Patti's Chat: 2008

Friday, December 26, 2008

Weirich Family Christmas 2008

Weirich Christmas 2008

Well, Merry Christmas to you and your family! We can't believe Christmas has come and gone already.

We woke up on Christmas Eve to warmer than normal temps, mid 60's and sunny! Well, I guess when you live in the Sunny South that's the kind of Christmas you get huh?

Our first highlight of the day was attending our Christmas Eve Service with our wonderful church family, Elevation Church - Pastored by Steven Furtick. We had an Uptown Christmas held at the Belk Theater and over 6,000 people attending during the 3 service time options. Over 400 people gave their lives to Christ and began a new year receiving the best gift of all!

After the service we all volunteered together in E-kidz - Elevation Church is known for their creative T-shirts for each sermon series and here are the kids wearing theirs. We then came home to our usual yummy homemade pizza made personally by David Weirich! We watched the DVD Chronicles of Narnia - Prince Caspian and then all headed to bed so "Santa" could come. This year was full of wonder because we were constantly wondering if Josh still believed in Santa or not - he has been a little on the fence about it lately. :)

Dave and I decided not to exchange gifts this year to keep our Christmas spending down. The kids and I couldn't resist this small gift for Dad - it's a snow globe and we used the pictures from our family Christmas card to put a picture on each side for him. He can put it on his desk at work and be constantly reminded of who loves him the most!

HERE'S SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF CHRISTMAS MORNING...

Josh gets a rip stick!

Heather gets a new Ohio State Hoodie!

A family basketball hoop - a must have when you have boys and teenagers around!

This huge frog (Fully Rely On God) was one of Heather's stocking stuffers!

Here are the two bozo's playing our "generic Wii". Notice they both have their mouths open - is that strategy!

Hmmm...I'm thinking they missed! This was much more humorous in person - "you had to be there" moment!

Many more pictures in our file but too many to share on our simple blog!

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Grammy Linda and Marathon Mike Visit...

Last Friday, Grammy Linda (Dave's Mother) and Dave's Cousin, Mike Schneider came in town. Mike was running in the marathon uptown on that following day and so Grammy hitched a ride to see us for Christmas. We were just in Ohio in October so we didn't have a trip home for Christmas planned but it sure was a nice treat to have Grammy (and Mike) for a few quick days.

Friday night I made spaghetti for dinner since Mike needed to have pasta for the run the next day.

Mike is 48 years old and his goal is to run a marathon in all 50 states. By the time he came here to Charlotte last weekend he has already run in 13 different states. Amazing! Can you believe that!?

While Mike was running the marathon, Dave was with Josh at basketball practice, we all got haircuts and then met back up here at home.

We went to Chili's for dinner since Mike wanted a good steak and we had to choose somewhere that Josh can have some "safe" foods (he has a corn allergy).

After dinner we broke out all the homemade Christmas cookies and Grammy began pouring Christmas gifts on us from her and Grandpa Ralph.

Grammy Linda and Grandpa Ralph got Josh lots of Florida Gators stuff (even a hat!). Notice in the picture above (where we are eating dinner) --- Josh is already wearing a Gators long sleeve t-shirt. He's always wearing something with Gators on it. Then, in this picture he's showing off all his new wardrobe of Gators wear!

Heather got lots of lime green stuff, jammies and some cozy warm socks too!

Heather stole my camera on Friday and took some self portraits of herself. How do they do that without going out of focus or out of view? I can't seem to master that.

After we gave Grammy her gifts for her and Grandpa Ralph we got our family hamster out. Fred is quite a character. She is so loved and such an escape expert. Grammy loved her and she was real still so Grammy could pet her.

Fred

(she's a girl hamster, go figure!?)

While we were all having a good time opening and exchanging gifts - Mike was fading quickly!

I guess this is what happens after you've run a marathon!

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

A bit of my favorites from this week...

Thanksgiving this year was spent at home. It was warm outside or at least warm enough to call it fall and not winter, the sun was out and we had plenty of time to just enjoy each other.

We baked, watched movies together and did some projects that we had been waiting to do (the trash men got a huge surprise when they pulled up to our house), cleaning out the walk-in attic was my favorite. After living here for 10+ years we have accumulated some junk!

So, here are some pictures from this week...

