Bill rides Bridge to Bridge

Mid September our family packed up after an afternoon soccer game and headed to the NC mountains for Bill to ride in the annual Bridge to Bridge cycling event.  The ride starts in Lenoir, NC and snakes around, up, down, around, and 101.8 miles later, finally finishes at the summit of Grandfather Mountain!  

The start - he's back there somewhere!

And there he goes!  I was so excited to have actally gotten this photo.

The boys and I had about 6 hours - and what to do?? There wasn't much in Lenoir, but we found a WalMart and found JT's Halloween costume.  I let the boys spend about 1 hour in the toy isles while I read a magazine! -And Bill was concerned about what we would do for all that time!

   

Maybe this is the cow-bell dance - not sure, but another 1/2 hour spent here dancing around!

Winding up Grandfather Mountain we spent some time viewing the animals and eating samples at the Fudge Shop.

It was a dreary, rainy, misty, cool day.  We even had to eat our picnic in the back of the SUV.



At the very top - the weather was beautiful! The boys even got a little sunburned.



We finally spot the correct red jersey!

Looking good!



Last stand up the very last incline.



Finish line!  Only 75% of riders finish this race and he finished 74 out of  332 finishers!

First Days

JT is starting his second year homeschooling and I am happy to report that things are going well!  Andrew is in preschool 2 days a week.  The teacher always rewards the well behaved students with stamps or stickers each day, but Andrew is the odd child that doesn't like either and refuses... Aren't they each sooo different!

No, it wasn't cold - he just really likes this shirt!

Spray Park

We visited the local spray park before "regular" school got out this year, hoping to avoid some of the crowds. Wouldn't you know it - one of the local 2nd grade classes was having a field trip to the spray park that day!!  The boys still enjoyed it and we hope to visit again.

Spring Soccer

JT finished his 2nd season of soccer with his dad as coach!  He still hustles after the ball very well even though he is not the star of the team.  We're just glad he wants to continue playing!

Buzz Cut

JT had been wanting a buzz cut like dad's so finally, the weekend before Memorial Day, he got his wish.  I'm sure it is much cooler, but he just likes having it like dad's. Andrew wanted no part of it - he said he liked his hair!

Mother's Day

We made our rounds for Mother's Day this year, but sadly, I didn't take any photos when celebrating with Bill's mother.  Here's me and my gang!

Celebrating Easter

Easter celebrating (& candy eating) started with an egg hunt at Andrew's preschool.  Joshua could not understand why Andrew got to take his Easter bucket but he didn't. It all worked out when I told him if he helped put eggs in Andrew's bucket, he could help eat the candy!

 



Glazed spiced sugar cookies - this batch vanished quickly!



After about 4 months of me searching for a pop-up camper, this is what we ended up with.  I think we made a good call to give us a little more flexiblity.  We tried it out the Wednesday & Thursday nights before Easter at a local park and we had a great time.  The boys really enjoyed it!

Look at all that candy! After our church egg hunt.

Easter bucket treats, and no, the Easter Bunny didn't bring it.