Day Trip To Columbia

The boys are out of school Friday and Monday of this weekend.  Since we have had such a mild winter we haven't used any of our snow days so we were treated to an extra long weekend.  My friend Angelia and I decided to take the boys to Columbia to the State Museum to see the Body Vital exhibit.  The boys could have cared less.  They were through the exhibit and done in 15 minutes.  Angelia and I, on the other hand, were enthralled.  Lucky for us the boys went through other parts of the museum and allowed us to enjoy the exhibit.  I can't express how fascinating the exhibit was.  Once you move past the morbidity of looking at actual dead bodies that is.  I've never doubted the existence of God but this exhibit truly proves we are NO accident. 

 Ben and Le looking like High Schoolers.

 Angelia and Ben

 Turtle Kitty and PomPom

Group shot

I'm really glad Angelia suggested we eat BEFORE we go.  After seeing, muscles, organs, tendons, etc. I don't think I could have stomached lunch.  If you have the opportunity to see one of these exhibits DO!


While we were in Columbia we had another purpose but I will have to post about it later.  It is a surprise for my "Reef Cup Girls Club" which meets next week.  I have to say, it was an experience riding in the car listening to three boys for three hours.  Angelia and I were aching for silence by the time we hit Greenville city limits.  And I have to admit I had a stiff gin and tonic when I got home.

Like Sands Through The Hour Glass.....

....so are the days of our lives.    With that being said Sandy celebrated his birthday Feb. 20th.  I'm afraid to say it wasn't very exciting.  We are in the middle of Boy Scouts, Lacross, and school so the celebration was short but sweet after lacross practice.

Science Project

5th grade is whooping my butt.  Daniel has a science project that has been on going for several weeks now.  We finally got to DO the experiment this week.  He was measuring the temperature variance of different colors

The GREAT Barrier Island

The first week in February was an exciting week for Daniel and Sandy.  The 5th grade took a trip to Barrier Island.  This was a two night trip that Sandy was lucky enough to get to chaperon.  They had to be at the school at 6:30am and didn't get home until dinner on the third night.  It's not quite camping but it is a very "rustic" experience.  Sandy was responsible for 10 boys during the trip.  He did a great job taking photos for the blogspot. 

 Daniel at 6am loaded down with all of his gear.

 My two explorers.

 Running on the beach.

 Team building

 Learning about sea turtles.

 The mud pit.

 Le's buddy Katherine.

 Learning the Virginia Reel

 Rope Bridge.

 The Troops!

Where poor Sandy spent two night...........His feet hung off edge.

Alex, Jason, and Luke

For Christmas Sandy and I gave the boys tickets to see Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan (no T.  That's for you Alex.)  We found out Alex has always wanted to see Jason Aldean in concert.  Once we learned that, Sandy gave up his ticket so Alex could go and that's what Alex got for Christmas from us.  It felt like a Christmas gift to us too.  We had Alex all to ourselves for the weekend.  The weather was CRAPPY and put an end to all of the plans we made but we all hung out, saw a great show, watched some movies and really bad tv.  It was AWESOME!

 Awful photo but the only one of me and Alex.

 Le and Daniel Before the show.

 Luke Bryan

 Jason Aldean

 At 10:30pm Daniel was DONE.  He decided he would go to sleep.....Yeah. Right.

I took this picture.  Who does this guy look like to you? Come on....You know who it is...Can't guess?  Butthead...From Bevis and Butthead.

 My boys had plans on Saturday night.  Sandy and I had Alex all to ourselves.

Does this picture need words?



Who needs a belt when Grandpa has bungie cords?

Le is at that age...Where Le's underwear is ALWAYS showing.  Part of it is the style.  I struggle with this but I accept it...But truly, part of it is his age.  He is no longer a child size.  He is larger than a size 18.  But he is not an adult size.  Most men's pants start around 26-28 waist.  Therefore, if he is not at school, where they require a belt, he is constantly pulling his pants up.  Pa had the answer to the problem.  He went out to the truck and bungied Le's waist.  Simple solutions to complex problems. 

Betty Lou DIDN'T come out but we still had fun.

One of Mama's Christmas gifts from us was a ticket to see Bob Seger.  I SO wanted him to play "Betty Lou's Getting Out Tonight".  I made a sign and everything.  He didn't.  But he played a great show.  The only bummer was that our three seats were not together so Sandy sat in another section.  Sandy may not have seen this as a bummer.....

 Pre concert

 Self portrait before the show.

He may be 67 yrs old but he can rock it!