Today as I rode the shuttle home from the training facility on a really lovely fall afternoon, I tried to soak up all the autumn-ness in the air. The sun was shining and the leaves were such beautiful shades of red and orange and yellow. As much as we love Bogota, there is no fall season there with all these vibrant colors.
For the opportunity to witness all this fall glory, I am truly thankful.
Showing posts with label holidays in the US. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holidays in the US. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Saturday, July 9, 2011
NYR 7-3-11 - early Independence Day
For hot dogs and potato chips and baked beans...
In the beautiful western NC mountains...
With my aunts and uncles and grandmother and cousin and sister and mother and all our assorted children and spouses (except for Jimmy :-( )...
To celebrate the independence of a great nation...
I am truly thankful.
In the beautiful western NC mountains...
With my aunts and uncles and grandmother and cousin and sister and mother and all our assorted children and spouses (except for Jimmy :-( )...
To celebrate the independence of a great nation...
I am truly thankful.
Friday, June 3, 2011
NYR 5-30-11 - Memorial Day
For men and women who have fought and died to give me the life of freedom I enjoy, I am truly thankful.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
NYR 5-8-11 - a Mother's Day to remember
Today is one of my favorite days of the whole year.
A day devoted just to mothers.
Sounds like heaven.
When we woke up this morning, Jimmy asked me what I wanted for breakfast and I chose french toast, so after lounging in the bed until I smelled coffee, I came downstairs to yummy french toast, bacon, and fresh canteloupe and pineapple. De-lish.
I told Jimmy and Mac that I didn't want a present since my blow-out birthday was just a month ago. So instead I got all these wonderful cards that Mac made in Spanish class at school. One of the cards contained a coupon book - in Spanish - for things like a free kiss, a free hug, a manicure, taking out the garbage, etc. I asked for the kiss and the hug, and Mac told me that I shouldn't waste all my coupons right away.
Then Mac looked at Jimmy and said "What you got?"
After breakfast, we had a little break before we hosted a potluck lunch at our house.
We'd originally intended to eat out a restaurant with a big group of friends (18 adults and 15 kids), but when I called 20 (no joke) restaurants, I couldn't find one single place to accommodate us. So our restaurant trip for Mother's Day turned into a potluck, which worked out great. We provided KFC fried chicken (which delivers here in Bogota so we didn't even have to leave home!) and everybody brought a side dish and/or dessert. Everything was yummy and the children could play and be noisy without getting us kicked out of a restaurant It was a great time and felt like a family Mother's Day lunch back in South Carolina.
Jimmy and Mac went out to rent a movie for late-afternoon viewing, and then we had a yummy supper of this little pasta sauce we whipped up from sundried tomatoes, lemon juice and zest, garlic and olive oil.
It was a totally divine day with my boys and our friends, and for that, I am truly thankful.
On this special day, I am also so, so, so truly thankful for my wonderful mother, a great mother-in-law, and all the mother figures who have come into my life along the way. I'm a blessed girl!
A day devoted just to mothers.
Sounds like heaven.
When we woke up this morning, Jimmy asked me what I wanted for breakfast and I chose french toast, so after lounging in the bed until I smelled coffee, I came downstairs to yummy french toast, bacon, and fresh canteloupe and pineapple. De-lish.
I told Jimmy and Mac that I didn't want a present since my blow-out birthday was just a month ago. So instead I got all these wonderful cards that Mac made in Spanish class at school. One of the cards contained a coupon book - in Spanish - for things like a free kiss, a free hug, a manicure, taking out the garbage, etc. I asked for the kiss and the hug, and Mac told me that I shouldn't waste all my coupons right away.
Then Mac looked at Jimmy and said "What you got?"
After breakfast, we had a little break before we hosted a potluck lunch at our house.
We'd originally intended to eat out a restaurant with a big group of friends (18 adults and 15 kids), but when I called 20 (no joke) restaurants, I couldn't find one single place to accommodate us. So our restaurant trip for Mother's Day turned into a potluck, which worked out great. We provided KFC fried chicken (which delivers here in Bogota so we didn't even have to leave home!) and everybody brought a side dish and/or dessert. Everything was yummy and the children could play and be noisy without getting us kicked out of a restaurant It was a great time and felt like a family Mother's Day lunch back in South Carolina.
Jimmy and Mac went out to rent a movie for late-afternoon viewing, and then we had a yummy supper of this little pasta sauce we whipped up from sundried tomatoes, lemon juice and zest, garlic and olive oil.
It was a totally divine day with my boys and our friends, and for that, I am truly thankful.
On this special day, I am also so, so, so truly thankful for my wonderful mother, a great mother-in-law, and all the mother figures who have come into my life along the way. I'm a blessed girl!
Monday, January 17, 2011
NYR 1-17-11
Today, on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, I am particularly grateful for the ideology and hard work of a man (and his fellow believers) who gave his life for a cause that changed the face of a nation.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Mother's Day around these parts
My Mother's Day started last Thursday when I got a lovely bouquet of flowers from the man that made me a mother. I love, love, love gerbera daisies and I love, love, love getting flowers from the UPS man, but I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE being remembered by my man.
