Bugfest!

Last Saturday, while Cameron was off flirting with beautiful, ESPN, sideline reporters, the boys and I went to the BUGFEST! Unbeknownst to me, this free event happens every year in downtown Raleigh. Who knew?
We got there just in time for Charlie and Levi to enter 3 “Olympic” events: "The Ant Race", "The Boulder Roll" and "The Pollen Catcher". They both took gold medals!





After the races, we moseyed on over to catch a glimpse of the "Flea Circus". Levi didn't have much patience for that, so we proceeded to the caterpillar bouncy thingy. It was kind of funny how they entered through the mouth and came out of it’s butt! Here is Levi pulling Charlie out. LOL



We all shared a slushy and then went to make a bet on which cockroach would win the "Roachingham 500". I guessed the Purple would win; Charlie yellow and Levi blue. Charlie's cockroach won by a mile (well, actually about a yard). Levi's only got about half way down the stretch, and my cockroach didn't even make it out of the starting gate! Levi and I got a spider ring as our consolation prizes. Charlie got a bug that grows when you stick it in water. Isn't that wonderful.



For the rest of the time we walked around and did other fun stuff; chalk writing, sand sculpting, following "stilt man" and jamming out to some band that was destroying some good oldies music and telling bad bug jokes. It was a great day with my boys!

Camerons 15 seconds of fame

On Saturday Cameron took Lindsey to the Virginia Tech vs UNC game in Chapel Hill, before the game he walked by some one he thought he recognized, and after a brief discussion with some other people familiar with ESPN, he determined he was correct in thinking he had just passed by Erin Andrews, ESPN sideline reporter for college football and basketball. So he grabbed his camera and took Lindsey to get his picture taken. Below is the photo that I am sure will be shown off at his office and to all his sports buddies.

Katie Cheering

Our niece Katie is a high school cheerleader in Maryland. Not only does she cheer for her high school, but she also is a member of a competition cheerleading squad. Here are a few recent pics that we wanted to show off!!!! Spirit Fingers!!!!

Oh what a night!

On Friday we went to Raleigh to see the "Third Day" concert. There were several different bands, but it seemed like most people were there to see Switchfoot and Third Day. The Pavillion didn't get filled up until about 9 when they were supposed to perform.
The thing that I really loved was the worship. Yes, when you go to a concert there is the element of entertainment, which is a given. However, when you have a band that can do both praise and entertain it is quite unique. Swithfoot is pretty deep. The lead singer would say some profound thing and then break up the seriousness with a statement like "alright let's play" and then commence to lots of guitar screaming and drum beating. Third Day would sing a song like "Thief" or "Cry Out to Jesus", get everyone crying and then sensing a need for release, jamming out afterwards! It was a great balance! I can honestly say, "I laughed... I cryed.... I jammed out.....!".

Here's the video of Third Day







Cam -N- Laura smoochin'. It was a date night afterall ;)

Getting psyched for the concert!

As you can see by the music selection, we are getting excited for the "Third Day"/ "Switchfoot" concert on Friday. I am not really familiar with Switchfoot but as I have been listening to their songs I've been blessed. I really like the song "24".

Date Night at the Derby!!!

I love Rock-N-Roller Derby!!! This song by Joan Jett came right to my mind when I tried to come up with a theme song for this event. All I can say is WOW, these chicks are tough! As you know, Cam got us tickets for the "Carolina Roller Girls" tonight and we had such a great time. If you have never experienced this type of event it really is a must on your things to do in life at least once. I mean, the action is packed, the girls are "colorful" and the fans are even more colorful. I loved it. We sat on the floor right next to the rink. We could've opted for the stadium seating but we were kind of hoping that one of the players might trip and fall next to us. Wouldn't that make for a great photo! It never happened but I did get this great pic taken with one of the "blockers".

Here is the Slide show

Thanks, Love and Levi's Gift!

Yes, today was a good day. I am 37. I feel pretty much the same, just a little saggier around the edges; nothing a little less chocolate and a little more tread mill won't cure. I'm working on that..... but not today. My diet buddy, Amanda, made me a whole pan of cupcakes. Have I told you all that I love that girl! They were so good. I have eaten 4 of them and made Cameron and the kids polish off the rest before I take 'em out!

Cameron beat me to the blog tonight but I just wanted to say that I am really looking forward to going to see the "Roller Derby". I know, it sounds kind of funny doesn't it? A couple of years ago we went to the state fair and the girls from Carolina were skating around this track in these crazy looking outfits and I thought it was just so bizarre. Ever since then I have teased with Cameron saying that I would really like to do that! HA!LOL Hence, the roller Derby tickets for my B-day. I will be sure to get lots of "colorful" pictures. Also, Cameron knows how much I enjoy "Third Day's" music. I CAN'T WAIT TO GO TO THAT CONCERT NEXT WEEKEND!!!
Have I told you all what an awesome hubby I have? Yep, I got a good one. Possibly the best. Thanks for being so thoughtful. I love you Shakey.

I also want to share this precious thing that happened today. As you all may know, I homeschool the kids. Well, today we had school as usual and all day long Levi would come in the school room and hand me a present and say "Momma, this is for you". He would rap these presents in newspaper or an empty cardboard box. I would open the present each time and it would be some random item he picked up from around the house. It was so cute. Every time I acted as if it were a diamond ring that I was opening. His little face lit up every time I opened the gift (lego blocks, toothbrush, toy car, puzzle piece) But as he continued to do this, it spoke to me deep, because he was so longing to give. He loved it every time as I opened each gift. He wanted to give more and more and isn't that how it is? When we truely give with such a pure heart, not just physical gifts, but ourselves, we want to give more and more. It never gets old. God tells us that it is better to give than receive, and I believe it. Thank you my sweet Levi for my gift of YOU.

Happy Birthday Laura

Today, Sept 11, is Laura's birthday, she said she turns 25 today (again). The two most notable gifts are tickets to the Carolina Roller Girls, roller derby (Laura has wanted to see this for some time now) and the other gift of note is tickets to see Third Day and Switchfoot in concert. Both of these events are sure to be a seperate blog entry.

Hurricane Hannah

Well when we went to bed last night we expected to be awakened during the night or morning by the wind, rain, and destructive might of Hurricane Hannah (it was only a category 1 when we checked last night). So this morning when we woke up (about 8:30) we checked to see when we should be able to do our traditional hurricane report, this is where we go outside and video tape ourselves in the wind and give a weather report like the ones you see on TV for every hurricane, where the reporter is telling you how strong the wind is blowing and how its raining sideways. When we checked the weather we were surprised and a little disappointed to find Hannah had passed us by, if you look at the radar it shows Hannah as of 8:30 am, we live just east of Raleigh in the last little green band of rain. Now don’t get me wrong, I am glad this storm was not a big deal for our area and I pray that it was the same non-big deal for everyone else but at the same time it sure is exciting to have the wind and rain, and to watch the tops of tall pine trees in our yard swing from side to side (to the point that you wonder how long they can do that before they snap). We may still go out and report, but it seems a little silly now (as if it didn't already). To all our friends and family we are safe, the only clean up is all the pine straw that we now have all over our yard.