Thanksgiving at the farm

It's been three years since we've had Thanksgiving at the farm. The weather was chilly but not too bad. I know this posting is late but better late than never. We had a great relaxing time. We did it all while we were there: cookout at Vivi's, spent the night at Vivi's, saw a movie, skeet shooting, fishing, hiking, 4 wheeling, fun, fun, fun. Alex and Bud.

Grandma and Le hiking. Doesn't she look like Katherine Hepburn in "On Golden Pond" in that hat?

Le skeet shooting

Pa skeet shooting.

Alex skeet......oh never mind. You know what he's doing.

Two brothers on the farm.

Bailey and Le on the dancing rock.

Daniel refusing to dance on the dancing rock.

Lazy morning on the farm

Johnny and Mama.

Pa sitting at the "kid" table.

Vivi and Michael

Big Week for Le

Poor birdie! All I wanted Le to do was scrub his hands. A hunter I would never make.

Notice Daniel caressing the unloaded shotgun in the back ground. Poor Dan. It sucks to have an older brother.

Spencer decked out in camo.

Master hunters.

Le had his first alto sax recital this week. Last weekend he went camping with the Boy Scouts and received his rifle merit badge. So you know what that meant this weekend? Dove hunting. Le went with the Boy Scouts to a farm in Spartanburg. There were only two birds shot that day. One of them being Le and Spencers. Apparently it was a team effort to take the bird down. Spencer and Le were both shooting at it. They both hit it. To hear the story told, Spencer wounded it, Le finished it off but Scott said it was too close to call. Even though I wasn't wild about hunting Le had so much fun. Special thanks goes to Scott who took care such good safe care of Le while he was out there.

Le's School Recital

Ok guys. I think I've uploaded properly. Go on www.youtube.com It's listed under Le's Sax Recital1 Le's Sax Recital 2 Le's Sax Recital 3 Hope it works for you!

Le had his first band recital Tuesday. We were right on time for the concert but apparently we were late because we had to sit in the BACK. I'm sorry to say I don't have any good pictures. I recorded the songs and will post them on youtube in the next week or so. You will be able to HEAR him and Sandy and I will attest to it being him! All that said, he did a great job and we were very proud of him.

I LOVE the new baby smell!

Today I had a very special visitor. Erin brought Madison Patton over to hang out with me while she took a little time for herself. Madison is 4 weeks old and with all of the H1N1 she's just too little to be out in public. So, I got to keep Maddy all to myself for a couple of hours. We had a BLAST. We walked around, looked out the windows, looked at Tinkerbell, had deep conversations, watched some tv, drank some formula, and napped on the couch. Then, the icing on the cake was Maddy's mom coming back and visiting with me before I went to pick up the boys. A good day.

Halloween At The Chace's

We had a great Halloween this year. Our neighbors were kind enough to have a pizza party for the trick or treaters on our street. Once the kids bellies were full we were out the door to trick or treat. Even though it rained it didn't stop the kids fun. We had a gangster, skeleton, vampire, witch and two gypsies.

Sandy went as a Daddy.

Katlin and Carol.

Daniel the skeleton was not in costume yet.

A witch with an Orange Crush mustache.

Len and Jaye Visit!

Grammy and Grandpa made their annual October pilgrimage to SC. Even though the weather was cold and dreary we had a great visit. The boys were out of school for fall break. So, we took Len and Jaye to Reedy Falls for lunch at The Falls View Cafe.

This view is beautiful in ANY weather.

What a picture!

Le getting snuggles watching a football game.

Sunday we took a road trip to Skytop Orchard in NC to pick apples. As Scott Carlson would say, "It was a long run for a short slide." It was an hour drive. Once we got there we realized everyone within a 100 mile radius had the same idea as us. The wind was blowing with gust up to 40mph and it was only about 45 degrees. (Did I mention Daniel didn't bring his coat?) We were able to pick 1/2 bushel of apples in less than five minutes. Then stood in line for 30 minutes waiting to pay for them. (Note to self: Skytop apples are delivered to Publix WEEKLY....) The day wasn't a total loss. We were able to pick up two bottles of wine in NC (You can't buy alcohol on Sunday in SC.)before heading home. We only had to stand in line 5 minutes to pay for those. Once home, we uncorked the first bottle, turned on the Patriots game, and Jaye, Le, and I made one of the best apple pies I've ever tasted.

Too bad this picture isn't a video to show how quickly we were yanking apples off those trees.

Where is Waldo?

Len redecorated while he was here. In the middle of a football game he gets up without saying a word. Walks outside. Walks around the pool deck picking up various tables. At this point we are staring out the window with quizzical expressions on our face. He finally finds a table he likes and walks back in with it. Not saying a word he puts it at the end of the sofa. Sits down, leans forward to the coffee table, picks up his drink, sets it on the "new" table and says, "THERE! That's better."

Wet Hair!

This is what happens when Daniel goes to bed with wet hair.....

Girls Weekend!!!!!

Erica and I took our annual Girl's Weekend this past weekend. Last year we took both of our families on a Disney Cruise. We had so much fun! So this year we went without them.......Sounds mean doesn't it? We broke the news to our boys by telling them it was an "adult" Disney Cruise. (And It was in OUR cabin.) Dan wanted to know how an adult cruise was different. I told him you have to read a lot. From that point on he didn't have any interest in going. This was one of the most relaxing trips Erica and I have done in a couple of years.......Since Puerto Vallarta :) We napped, sipped wine, read, napped, gossiped, sipped wine, shopped, napped. You get the picture. It was GREAT! While we were in Nassau we went and checked out Atlantis Resort. We are going to try and take both of our families there next year over fall break. Next year we will celebrate 25 years of friendship. Here's to 25 More!!! Our first night of R and R.

Erica on the balcony. (Erica, I tried to download pictures I have of us on the balcony of our hotel in Sarasota, FL. in approx. 1990. Do you remember those? They look so much like these two pictures it cracked me up. Unfortunately, I couldn't make it work.)

Me on the balcony.

Straw market in Nassau.

Our view at Serenity Beach. (HEAVEN!)

Drinks on Serenity Beach.

Too funny!

Day At Death Valley

Ina and Colin bid on a Clemson package at a silent auction and graciously invited us to tag along. The weather was very iffy but it didn't stop us from having fun. We tailgated for a couple of hours before the game. It was a relaxing fun time. Thanks to Ina for all the great food and drink. Ina showing me some of the southern graces she's learned since leaving PA.

Sandy's "Dead Body Friend" Colin.

DBF forever!

Ina even brought a birthday cake to celebrate my b-day!