The Popes move to Raleigh

Celia and Lily spent the week with us while the family made the move to Raleigh.  The busier the better so we started the week with a visit to the Greenville Children's Theatre to see "Alexander and the terrible, horrible, no good very bad day".

                                                        Waiting for the play to begin!

                                                      Enjoying Greenville afterward

                                                                Cookout with the gang

                                                                  Happy Cow Creamery

We celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary during their visit so what could be better than taking the GTO convertible out for dinner at Sonic drive-in.  Limeade and tater tots please!!
Next we spent a day at Pump it Up, one of their favorite places to go followed by a trip to Otter Creek.

                  Water, water everywhere.......what a great way to end a great week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Blue Ridge Fest and Cherokee Vally tours

Blue Ridge Fest is quickly becoming an annual event and friends, Buddy and Ginger Clamp accompanied us this year.  A little rain couldn't dampen the spirits of classic car enthusiasts.

Later that weekend they gifted us with a tour of the golf course at Cherokee Valley.  Since we are not golfers,  this was a new adventure for us and we were awestruck by how truly beautiful our neighborhood is.  We live at the base of the Blue Ridge mountains, simply gorgeous!!

Honey bees

Who knew that 8,000 honey bees would follow the queen wherever she went, creating a large swarm in our backyard?  Who knew that our neighbor Larry could not only lure them into a bucket with his bee keeper suit and smoke can, but also would find a new home for them?  And who could believe that hours later my curiosity would get the best of me and when I went out to check out the scene a very angry bee that was left behind would tangle with my upper lip!!  We ended up with a great story and a pint of honey from the new owner of these little guys.

Time with children

Somehow spending time with children changes your perspective on just about everything.  They are so full throttle when it comes to energy, enthusiasm and passion for life.  When I am with them my energy, enthusiasm and passion are full steam ahead too and I love watching the world go by through their eyes!!  This is just a glimpse of the past three weeks.

                                          Tea party @ Nana and Papa's house (Cherrios and water)

                                                                       Ninja Sam

                                                                       Ninja Jack

                             One crazy day of time for the cousins to play together, gotta love it!!

                                                   Art project to keep little hands busy

                                                                   My little snugglers

                                                       Celia climbing @ Pump It Up

                                                      Lily loved the slide @ Pump It Up

                                     Check it out @ The Children's Museum of Greenville

                        Chasing down the Mice on Main with new little friends that we met


WE ARE CERTAINLY ONE LUCKY NANA AND PAPA!!!!!!!


                                      

Florida is beautiful!

Something is always blooming in Florida, it is simply beautiful here.  And when the sun is shining and there is a light breeze on a low humidity day, it is as if you have arrived in paradise. We have had a number of those days recently and have loved every moment.  So it was time to be outside and have our picture taken under one of my favorite trees. I have long admired this tree, a glorious blue green specimen that towers over everything. 

And then there was the little bottle brush tree in our landscaping.  The poor little thing had been butchered by the previous owners and was in pathetic shape when we moved in.  Do we keep it and hope for the best or start over?  When we considered the task ahead and the idea of spending even MORE money, we decided to give it a chance.  Two seasons have passed and our dreary little tree has grown and taken on a lovely shape and is now blooming its little heart out.  It will probably be at its peak after we leave but it is once again a happy plant.  I am glad that we decided to give it a chance just as I am always grateful that God has never given up on me.

Brotherly love

We had a wonderful weekend and I am so glad that Billy and Christina came for a visit.  On Friday we ventured over to the coast to the  Kennedy Space Center.  It really is an impressive place and they have done an incredible job of documenting our history in space.  Atlantis was the highlight of the day. None of us had been there in many years and it was a great way to spend the day.

 

 

 Saturday we spent the day looking at OLD things, old cars, people and antiques.  First there was the
Solivita Car show followed by antique shopping in downtown Kissimmee and then a trip to Old Town for the Saturday night stroll.  I think as far as Billy and Christina were concerned this red Camaro was their best in show.

Sunday we introduced them to Pickleball.  No pictures to prove it but what a hoot!!  I am always grateful for my family.....it is good to spend time around people who know you and love you anyway!!

Pickleball

Once you start pickleball it is hard to stop.  John has had a great time challenging himself with this new sport.  Weather has kept him from being on the court as much as he would like, but I did find an opportunity to catch him in rare form.

Action shot

Dancing with the ball

Poised and ready to go!!