ATTENTION!!! THE BLOG HAS BEEN UPDATED!!

For all those people who have been checking to see if I have done any updating on the blog, YES I HAVE!! I get annoyed when I visit blogs that have not been updated for weeks, sometimes months. I know that everyone gets busy and doesn't realize that I am waiting for an update. So I forgive you. You must feel the same way about me. Please enjoy the post below.

The Finished Product

O, Christmas Tree. O, Christmas Tree

Simon and I continued our tradition of getting the Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. As we were decorating we discovered that 2 sets of lights were bad. So we had to take a pause in decorating until we got more lights. As you can see Lexie has to be in the middle of everything. She had to sniff every box that came from the attic and every ornament she could. She is so curious sometimes, I wonder if she is part cat. Don't tell her I said that.

Happy Thanksgiving

Yes, I know that Thanksgiving was last week. I am just getting around to posting pictures. My parents had everyone over their house again this year for lunch. David and Ashley were there along with Ashley's parents, Jack and Nancy. My Aunt Amy comes to visit from Burlington. My Nana is still able to make lunch. And, of course, Simon and I. Last year Simon's parents, Pauline and Robert, were visiting during Thanksgiving and really enjoyed their first Thanksgiving. They were missed this year. And for those of you who are not that educated, NO, they do not have Thanksgiving in England, so stop asking!!

The women are cooking!

The men are sitting.

The whole crowd is happy and stuffed!!

Happy 60th Birthday Dad!

So, almost a month ago, my mom had a 60th Birthday Party for my dad. I am just posting pictures from it. It was such a fun party. I wanted to do a little presentation, "Things that are older than Dad." Does anyone remember that episode of "The Cosby Show?" FIRE is older than Dad, The WHEEL is older than Dad. I can't remember the rest, but it was a great episode.

The Birthday cake cam from a local bakery. My mom was supposed to pick up the cake at noon on the day of the party. Someone from the bakery called my mom at 11:30am and asked if the cake was for a girl or a boy AND wanted to know if pastel colors were OK. HELLO!!! The cake was going to have a bunch of 60s on it. My mom told them it was for a 60 year old MAN!!! And NO, she did not want pastel colors, she wanted bright manly colors! As you can see it turned out just fine and it was soooo YUMMY!!! The chocolate icing was the best!!

I am not going to post pictures of everyone who was at the party, but here are a couple. This is my dad and his brother, Tommy. Do they look like they are related??

I thought this was a great picture. This is Ros, Prentice and Dustin. I couldn't get pictures of them with their spouses. They sure do look like they are having fun.

Samuel Benjamin

This weekend Simon and I went to Morhead City to meet my newest cousin. I guess he is my second counsin, my cousin's son. Samuel Benjamin Hall was born on August 23 (our anniversary). They live in Atlanta so this was his first visit to his grandma's house in Morehead City. He is a cutie!

This is my Aunt Debbie with her newest grandson.

My cousin, Jason, with his nephew

Isn't he a cutie with his cords on?

What do ya think? Are Simon and I ready?

Leaves

Fall is a great time of year. The weather is wonderful. I love watching the trees change colors, but I do not like what happens after the leaves have changed color. They all fall off the trees and into the yard! The first picture is of the tree in the back yart. Notice that the tree is very green. This tree takes FOREVER to drop all of its leaves. We will be raking leaves well into December. The other pictures are of the tree in the front yard. It is a huge tree. It is so beautiful! I took this picture last week and today most of the leaves are on the ground. I can not see my front yard because of all the leaves.

Vote Vote Vote

In case you haven't heard there is a big election this Tuesday in the US. I have already voted. I went to the Community College 2 weeks ago and was in and out in less than 10 mintues. I don't know were all these people are seeing the crowds and long lines. I had no problem. One of the best things we are able to do as American Citizens is cast our vote for the leader of the country. Not everyone gets to do that. We should not take it for granted. Get out and VOTE!! Sorry Simon, you will be able to vote for the next President.