Gerbera daisies and Pinky Then on Friday I went to Muffins for Mom with the 1st graders at Pinewood. It was a lovely fiesta, complete with a beautiful, tear-inducing song and followed by being served muffins, fruit and orange juice by our beautiful children.
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At Muffins for Mom, Mac gave me the most beautiful handmade book all about moi and a pottery medallion necklace that he made in art class. He was so proud of everything and that made it all the more special.
On Sunday, I hosted a Mother's Day lunch at my mom's house. They say it takes a village and I had the great pleasure of cooking for the village that made me the wife and mother that I am today. It was an unusual opportunity and I loved all the prep work, all the grocery shopping, all the cooking, the planning, and the sharing. It was a labor of love and I wish I could cook for this village all the time.
At the lunch, Mac presented me with a plaque that Jimmy had made for me. It turns out that I did win the MOTY, at least from the person whose vote counts the most. I cannot believe that he went to the trouble of finding a trophy shop and having this thing made. Am I lucky girl or what?
The MOTY taking a photo of the MOTYSo from the MOTY in our house to the MOTY in your house, Happy Mother's Day. I hope your celebration rocked as much as mine did.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
quick birthday update
So today is my birthday and I'm only updating for one quick second. I have much to share about the two nights Jimmy and I spent in downtown Charleston, but that'll have to wait.
What I really wanted to share was that - BIG SURPRISE - Mac got sick today and we had to go to the doc-in-a-box late this afternoon. We're hopeful it's just allergies, but the fever is not normal for allergies. We're monitoring for the night and will fill the antibiotic Rx tomorrow if necessary.
I'm now adding "fortune teller" to my resume. Did I not foresee this coming with the anniversary vomititis?
Mother's Day is just around the corner, folks....
What I really wanted to share was that - BIG SURPRISE - Mac got sick today and we had to go to the doc-in-a-box late this afternoon. We're hopeful it's just allergies, but the fever is not normal for allergies. We're monitoring for the night and will fill the antibiotic Rx tomorrow if necessary.
I'm now adding "fortune teller" to my resume. Did I not foresee this coming with the anniversary vomititis?
Mother's Day is just around the corner, folks....
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
i'm dreaming of a white Christmas
STRAIGHT FROM WEATHER.COM
Forecast for London (where we'll be until Sunday morning)
Thu Dec 17 Rain / Snow Showers 39°/32° 40 %
Fri Dec 18 AM Snow Showers 37°/31° 30 %
Sat Dec 19 Partly Cloudy 37°/31° 10 %
Sun Dec 20 Rain / Snow Showers 38°/31° 40 %
Forecast for Chipping Campden (where we'll be from Sunday afternoon for a week)
Sun Dec 20 Snow Shower 33°/26° 40 %
Mon Dec 21 Scattered Snow Showers 33°/26° 30 %
Tue Dec 22 Scattered Snow Showers 36°/31° 40 %
Wed Dec 23 Few Snow Showers 37°/32° 30 %
Thu Dec 24 Rain / Snow 39°/33° 60 %
The forecast only goes out to Christmas Eve at this point, but I think my boy's going to see some snow on this little jaunt even if it's not falling on Christmas Day.
Mac and I leave tomorrow night and arrive on Thursday at noon. If all goes well for Jimmy, he'll arrive tomorrow night. It's going to be a jolly Christmas for the Storys and we hope it's merry and bright for you and your family as well.
Forecast for London (where we'll be until Sunday morning)
Thu Dec 17 Rain / Snow Showers 39°/32° 40 %
Fri Dec 18 AM Snow Showers 37°/31° 30 %
Sat Dec 19 Partly Cloudy 37°/31° 10 %
Sun Dec 20 Rain / Snow Showers 38°/31° 40 %
Forecast for Chipping Campden (where we'll be from Sunday afternoon for a week)
Sun Dec 20 Snow Shower 33°/26° 40 %
Mon Dec 21 Scattered Snow Showers 33°/26° 30 %
Tue Dec 22 Scattered Snow Showers 36°/31° 40 %
Wed Dec 23 Few Snow Showers 37°/32° 30 %
Thu Dec 24 Rain / Snow 39°/33° 60 %
The forecast only goes out to Christmas Eve at this point, but I think my boy's going to see some snow on this little jaunt even if it's not falling on Christmas Day.
Mac and I leave tomorrow night and arrive on Thursday at noon. If all goes well for Jimmy, he'll arrive tomorrow night. It's going to be a jolly Christmas for the Storys and we hope it's merry and bright for you and your family as well.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
have you seen our Christmas holiday countdown to the right?
We're under double digits before we see Jimmy in England. I don't know who's more excited out of the three of us. It's going to be a fabulous holiday.
from Macy's to Moncks Corner in one short week
Before I go further into this post, let me tell you that I'm not picking on Moncks Corner. Jimmy and I are proud of being from Moncks Corner, we have never ignored our background, and we always tell people we're from Moncks Corner (even the Secretary of State as noted a few weeks earlier).
