It's Beginning To Look Alot Like...

As The Herd is preparing for the arrival

of Good Saint Nick,

we try to go the extra mile to make

sure he hasn't forgotten where we live.

So, we track him down wherever we can find him.

This year we found him for breakfast

at Valley Hills Mall.

There the kids got to talk to him

and ride the carousel and other fun stuff!

I think I am going to take up

the art of face painting.

I mean, if she can get Zachary

to sit THAT still...

I'm all in!!!

Getting to spend some extra time

with Aunt Bekah and Mamaw.

Zachary - "That's the Jingle Bell, That's the

Jingle Bell,"That's the Jingle Bell Rock!"

Innocent Little Girl - "What is WRONG

with him? I'd like to Jingle his neck!"

Then we tracked Santa down

to his secret get-away house

in Downtown Newton.

Of course, Zachary wanted to know why

on earth Santa chose Newton for his extra house.

"Well, that's simple", I said,

"Newton is a nice town, and it is almost the halfway

point from the North Pole to

the boys and girls in South America!"

(Makes sense to me, and apparently to him, too,

because he simply replied, "Oh.")

"Are we EVER gonna get to go inside?"

At long last, we get our turn inside

Santa's house. Hannah Grace was

not moving another inch until

she had eaten her cookie!

And Zachary enjoyed some

ice cold snowflake punch

Now, I wonder what they could be conspiring...

Running Man

This year, Zachary participated in the

Catawba County Kid's Marathon.

In order to complete the "marathon",

kids had to have walked/ran 25 miles in the 2 months

leading up to the day of the final 1.2 mile leg.

Those who could complete the marathon

were awarded a special medal.

Zachary and his buddy Ashton

getting ready to go!

Aunt Bekah came home to join

Zachary on his final leg.



He did it! He got his medal!

A little cold but so very proud

of his accomplishment.

In total, he walked and ran for a

total of 28.5 miles!

He called me while I was in Boone

(at an ASU game, of course)

to tell me how he "ran the WHOLE WAY"!

His support staff....

Way to go, buddy!

Things To Be Thankful For

First of all, I want to go on record by saying

that I hate the holidays!

From Thanksgiving through our wedding

anniversary and kids' birthdays in

March and April, I am nothing

but a reflective, soft-hearted mush!

There are so many things we have

to be thankful for. More than the big things

like, our salvation in Christ, our jobs, our homes,

but little things, too, that

we almost always overlook.

Like, teachers who still take time

to make education fun!

And people who volunteer at schools

to give teachers a much needed extra hand,

while helping keep our children safe.

And people showing up ON TIME

when everyone's lives are in such a hurry!

Thankful that I didn't have to

cook OR carve the turkey!

Thankful for the love people can show,

even when there is no reason they have to.

And getting to spend another

birthday with someone.

Thankful for imaginary sword fights

with sparklers,

and fireworks by a bonfire.

Thankful for fun and laughter,

and being able to take it all in!

And the most important thing for me,

on this side of heaven,

Thankful for my family...

...of which I am surely undeserving.

Spelling Bee

This is just a quick post.

Zachary was the only Kindergartener selected

for the Claremont Elementary

School Spelling Bee!!!

I couldn't, and wouldn't miss this

day for all the world!

He got out on his 2nd word,

(mostly because I don't think he

understood what the reader said)

but I was still very proud of him!

Charlotte Classic Car Show

Again...I'm jealous!

Poppie took Zachary to the

Charlotte Car Show,

where he got to see some really cool

cars, and even cooler people!

Seeing Spider-Man was worth the trip itself!

Now see, son, this is why you drink

all your milk!

This is one is really cool...

Not yet, lead-foot!

Balloons and blue candy...

..a perfect way to end the day!