Fire

Simon bought us a firepit from Target (it was on clearance) last year. We have rarley used it. After Simon mowed the yard he gathered all the stick and put them in the fire pit. Lexie did not like this. Everytime we picked up sticks she tried to pull them away. The big ones are her favorite. It was a cool night and the fire felt good. Of course before we went inside I made Simon hose it down really good with water. I just knew the fire would spread to the house if we didn't soak it with water. My mind thinks strange things like that.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my mom's birthday. I don't have any pictures to post because we have not had our official celebration yet. She has been out of town this weekend visiting her sisters and will be back this afternoon. I will try to post some pictures later.

Zimmermann Vineyards

My dad and I went to Zimmerman Vineyards yesterday for a wine tasting. The vineyards is right outside of Davidson County in Randolph County. What a beautiful place. We got a bottle of wine and had some German food that was brought in. There was a good crowd there. I am going to have to go back for a tasting.

Congrats to the Ray Family!

Welcome to the world Hailey Ray! Check out the picture of the newest member of their family.
http://www.averygray.blogspot.com/

BBQ Festival

Today was the 25th annual BBQ Festival in uptown Lexington. If we go it is best to get there early in the morning and leave by 10am. That is before the crowds get there. We got up there later this year because of rain. But that meant the crowns got there later. I am sorry to say that we did not have any BBQ while we were uptown. In my opinion, the BBQ sandwiches at the Festival are not the best. I would rather go to one of the local restaurants and get some BBQ. Below are pictures of the famous Budweiser Clydesdales and the sand sculpture.

Saturday Morning

Another Saturday morning and another walk uptown. My parents and I (and Simon when he is not working) like to walk uptown on Saturday mornings with Lexie. When it is open, we stop by the farmer's market and get baked goods, fresh flowers, and fresh veges. We usually stop by one of the coffee places in town and have breakfast. For the past year we have had to take a detour because the main bridge in Lexington has been closed. We were having to actually walk across the railroad tracks. It wasn't so bad except one time recently the Amtrack was coming around the corner as my mom was crossing with Lexie and had to blow the horn for her to get off the tracks. Scary. Yesterday, after a ribbon cutting ceremony, the new bridge opened. It was the talk of the town. So this morning we crossed the new bridge on our way uptown. The town is back to normal. Thank goodness.

The new bridge!

Lexie with her Halloween scarf at The Perfect Blend

Lexie enjoyed watching the train go under the new bridge

Have you met Gorilla Pod?

For those of you who have not had the pleasure of meeting a Gorilla Pod, you are missing out. Simon's brother bought us one a couple of years ago and we love it. The Gorilla Pod is a tripod for your camera, but the legs are bendy and can be put any where, you don't have to have a flat surface. It is fun to get creative and see where the Gorilla Pod can go. At one point you could only buy them online, but now they can be found in most stores where you can buy digital camera.

This was taken with the Gorilla Pod on a trash can in Savannah.

One last drink in the Dominican Republic.

GP on the balcony of our room in the Dominican Republic.

GPs visit the Gorilla exhibit at the zoo.

GP playing mini-golf.

Beach Trip

We just got back from our annual trip with my family to Myrtle Beach. This is something we look forward to every year. Unfortunately, my sister-in-law, Ashley, was not able to come. We missed her. My parents go down for the whole week and the kids usually join them about mid-week. We got to do everything we wanted to do. Shop, sit on the beach, play golf, play mini-golf, eat. The Family, minus Ashley :( at The Parson's Table. One of our favorite places Little River.

The guys before their annual golf outing.

Simon and I flying kites on the beach. (I chose the picture that was taken far away so everyone would not be frighted of me on the beach.)

Me, Simon and my Dad playing Bocce on the beach.

Me and my honey!

One of our favorite places in Myrtle Beach, Mayday Golf. My mother believes they have the cleanest bathrooms on the Grand Strand.

Jim and June

Me and Mom behind the waterfall.

Dad behind the waterfall