#5

Five years ago, Macon was brand-spanking new.

Happy Birthday!

birthday time!

Macon's birthday is tomorrow, but we partied today. Once we found the cake that is. 

Shortly after everyone arrived, the doorbell rang urgently and repeatedly, and the boys rushed downstairs to discover a TOP SECRET letter to Macon stating that the cake had been stolen! Some were incredulous at first: we'd all seen the cake only a few minutes earlier. But sure enough, the cake was gone, and only a scattering of crumbs and a crumpled napkin remained! 

Luckily, our detectives, armed with magnifying glasses and badges, were on the case.

They followed clues around the neighborhood . . . 

. . . even following cat prints, which pointed them toward McLeod's house. 

McLeod was working in her yard when they approached, loudly accusing her cat, Rikki, of cake theft. 

McLeod protested. Rikki? A cake thief?! No!! 

She assured the boys that he would have taken cake only if it had been tuna cake. They were certain the cake was "regular," but she invited them to check around Rikki's bowl to make sure. 

Rikki's bowl was bereft of cake crumbs, but they did find another clue suggesting Darth Vader was the culprit! 

One more clue later, and they were back at home, ready to blow out candles and dig in to Macon's favorites: popcorn, cheese, strawberries, shrimp, and cake!

no loyalty to mama

Last week, Guilford College played UNC in an exhibition game. The Guilford fans were few and far between, but I thought I might have some supporters within my family, but no . . . everyone wants to pull for a winner. 

They even made a pro-UNC sign to hold up.

Fight, fight, inner light! Kill, Quakers, kill! 

Knock 'em down, beat 'em senseless, beat 'em 'til we reach consensus! 

uncle jim in 2nd grade

For Veterans Day, Mr. Harvey told the class they could bring a vet to class. As soon as he got home on Monday, Jed asked if Grandpa and Uncle Jim could come to his school. Grandma and Grandpa had been pretty recently, but Uncle Jim is only a few blocks away at his office and he was happy to visit Jed's school. The kids seemed enthralled, asked great questions, and Mr. H was in the process of looking up a map of Vietnam for them when we left. Jed was as proud as he could be, and he lit up when Uncle Jim asked him to model his helmet. 

And a final Veterans Day photo... 

This is Eric's great aunt and uncle, Ray and Delores. Ray served in both theaters in WWII and is a young-looking 93. 

veterans day

 Happy Veterans Day to our favorite vet! 

We celebrated by visiting Eno River State Park in Durham. 

Macon found the largest mussel shell I've ever seen.

Jed was conducting Macon.

halloween 2015

Our cowboy and police officer were ready to go by 10 a.m.

Much later in the day, our friends started arriving. This was as close as I could get to a picture of Macon and his friend, Trey, also dressed as a cop. 

 At 7:30, after about 900 pieces of candy, we turned out the lights. At that point, Jed and Nita hid behind our retaining wall to scare people walking by, and Macon and Trey ate nearly all their candy.

By 9:30, things were getting a little frat-house-ish. Macon and Trey were shirtless, seen here in a blur, Jed was stumbling around in cowboy boots that were hurting his feet, and Laura Ingalls Wilder, Trey's sister, was nearly comatose on the sofa. Amazingly, so far as I know, no one threw up.