California Visitors and Arboretum with Daddy

After our weekend in South Boston celebrating the dedication of the Houghton-Confroy Healing Garden, we've made it to October! Only 8 months behind again. 

We started the month off right with visitors from California! Uncle Tommy and Aunt Donna stopped in Raleigh for the evening on their way up the East coast. We took them out for a Southern favorite, Beaseley's Chicken & Honey. It was really fun for them to see the kids, and for the kids to meet Pop-pop's brother! Tommy & Donna hadn't seen Clara since she was 15 months old and never met Jack & Meghan. 

Saturday morning handiwork, courtesy of Mommy and Daddy relaxing inside.

Brec took the kids to visit the Arboretum in the afternoon followed by an ice cream treat.

We rounded out the day at Isabella Canon park.

See-saw silliness.

Fun on the slide.

Meghan's Mother's Day Tea

Today was Meghan's first Mother's day tea at preschool. The children sang a few songs and then we went back to their classroom for refreshments and gifts!

Here is this year's program in case you want to follow along to decipher what the kids are actually singing. ;)

And thanks to this lovely lady in the left of my shot, who sneaked up to steal this open seat at the last minute while everyone else had left it for the teachers, I used the zoom for the videos for the first time ever, and it turns out, it works quite well. Who knew? So thanks lady who hadn't the slightest clue how to take a video on a smart phone without blocking everyone's view behind her.

"Love Is Something"

"Skinna Marinky Dinky Dink" (part 1)

"Skinna Marinky Dinky Dink" (part 2)

"I've Got Peace Like a River"

"He's Got the Whole World in His Hands"

"Little Red Box"

"A Circle Song"

Close up of Meghan and several of her classmates.

A fuller picture of the preschoolers.

The younger children sit down as the four year old classes ring the bells.

In Meghan's classroom receiving all of my lovely Mother's day gifts.

Weekend Adventures with Daddy (9/6)

Ok now that the month of birthdays around here has passed, it's time to switch back to catch-up mode... 

After a successful first week at school for Jack and Meghan and second week for Clara, Daddy took the kids to Pullen Park on Saturday. Daddy selfie on the paddle boats!

Out on the water with the geese in the paddle boats.

Jack and Meghan see-saw.

Tasty Loco Pops for an afternoon snack on this warm September day.

Camouflaged in the weeping willow.

Climbing the magnolia just like at Nay-nay & Pop-pop's.

Everyone cooled off on the hot day with the ice bucket challenge once they'd returned home from the park. 

Dedication of the Houghton-Confroy Healing Garden and SoBo Trip (Sept. 26 - 28)

After our epic "Dress Like a Pirate" day on which we received scads of donuts, the following weekend we traveled to South Boston to see Aubrey honored for his work over the last several decades at the Halifax Regional Hospital. On Friday night there was a reception and dedication of the Houghton-Confroy Healing Garden.

The man of the hour!

Memo & Auges.

Mommy & Aunt Betts

Meghan and Jack enjoy some snacks.

Memo waving to her many fans or just me telling me to put away the camera.

The Houghtons and the Confroys

Clara managed to sneak into the front where all the action was.

The grand unveiling.

Aubrey and his girls posing by the new sign.

The Houghton family before all the riff raff was added.

After the ceremony we returned to Memo's house for another celebration, Nay-nay's birthday. We were treated to one of Aunt Bett's bomb cakes.

The kids were very excited about the prospect of cake. They are always up for birthday celebrations.

Happy Birthday, dear Nay-nay!

Even though Meghan has been in a big girl bed at home for over a month now, she was quite happy to climb back into crib at Memo's to sleep.

We played at both of the church parks over the weekend, enjoying the gorgeous September weather. Yellow roses out in full force.

Check out the rainbow.