THANKSGIVING DAY!...The turkey just came out and Dave's preparing it for dinner

YUM! This is one of my favorite meals all year. Turkey, stuffing, Dave's famous mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and green bean casserole with a crouisant, of course!

See, I told you the sun was out alot - our dog Missi was getting a suntan.

The Weirich's can't eat turkey for weeks so the next day we had homemade pizza made by our very own Chef's. It's the best!

SOME OF MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS...

If I remember correctly, this was given to Dave and I as a wedding gift 20 years ago by my Aunt Sandy and Uncle Jim. This has become one of Josh's favorite things to do while decorating is arrange all the animals and wisemen.

A picture never does a tree justice....it's so pretty in real life. We got a real tree this year since we're not traveling to Ohio. I love the smell of a real tree and the unique character that each one has.

I love the sound of Josh's train that he puts under the tree. It plays Jingle Bells.

This is one of the ornaments on our tree that Aunt JuJu (my sister) hand painted! These are real special to me. They will be on my tree for forever!

Here's another that Aunt Juju painted! Aren't they great!? I am amazed each year as I unwrap them to hang them - the talent - I can't draw a stick person!

This is another of Jude's painted ornaments. I love the wink on this snowman

My cousin Toody gave this to Dave and I for a wedding gift and we hang it every year.

Then, when Heather was born she gave this to Heather. I will give it to Heather when she has her own tree one day.

Grandma Noanie's Hand-me-downs....

The following pictures are things that my mom has given me this year. They are downsizing since they spend the winters in Florida now and so she doesn't have the space to decorate or store the decorations throughout the year.

Josh and Missi jumped into this picture... this decoration moves and lights up.

Aren't these cute!? These are in my office on my bookshelf - I think they are adorable!

Last but not least, Santa and Mrs. Claus all snug in a chair.

Christmas will be here before we know it....enjoy this season and celebrate the season!

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Random pictures by Josh...

So, before church this morning Josh and I were downstairs and ready to go. I was trying to decide if I was going to wear my glasses TO church or wait until I got to church to put them on.

Josh decided it would be fun to take some random pics of me with and without my glasses.

He thought it would be fun to post them on my blog and get your opinion. With or without my glasses, which is better?

Oh and by the way - this haircut is soon to be gone! I'm tired of having hair everywhere in the morning. I'm used to being able to pop my hair up and go and this style is a little too much work for me. I'm growing it back out!

Share your comments here - just click comment below and I'll share them with my personal photographer...Josh!

Having fun with it... :))

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Mom and Dad Visted...

Wow, I have really taken a blog break huh? For those of you who have been asking when I'm going to post a new update - well, here it is. I have been so busy it seems the last few weeks.

My parents were on their way to Florida for the winter, a week or so ago and they stopped here for about 5 days to not only break up the tremendous long drive but to also look at some Independent Living places here in Charlotte to consider moving here. As most of you know, my Mother now requires 24 hours of a watchful eye, not to mention help with most of her daily activities. She still walks (with the help of an elaborate walker, not the cane type) but has a really hard time with balance. She falls on average 6 times a day -hard falls.

So, while they were here I shot some pictures of the day we visited Josh at school and surprised him for lunch.

Grandpa John, Grandma Noanie and Josh

My mom and Josh... Notice my mom's all ready for me to get one of these with her camera! It's a keeper!

Josh and his buddy Lucas!

Happy belated Thanksgiving to those of you reading this. We've spent a very nice family weekend together. We've enjoyed each day! Today, Dave started his yearly baking of all the yummy cookies he bakes each year and the kids and I began decorating the house for Christmas.

Stay tuned, I've got some pictures from Thanksgiving and decorating I'll share soon.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Bunco Anyone? The 80's Were GREAT!

I recently joined a BUNCO group here in our neighborhood with my dearest friend Gwen. Her and I always have loads of fun when we're together so when she invited me to be a part of her BUNCO group, I couldn't resist.

Each month the person who hosts gets to decide on a theme and usually we are asked to dress up or something. This month, Kelly was our host and she brought us all back to the 80's era with her theme. What a blast!

Here's some pictures from the night -

Gwen and I - me carrying my Kangaroo pouch! Inside joke for those of you who know me. I had a total of 15 mins to throw myself together so Ichose a preppy look, comfy! When I was getting dressed, Josh said "mom, why are you wearing one of Dad's shirts?" I said "cause the collar must be able to flip up or it won't be a true preppy look"