Kristie!

Our friend Kristie is working on her MLIS (Library Science Masters) degree and she has to come down to USC for class every now and then. This was one of those weekends, so she came early, on Friday night, to visit with us. She got here a little after 5 and we headed dowtown with Ben (Clay was going to the Northeast game) to meet Ron for dinner at Flying Saucer, a great German-food place in the Vista.

Me, Ron and Kristie

Serious.....


....and silly :)

We had a great time catching up with Kristie since we haven't seen her since we moved. We're looking forward to next month when she comes back for the whole weekend and brings her son, Levi, one of Clay's best friends.

I have no idea what Ron was doing!

Keeping Ben entertained with my camera.

Today's Class

Okay, I know that you don't want a daily blow-by-blow of my class that I'm taking, but today I was particularly excited and wanted to share. After watching a grueling amount of "The Birth of A Nation" (silent movie...enough said?) we had a "visit" from Ben Tillman (performed by a professor from Francis Marion University) and then a tour of the archive stacks. WHOA!! Too cool!!

We saw a document signed by John Locke, school reports from the late 1800s, a decree prior to the Revolutionary War and the sucession of SC document. It was a slightly thrilling (and very National Treasure) feeling to be in the "stacks" and viewing these actual, historical documents.

On a side, non-class related note, tonight I attended the prospective member meeting for the Edventure Discovery Council. I had a great time and it was so nice to finally be out in a social setting! I'm looking forward to getting involved.

Congratulations, Jim and Jana!

This afternoon Ron and I attended the beautiful wedding ceremony of our friends Jim and Jana. They were married in a garden wedding at the Walnut Lane Inn....a gorgeous B&B in Lyman.

Mr. and Mrs. Curry

The reception was held in the garden, also. Guests were entertained by a barber shop quartet and dessert reception.

As you can see they are very happy on their wedding day!

We wish them the very best on their new marriage and their new family!!!

Ryan's Eagle Ceremony

Today we celebrated the Eagle Ceremony of one of Clay's best friends, Ryan. We were thrilled to be a part of this special day and of his scouting life. Clay and Ryan have had many fun adventures together in and out of scouting and Ryan has very much become like our "other" son. Ron took Ryan under his wing and has worked with him over the last couple of years on merit badges, advancements and just growing up.

Ryan with his parents, Cathy and John. We've gotten to be friends with them both and have thoroughly enjoyed being around them. John has been instrumental in helping Clay and Ryan (and other interested scouts) with a mutlitude of merit badges.

Ryan served as Clay's Honor Escort at his ceremony a few short months ago and today Clay served as Ryan's Honor Escort. Ryan and his mom, Cathy, asked if I would read a mother's recognition and then, to Ron's surprise, Ryan gave him the Eagle Scout "mentor" pin in a very touching and tear-filled part of the ceremony. It is rare in 13 year olds to see emotion, but Ryan led the entire group in needing Kleenex when he choked up as he gave Ron the pin and explained how he had made a difference in his life, scouting and life in general. Needless to say, Ron was very honored.

It was a beautiful ceremony! Cathy and John did a terrific job and we are thrilled to have been a part!

Cam, Clay, Ryan and Hunter

Celebrating at the lake

We headed up to Aunt Kim and Uncle Leonard's house at Lake Wylie on Saturday afternoon to celebrate Zach's graduation. We had a wonderful time playing at the lake beach, eating Uncle Leonard's ribs and pork and just hanging out with family. Ben and Clay had a great time swimming in the lake.

Ben convinced Becky, Aunt Kim's sister to take him off on the jet ski.

Clay took Aunt Kim for a ride on the jet ski!

We love coming up to Lake Wylie.

Ron and his youngest cousin, Zach.

dinner out on the patio overlooking the lake is always so nice

Zach was ready for cake......

....but his aunts and his mom had to sing him a song first!

Fiesta!

