Better late than never...(Christmas with Parker & Brianna)

I didn't let Mom take up Parker & Briannas Christmas presents. I wanted to take them myself. The only weekend I had was January 8-10. Charleston was getting hit with snow in the weeks before this, so I kept telling Brianna to keep some for me. I was so excited to see the snow and of course stop by the Spring Hill Bakery.

As we were driving in, we started hitting snow, which you would have thought there were 3 five-year olds in the car. We were all giddy! The temperature kept dropping, 13....11....9....5 degrees! Yes, 5 degrees! We didn't care though, because it was snowing! I don't think I have smiled so much as I did on this trip. The snow was beautiful!

Of course, we had to get pics with the hats! This is Parkers 'Bob' smile. You know, Enzyte Bob! Yep, thats the one! So we are both giving the Enzyte smile! Parker is such a wonderful kid. I just love him to death.
Pam actually got a picture with Allison WITHOUT her tongue hanging out! I couldn't believe it. Pam sat around awhile with us but then went home. Parker had a hockey game in Morgantown the next afternoon, so I was only going to see him for awhile!

I saw this pic and realized, back to the tanning bed I need to go. Of course, more pics with the hats!

Brianna & Allison playing around, and there, of course, is the tongue, so I know thats my daughter!

Parker & Lauren wasted no time in playing outside. I cannot say enough about how beautiful the snow was. It slowed down for awhile on Saturday but then picked back up. I could have just sat and watched it snow all day long.

I did get up Saturday and wanted my first stop to be the Spring Hill Bakery. Its a MUST stop everytime I am in Charleston. I really haven't been in alot, but even when Mom or Pam come down, I make them do a Bakery run before they head south! Well, I updated Facebook that I was heading to the Spring Hill Bakery and Eloise Matheny updated me that she thought the bakery was closed for Christmas break. Then Mom chimes in that 'oh yeah, they may still be closed'. WHAT? Closed? I just drove 5 hours and they are closed? Are you serious? Pack the car kids, we're heading home!

I looked up the number, called...and sure enough...CLOSED! My stomach sank! No white cupcakes, no sugar cookies, no star cookies, no doughnuts! Ugghhh! This is going to be a horrible trip home!

Brianna did have basketball practice at 1300-1500, so I got to go watch her at Charleston Catholic. That was fun and I took tons of pictures!

I think she looks so good because she's got Air Jordans on? You think?

Look at that form? Lookin good kid!

Allison made a snow man! At least her version of a snow man. Mom even gave her some cookies to use! His name is Bill! Isn't he cute?

Even Allison was having fun in the snow. I was so b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l! I can't say it enough! I miss that about WV.

We didn't have alot of 'snow' gear, so we had to pick up gloves, mittens, etc. But the kids didn't even care.

Of course, Allison trying to warn me, prior to hitting me with a snowball! I know she loves me!

Then I made All the kids get out in the snow! With the HATS of course. I love these! I kind of started out with the red/green ones for Christmas! But then emailed her to make me one in Carolina Blue. After all, we are getting into basketball season!

I even made Mom get out there with the girls! No tongues are sticking out and everyone, for the most part, looks like they are having a good time!

On to the Facebook Reunion. I am borderline addicted to Facebook. Not really. But the #1 reason why I love Facebook, is because of all the people that I have lost touch with I have found through Facebook. People I grew up with, went to elementary, jr. high and high school and some in college, that I had lost touch with and haven't seen in over 20 years.

Mike Bumgarner and I were 9th grade sweethearts. Now whats funny is that we went to 2 different schools. I remember wearing his jacket to my school and getting grief from it. We ended up going to the same high school and still hung out in the same crowd. And then off to WVU. I left in 1987 and ventured on to Carolina and he stayed. Somewhere in the mix of that we lost touch. But about a year ago, maybe less, we found each other again on Facebook! Wow! 23 years! We were going to try to get together for dinner when I came to Charleston and try to catch up. Saturday night it was. We decided on Quaker Steak & Lube? I think that was the name of it. I had to laugh when he suggested it because I thought, 'theres no way thats the name of the restaurant'. But it was. It was a sports bar. WVU was playing as well at NFL football so it was perfect. We ended up sitting there for 4 hours, which seemed like 10 minutes and played catch up. Even though it was 1130p we were still in the swing of trying to finish talking about the past two decades. We headed downtown for drinks. It seemed that every bar we went to ended up closing 45-60 minutes after we got there. I think we went to 4 different bars before we called it a night around 0330. It was wonderful! We have always had this 'chemistry', very comfortable with each other and not sure if its like a best friend or a brother, but it was great! We walked back to our cars, as the snow was falling. What a wonderful ending to an awesome weekend!

I made him pose for a picture before I let him go! It was such a great evening...and can I mention the snow again. Totally beautiful!

Lauren and Mom got up and went to church. Then everyone headed back in the snow before we had to head home!

Allison even took some self-portraits, which are totally awesome! Because she is my daughter and she is beautiful!

She even made some interesting patterns in the snow!

Not too bad!

I wish we had snow. Snow like this! Enough to where we could get out and play! I do miss that!

Of course, she had to leave her name!

What an awesome weekend! I wouldn't have changed anything! Hopefully we can all do it again soon!