in south Iredell, officials said.

(This takes the path directly over our house on Bayberry Creek!)

In one concentrated area of Catawba County, the tornado uprooted trees and snapped others,

caused minor roof damage and destroyed docks along the eastern half of Harbor Circle.

Downed trees damaged the roofs of several homes, and a boat docked off Harbor Circle was

blown on shore near the Hager Creek Access Area on the Iredell County side of the lake.

Weather officials said the most damaged area in Iredell County was along the waterfront on

Kemp Road, which is off McKendree Road and Brawley School Road. Numerous lots had

major tree damage, and trees damaged several homes, officials said.

Last Night's Tornado

We woke up last night at 12:15 with lightning and thunder crashing. Scott mumbled something about the wind picking up. And then we heard the roar. We jumped out of bed, and I ran upstairs to get the kids. Scott opened the front door to look out, and you could see the debris flying by. And then...it was over. That fast. Before I could even wake the kids. Scary.

This is the lake house behind us. It was completely destroyed. *

This is another lot behind us.

Same lot.

Looking up our street.

Neighbors 3 doors down.

Same house.

House across from previous home had the garage doors blown off and wooden play set destroyed.

4 doors down.

Looking toward our house (last driveway in the distance).

I'm thankful that none of our neighbors were hurt. And, compared to their damage, ours seems minimal. But..my beloved plant stand was twisted and bent. This is the same one Scott's dad made for us years ago when we got our first home. That thing has followed us everywhere. During our last move, I was so excited when the moving truck arrived in North Carolina from New Jersey with that thing strapped onto the back looking like some sort of strange satellite system!

Hopefully the stand can be repaired. My ferns and flowers...not so much. But they can be replaced.

So...I promise to post some more happier moments from the last few weeks within the next few days.

*And I apologize for the fuzzy pictures. Someone with sticky fingers borrowed my camera without asking. He was very proud of the 52 pictures he took of Gracie.

Happy Fall!

Fall has arrived! It's fun to be back in the south where folks actually get excited about that first cool day. In New Jersey, dropping temperatures just gave me the heebie jeebies.

We headed out yesterday to load up on some fall stuff - pumpkins, mums, scarecrows, hay, cornstalks, etc. And, because patience isn't a word or act that exists in Scott, we had to get it all at once. No, we don't have a pickup truck. Nor do we have a trailer to pull behind us. Just your regular ole SUV. We also had Isaac's carseat - with Isaac in it - along with a huge box containing the pressure washer that Scott stopped on the way to buy at Lowes. You know, cause we're already out.

At the farm, we got it all. And we managed to get it all to fit in the car. BEFORE the cornstalks. The three big bundles of cornstalks we picked didn't seem that big when they were tied to the side of a barn. But when we got to the car with them, they were ginormous. Scott managed, somehow, to slide them in on top of everything else, including Isaac and me. The entire car was filled with corn. Seriously, after being completely buried with these massive stalks, we (Isaac and I) had to hold our hands in front of our mouths just to have a small pocket of air in order to breathe!

On the way home, Scott developed a craving for fried chicken, of all things. So, cause we're already out, he actually pulled into a drive thru. I'm not kidding. And, while my lungs were threatening to collapse, he not only ordered chicken, but proceeded to have a lengthy conversation with the drive thru guy. My savior finally came in the form of a small, distant voice in the back. "Hey! There's a kid under all this corn!"

Finally, we're all set for fall. At least until next weekend when we have to add the Halloweeny stuff.

Bama at Duke

Riding to the game - Isaac wore his helmet the whole time!

Walking to the stadium.

Kat with the Bama cheerleaders

Big Al...and little Isaac

Isaac liked Big Al, but didn't like the Blue Devil. At all.

Big Al is my pal!

Here they come!

Of course, Saban looks concerned. Of course, there was little reason to be!

Richardson

And Ingram. The Duke folks around us were just as excited to see him as we were!

Dylan was nice and wore the right colors.

Duke's stadium has a horseshoe shape, but they brought in an extra set of bleachers for the Alabama game. We were in that section, 6 rows up, sitting on wooden bleachers like a high school game. We had so much fun! Roll Tide Roll!!

Time to Party

Some truths: Build it, and they'll come. Plan an outdoor party, and it'll rain. Remember new batteries for the camera, and you'll forget to take pictures.

Isaac's party was Saturday, and about 40 of our new neighbors joined us. It did rain, but not enough to put a damper on the fun. Let's just say that the big, screened-in porch that I liked before the party is now my very favorite part of the house. The adults were able to mingle here while the kiddos played in the yard in the big jumpy thing. (The wet and mud just added to their fun.) Thankfully, it was just a drizzling rain, and Scott was able to grill on another covered part of the porch, so we had FOOD.

I remembered the camera in time to catch Isaac with buddies, Sean and Owen. After 3 hours of being wet, you can tell Sean's ready for a warm bath!

The boppy things were a big hit.

And, when you live in Mooresville, aka, Race City USA, the theme is a given.

Happy that our boy enjoyed his day!

Happy 5th Birthday, Isaac!

Happy birthday to our Isaac! It's hard to believe it's been 5 years. I'm no longer allowed to call him my baby, even though, in my heart, that's what he'll always be. He is, in his eyes, officially a big boy now. He has proudly told anyone within earshot that he's "a whole hand" old.

We're having his party next Saturday, but we've spent today celebrating as well. He thinks the girls are home from school and Scott's home from work all in honor of his big day. And who am I to tell him any different? It's been a fun day celebrating a fun boy! Happy birthday, Isaac Thorn! We love you!!!

One tough cookie!

And he's off. Ready to take on another year!