After school I co-sponsered a shower with the special area teachers for my good friend, and school music teacher, Jana. She's getting married next month to a terrific guy and so we had a great time with a Mexican-themed gift card shower.

Me and Mrs. Soon-to-be-Currie

Jana requested "no shower foods". Instead we had chips, salsa, taco casseroles, mini tacos, taquitos, margarita punch and........

...ice cream cake (actually 3 of themI) made by our art teacher!

Prom Night

My "adopted" daughter, Michelle, had her prom last night and since we were gone during the getting ready and pictures, we called when we got into Spartanburg and ran by Kanpai, where she and her date were having dinner, so we could see her. Isn't she beautiful!?!?

I haven't talked to her since the prom, but I hope she had a great time! Next up....Graduation, Michelle!!!!

Christmas Party in Style

Last night Ron and I went to his company's Christmas party at the Westin Poinsett in Greenville. What a party! I don't think I have ever been to anything like it.

When we arrived and checked in we headed up to the lobby, where we were greeted by waiters in elf suits with drink trays. This lobby had a buffet and then led into the ballroom. Inside the ballroom were more elfs, another buffet, two carving stations, a dance floor, band and DJ! And less you think that is all....up the stairs we went again to ANOTHER buffet and seating that overlooked the lobby!

The buffet was delightful. Each station had cheese wheels and crackers, a vegetable/fruit tray with dip, the best BBQ meatballs, yummy BBQ pork biscuits, my favorite --- crab cakes! and these mushroom stuffed puffs. In addition, there were the roast beef carving stations and then the most unique thing of all --- a potato bar. I don't mean a baked potato bar....you could choose mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes and then load them with toppings sauteed to order. Finally, there were the desserts.......cakes, mini-pies, chocolate log cake, petit fours, and strawberries and chocolate. Talk about going all out for something!! They even had peppermint and gingerbread flavoring for the coffee.

After dinner and meeting Ron's boss, we headed downstairs to the lobby for pictures in front of the hotel's gorgeous Christmas tree. Santa was there for pictures, but he wasn't a very good one and, we think, got fired right as the party started. The band was terrific and when the DJ took over the dance floor filled. We left before the karoake started, but I'm sure it was very entertaining.

I've never been to a Christmas party like this one and we're hoping that things don't change --- we heard they have a great summer picnic, too!

Clemson-Carolina 2006

The game didn't turn out quite like we'd wanted this year, but at least we had a great time watching it!

The crowd around the TV was mainly Carolina fans, but we proudly sported our orange.

I think I'll ask Santa for one of these for Christmas! Anderson is seven weeks old and just precious!

Ron's fraternity brother and long-time friend, Mike and his wife Leigh (and new son, Anderson) invited us to come over to their Clemson-Carolina party. The food and friends were terrific even if the Tiger's outcome wasn't! Ben particulary enjoyed playing PS2 and hide-n-go-seek with the other boys......

Graham, Sam, Mitchell and Ben playing PS2 games

All of the boys (even Ron) enjoyed a backyard football game.

Clay took pleasure in being the "big kid" football expert...he directed all of the little guys in a pick up game.

Duane gives Ben and Mitchell team strategy while Craig waits for the game to start.

We used to do a lot with this group of friends, but we were always the "first"...first to get married, have kids, etc. and we started growing in different directions. It was so nice to be around them again......

Mike and Ron were pledge brothers....a long time ago!

Dinner at the VFW

I am always finding these randomly unique activities to do.

• I read Chicken Soup for the Soul books before they are published and review/rate the stories.


• I was chosen as a section editor for the Red Hat Society cook-book.


• I am a member of the "Peace-Core" (you might have gotten e-mails from me about this) - a publicity group for the Peace Center to promot upcoming events


• and now....Ron and I had the opportunity last night to read and judge essays for the VFW post that Clay's scoutmaster is a member of (And I will be a District judge in a few weeks)

Needless to say, reading the essays was terrifically fun (I know that isn't most folks idea of a fun Friday night, but for me...WOW!) and the dinner was great.