On Sunday afternoon, I took Mac to the Moncks Corner Christmas parade. He has never been to a local hometown Christmas parade (or any Christmas parade for that matter) and as this was something from our childhood, I thought it necessary to share this with him.
I haven't been to the parade in the 20 years since I graduated from high school and it's entirely possible that I haven't been in longer than that. I can't remember my last Moncks Corner Christmas parade.
Mac had a marvelous time. He had pocketsful of candy by the time the parade ended, and he loved the floats; seeing the newly crowned state high school football champions (the Berkeley Stags for those of you not in the know); the fire trucks from every little community in the county, all blaring sirens; Santa Claus; all the Boy Scouts and little league football and baseball teams; etc.
Perhaps if we hadn't just watched the iconic Macy's Thanksgiving parade in NYC the week before, it wouldn't have been so funny to me. In case you didn't know (or guess!), there's a big difference between the Macy's parade and the Moncks Corner parade!
Our viewing party in the Subway parking lot (Mac and I went to my mom's church on Sunday morning - to make it a full Moncks Corner sort of day - and I got a great tip there to park in the Subway parking lot. It's near the start of the parade, so you can get out faster afterwards, but you have to get there early to get a good spot!).
the state champion BHS football team "float", courtesy of the local electricity coop
they have it all from karate experts to cloggers
a heating and air conditioning company's float. Can you see the smoke coming up near the back of the trailer? That's from a firepit they had right on the trailer. This is funny to me on a number of different levels.
the little-known caped Subway crusader
one of several vehicles from this hillbilly group.
See this line of fire trucks? This would have been an arsonist's dream day. He could have set fires all over the county because all the trucks were in the Moncks Corner Christmas parade. Now imagine the sirens on each of these trucks all blaring. Horrible.
And finally, Santa, with that darling boy Mac waving at him
At the corn maze, we're always looking for new marketing strategies. I have decided we should have a corn maze float next year. The timing is off (unless they move the Christmas parade to September), but never mind. We could use a hay ride trailer and decorate it with the winning scarecrows from Scarecrow Alley that we dress up with Santa hats and scarves. And we could crown a Miss Corn Maze 2010 and sit her on a hay bale (maybe with a live fire going) and let her wave at the crowd and throw candy at them. There were antique tractors in the parade, so we could even pull the hay ride tractor with a real tractor for an authentic experience. I think it's brilliant and we could hit all the area parades as they're all on different weekends. Look for us next year coming to a parade near you!
On Sunday afternoon, I took Mac to the Moncks Corner Christmas parade. He has never been to a local hometown Christmas parade (or any Christmas parade for that matter) and as this was something from our childhood, I thought it necessary to share this with him.
I haven't been to the parade in the 20 years since I graduated from high school and it's entirely possible that I haven't been in longer than that. I can't remember my last Moncks Corner Christmas parade.
Mac had a marvelous time. He had pocketsful of candy by the time the parade ended, and he loved the floats; seeing the newly crowned state high school football champions (the Berkeley Stags for those of you not in the know); the fire trucks from every little community in the county, all blaring sirens; Santa Claus; all the Boy Scouts and little league football and baseball teams; etc.
Perhaps if we hadn't just watched the iconic Macy's Thanksgiving parade in NYC the week before, it wouldn't have been so funny to me. In case you didn't know (or guess!), there's a big difference between the Macy's parade and the Moncks Corner parade!
Our viewing party in the Subway parking lot (Mac and I went to my mom's church on Sunday morning - to make it a full Moncks Corner sort of day - and I got a great tip there to park in the Subway parking lot. It's near the start of the parade, so you can get out faster afterwards, but you have to get there early to get a good spot!).
the state champion BHS football team "float", courtesy of the local electricity coop
they have it all from karate experts to cloggers
a heating and air conditioning company's float. Can you see the smoke coming up near the back of the trailer? That's from a firepit they had right on the trailer. This is funny to me on a number of different levels.
the little-known caped Subway crusader
one of several vehicles from this hillbilly group.
See this line of fire trucks? This would have been an arsonist's dream day. He could have set fires all over the county because all the trucks were in the Moncks Corner Christmas parade. Now imagine the sirens on each of these trucks all blaring. Horrible.
And finally, Santa, with that darling boy Mac waving at him
At the corn maze, we're always looking for new marketing strategies. I have decided we should have a corn maze float next year. The timing is off (unless they move the Christmas parade to September), but never mind. We could use a hay ride trailer and decorate it with the winning scarecrows from Scarecrow Alley that we dress up with Santa hats and scarves. And we could crown a Miss Corn Maze 2010 and sit her on a hay bale (maybe with a live fire going) and let her wave at the crowd and throw candy at them. There were antique tractors in the parade, so we could even pull the hay ride tractor with a real tractor for an authentic experience. I think it's brilliant and we could hit all the area parades as they're all on different weekends. Look for us next year coming to a parade near you!
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