Wake Game

We were able to go to the Wake Forest/Navy game last weekend. So much fun! My kids enjoy football games, but they love to tailgate! We had yummy food and a few games before going into the game. It was a beautiful night for football even if the Demon Deacons couldn't pull off a win.

Essie Hope enjoyed some Apple Dumplings while the big kids played Corn Hole.Me and my handsome hubby!

Apple picking, Ashville and pizza

A few Fridays back , Abby had a volleyball game in Asheville. We decided to make a day of it and stopped in Morganton at the Apple Orchard that we have went to for years. It was a beautiful day and the kids had so much fun picking apples. It sure doesn't take long to pick a basket with all this help! Abby's teammates and their families met up with us there and we snapped a quick picture some of the girls and their siblings

After we left the apple orchard, we were early for the game, so right before we got to the gym, we spotted a little ice cream shop on the side of the road. I cannot even remember the name of the place now! They had some yummy gelato though! It was a quirky kind of place, but it was a perfect way to spend an hour.We went from there to the game and here is a picture of Abby and her middle school team mates. We have been so blessed to have had a good season with such sweet girls, a great coach and awesome parents. The girls have had a blast together learning the game of volleyball and making friendships.

So then ( are ya tired yet?) we left Asheville and drove to Hickory where we met our friends, the Dillinghams for pizza. we stayed such a long time, we were afraid the owner would tell us to leave and never come back! The Dillinghams are the kind of friends that you can not see for months and when we do get together , we just pick right back up where we left off. Thankfully, our kids do the same thing! They love hanging out and playing together!

We left our house around 9am and got home around 10pm! A very full day, but such a fun fall memory!

Carowinds Photos!

We had such a fun day at Carowinds last Friday. My kids dont remember going there because the last time we went Nate was a baby! It was a part of every summer I can remember growing up and I was so glad we were able to take them. It was HOT though! Mama's head doesnt work quite right in the heat, but I did the best I could! We stayed until around 4:30 and then headed back to Winston -Salem for Moes burritos and it was National Doughnut Day, so we pulled into KK for a free doughnut on our way back to Kernersville. All in all, a wonderful way to end our school year.

School is out!!

Today was our very last day of school. My, what a busy month May has been. I have had two people comment on my lack of blog activity so I thought I would give you an update...all 2 of my readers! :)

We have had a fun time getting to the end of school. It has been a little bit of celebrating every week as we have started finishing up subjects one at a time. Today was the last chapter, the last paper and the last math test. Whew!! I am so proud of my soon to be 3rd, 5th and (gulp) 7th graders! We will celebrate tomorrow with a day trip to Carowinds! I have not been there since I was expecting Esther so I am super excited to go AND to have all three kids tall enough to ride the roller coasters!

For the summer we have pool days, basketball and volleyball camp (for Abby), a few days in the mountains, 4H activities,VBS and Greg and I are the sponsors for church camp so our whole crew gets to go to Charleston, SC for that.

We will hopefully get a picture so we can finally see our newest member of the family all the way from Ethiopia, baby Isaac. Depending on when we get "the call" is when we will travel, but it is possible we will have a Ethiopia trip to plan into our summer too!!

Hope everyone has an amazing summer. I'll post some Carowinds pictures on Saturday!

~ Jackie

I LOVE THIS!

You Know You're From North Carolina When...

You've gotten used to the smell of cow manure on a car trip to Raleigh.

Saying "y'all" isn't just a cute expression; it actually means something.

There are big labrador retrievers in the back of every truck.

You give directions using KFC and Waffle House as landmarks.

You still see Dale Earndheart tributes on cars.

You can't imagine life without Bojangles' sweet tea

Your annual church fundraiser always deals with bbq and potato salad

You have a sunburn from May to October

Your 'heavy winter clothing' consists of some turtleneck sweaters, a fuzzy jacket, and your daddy's boots

Your family has fried chicken once a week

You can tell the difference between cotton fields and tobacco fields while driving

One of your neighbors has a confederate flag hanging on their front porch


You've been "properly raised", and yankees love it when they hear you say "ma'am" and "sir"

You get your carbs from biscuits, rolls, pancakes, and grits

You know the difference between a "redneck" and a "hick".

You own at least one surf shop or seafood restaurant shirts.

No matter what those people in ohio say, we are still "first in flight"

The Coca-Cola 600 is as big as the Super Bowl

You prefer Chick-fil-a to KFC

You know pastry is a chicken stew, not a dessert item.

Every time you visit someone you?re offered something to eat and a glass of tea.

Your granddaddy always wore overalls and your grandma always wore an apron.

In summer you have home-grown tomatoes with every meal.

When it rains and the creek rises, everyone gathers to see how high it rose.

You know that "chunk" the ball means to throw it.

You've had a burger "all the way" - chili and slaw on it.

You can recognize a copperhead and your heart drops when you see one.

You have at least one relative that raises collards.

Your folks have taken trips to the mountains to look at leaves.

Your school classes were cancelled because of a hurricane.

You know Krispy Kreme makes the best doughnut.

You have an opinion about UNC. You went there and loved it, or you hate everyone who did.

You know the best BBQ is found in Lexington

You would rather eat at Bojangles's than McDonald's

You have actually uttered the phrase "It's too hot to go to the pool"

You faithfully drink Pepsi or Mt. Dew everyday of your life.

You have your own secret bbq sauce.

You or your neighbors have more hunting dogs than you have family members.

You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends from North Carolina.

Rockstar party

We went to some friends of ours house for a rock star party. It was so much fun! Esther really got into character. The food was great and we had a blast playing rock band.

Enough about me!

Well, now this was a fun 99 question, bucket list kinda thingy. Probably more than you ever wanted to know about me and I am sure if my sister had a blog she would have way more items in bold, but it was still fun to do!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain (only a little one!)
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea (from the beach)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee