Home & School

Refinanced house at 4 7/8% at regional brokerage company. Cut monthly house payment 40% with some cash left over.

Had conference with home room teachers, PE teacher, Latin teacher, and grammer school principal. A lot of support in the raising and educating of my oldest.

Getting ready for Thanksgiving lunch. Track down and cut Christmas tree on Friday. Decorate tree on Saturday. Free on Sunday. Thankful for my blessings.

Easter

Sunday, Lisa made a big breakfast. Cinnamon buns, fresh fruit, eggs and sausage. I took the kids to Sunday School. Sarah wore a pretty peach colored dress. Christopher had on a pin stripped suit with a orange shirt and his sports tie. Both pretty and handsome, respectively.

I ushered during the Traditional service. A full house with lots of families from out of town attending. The count was 532. Lisa got photos of the kids after church.

We made to my sister's house about 1:30 pm. They were waiting on us. Most everyone was there. David, Martha, Lynne, Dalton, Little David, Sharon, Phil, Zachary, Thad, Meredith, Grace, Gary, Rachel, Little Dalton, me, Lisa, Sarah, Christopher, Lori, Tony, Alan, and Marlyn. The kids had an Easter egg hunt and played outside on a beautiful day. I brought China trip photos.

The guys played Scrabble including me,Thad, Zachary, and Phil. Zachary crushed everyone in the first game and I eked out a victory in the second game. For the record dib is a word(def. to fish by letting the bait bob lightly on the water). And epi is a word (noun, a self-report personality inventory based on Hans Eysenck's factor analysis of personality which assumes three basic factors). Fun.

We had ham and turkey, several casseroles, and potato salad. There was beets, and slaw. And strawberry cake a'la Martha, pound cake and strawberries, and a spice cake/ Birthday cake. Sharon's birthday with Gary's on Wednesday.

Busy weekend before Christmas

Busy weekend before Christmas. Phew!

Friday night out with famiy and Debbie. Dinner at Bethlehem Fish & Steak. There for 3 hours. A good time had by all. Kids in bed about 10 pm.

Saturday morning. Leaving an hour behind schedule for trip to Weddington. It only takes us 1-1/2 hours instead of the 2 I remembered. Got there about 12:30 pm. Everyone played nice. They did pick on Lisa about her numbering of the gifts. We left after 5 pm instead of my planned 4 pm departure time.

Saturday afternoon. We take Gigi home before going to Lori's house. G is whining on the trip home. It about drives me crazy. Eat snacks at Lori's and chat. Great chicken salad. Onto David's house, for presents and more food.

Lori and Sharon buy dollar gifts and we play a game. Lori reads "Frosty the Snowman". We each receive a gift after pulling a number from a bowl. We are given the gift by Grace and Alan. Then Lori reads her story. We pass our gift right on "Frosty" and left on "snow." It was fun and silly game. Kids in bed about 10:30 pm.

Sunday morning. Must get kids to church by nine for the children's Christmas Pageant. Sarah is Balthazar the Magi. Wears a gold crown and long beard. Chris is the head shepherd. Sarah has a speaking part and sings parts of "We Three Kings" solo. Chris has three lines in the pageant. They both did really great. Lisa and I sat on the front row with Roger and Megan Y. and family.

Sunday afternoon. Crafts for Lisa and kids. I rested. Yeah! We went to Candlelight Service at 4:30 pm. Beautiful service. Kids are wiggly and a little grumpy. They both want to snuggle up to Lisa. Kids in bed by 8:00 pm.

Sunday night. Stayed up to watch the New York Giants beat the Carolina Panthers 31-28. Giants clinched home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Me in bed at 11:30 pm, too late.

Monday morning. I am up and go to work by 6:15 am.

Thanksgiving 2008

Thursday - 46th Birthday. German Chocolate cake. At home with family, in-laws and brother-in-law Mike. Nice time.

Friday - Chris' 7th Birthday at church with a bunck of friends. Sports theme. Football shaped chocolate cake and baseball cupcakes.

Saturday - Funeral for Lisa's aunt Ailleen. Birthday lunch at Longhorn Steakhouse. Lazy day. Sarah with a friend to see Nutcracer ballet in Charlotte. Home at 10:30 pm.

Sunday - Sunday school and combined service. Helped with new member reception. Lunch and then go to Boone for christmas tree. Six foot tree = $45. Nice fat tree. Put it up in living room. BIG!

Monday - At work by 6:55 am. Phew!!!