Posted by Michelle Cell on Jan 10, 2009 in Hayley, Michelle
We had a great time visiting Nicole and Mason down at Wilmington earlier this week. We went to another lighthouse – Oak Island. Luckily instead of having to make an appointment, one of the volunteers was there and let us in. Hayley was old enough to climb up a level to see how things worked.
It was relaxing – Monkey Joes, Wiis and a lot of good conversations with my old dear friend Nicole.
We checked out UNCW, how it has grown. All the students were getting books are the bookstore in the Student Union and Hayley liked all the activity there. She wanted a sweatshirt so we grabbed a cute teal one with navy polka dots.
On the way home we saw a stunning rainbow – a fitting end!
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Tags: friends, fun, photos, travel
Posted by Michelle on Jan 1, 2009 in Hayley, Jeff, Michelle
We had a low key New Years Eve with our dear friends Mike, Sara and Landon. UNC had a game at 10pm so I had to actually work some but considering our game plan was to just hang out, play games and let the kids be silly, it didn’t matter too much.
I love Hayley playing with Landon. They are so funny together. I think she chased him around the house for like 30 mins and he loved it. At one point, she was laying on the couch and he decided to crawl up and snuggle with her. So much cuteness. She’s so good with him. She’ll make a fine babysitter when she is older.
Hayley nearly crashed at 11:45 but I came up with the bright idea to let her pick out glasses to drink the sparkling grape juice at midnight. So she perked right up and came back with a wide variety of glasses just in time to make it!
Guitar Hero Rock Star:
Boozing it up with pregnant ladies:
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Posted by Michelle on Jan 1, 2009 in Hayley, Jeff, Michelle, More Family
For the fourth year, we charged up the remote cars and carefully carried out the lovely gingerbread creations to the bottom of our steep driveway in the cul de sac.
We summoned our friends next door and then the GINGERBREAD DEMOLITION DERBY commenced.
Four-time competitor Purple car was joined by three-time participant Silver and a surprise entry of a jeep driving by a stuffed Elephant joined the attack force. The gingerbread houses put up a good fight but the cars again prevail and the kids finished the job by stomping on the remains.
Yes we are strange people but we love making gingerbread, we just don’t like eating it so why not have some fun with it!
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Posted by Michelle on Jan 1, 2009 in Hayley, Jeff, Michelle, More Family
We continued our family tradition of making gingerbread houses on Christmas Eve. Obviously you can’t destroy them if you don’t make them but of course that’s for Xmas day. We started about 10pm after being next door for the annual Christmas Eve celebration at the Renfroes. Good times was had by all and I love that we have these traditions with friends and family each year.
As usual we made a huge mess of it but that definitely is part of the fun. We didn’t try the 2nd floor like last year but did two side by side ones – of course one wouldn’t stay together until we made some super sticky paste royal icing.
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Hooray for messy hands!
Tags: crafts & cooking, family, friends, fun, gingerbread demo derby, holiday, photos
Posted by Michelle on Dec 17, 2008 in Michelle
My friend Bill sent me a page from the program for a great HS basketball tournament I used to help work on. I was the media director, did the program and helped with other stuff but I tapered down my work with them over the past year because I can’t manage Christmas at home the way I want to and work on the tournament. The prep work was hard but three straight days of 10am to 10pm work at the tournament was too stressful with all my other responsibilities.
But I miss the guys who run the event. I miss watching that much hoops. I miss seeing kids who would eventually go on to play college and professional basketball. I miss being media director and running press row at a college facility – and helping reporters, radio and TV guys.
So read the thanks bottom part of this the page I saw today: Glaxo Holiday Invitational program page. Making me tear up.
Tags: friends, sports, work
Posted by Michelle on Dec 13, 2008 in Michelle
I went to see old friends Tracy and Sheri who were sorority sisters of mine in college that I hadn’t seen in over 16 years on Wednesday night. We met up at Tracy’s house where the wine and clock hands moved fast and I laughed at memories I hadn’t thought of in a long time.
Sometimes even just a few photos can capture a moment well and looking at these images I’m struck by how much they really remind me of them.
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Posted by Michelle on Nov 2, 2008 in Hayley, Jeff, Michelle
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We had a GREAT Halloween! Hayley decided to go as something different this year and we put together her costume ourselves. She went as Danica Patrick, the first woman to win a Formula One race. I’m not really a racing fan but Formula One is more interesting to me than NASCAR and Patrick certainly made an impact culturally. We went through about 20 ideas and Danica Patrick was the only one Hayley loved – I’m sure because she is gorgeous that helped Hayley with the decision.
Turns out they sell replica jersey versions of her racing suit (just the top part). That with a hat we got from there, black soccer pants, black underarmor soccer shirt and riding gloves made for one adorable but mean race car driver.
Our friends up the street had a party beforehand so we all went up there for dinner. They did a great job with their garage! I made a green jello Frankenstein hand and encircled it with looser red jello – it was GROSS looking but tasty.
Jeff and Hayley took off to trick or treat with our next door neighbor Wes and their kids Ethan and Mason. We figured Ethan would tucker out sooner so Wes ended up taking him home and Jeff continued on with the girls. Jen and I hung out on her front porch and handed out candy. Of course if you know me, you know I love Halloween. For the 4th year, we handed out glow sticks with our candy – and this year I got Pop Rocks and Pixie Stix. Oh yeah, I rule and you know it! ha!
The kids came back with insanely filled bags, we weeded through them, traded and tossed some out over at Wes and Jen’s. We let the girls play until about 10:30 and finally took the 10 steps to our house and crashed.
**updated note –> Hello to the people who came here from the Danica Patrick fan site that link here!
Tags: friends, fun, halloween, holiday, photos
Posted by Michelle on Oct 21, 2008 in Hayley, Michelle
Last month we visited my old roommate and dear friend Michele Eager and her daughter Ava. It was the first time our kids met and it almost made me tear up. We don’t see them enough.
Then we hung out for the day with our friends Sara and Landon. Lunch, the park, all the glamorous mom hang outs. We love spending time with them and always end up spending hours with them!
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Posted by Michelle on Oct 11, 2008 in Hayley, Michelle
My next door neighbor Jen and I took the kids to Marbles on Friday since we are all tracked out from school. It was a good time – I think we enjoyed the international section most and really got into the Marrakesh part. We did henna designs on our hands and made ‘plates’ to sell at the market. We haggled on the prices at our market too and they had a Moroccan tea party! They also loved making hieroglyphics with the stamp set.
Marbles is fun but at ten year old Hayley is definitely at the max end of the range there.
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Posted by Michelle on Oct 9, 2008 in Hayley
To get in the Halloween spirit, Hayley and I made a Halloween wreath that we just adore. Then we set off for the pumpkin patch with our next-door neighbors where we bought many pumpkins (and pretended to eat them where I taught Ethan to fake throw up, lol).
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