Bye Bye '24

This is the only picture I have from New Year's Eve, one of Savannah enjoying her requested dinner from Super Chix.  The day didn't go as planned, as most of 2024 has been, and we ended up having to get take out because the restaurant was closing early and I had to drive Preston to a sleepover in SC so we didn't make it back in time to eat in.  BUT we still made it work, as we have done all year long.  It's been a year filled with unexpected house issues from damaged floors due to a dishwasher leak, to drainage issues out back, college decisions, sickness, and so much more drama . . .but with the Lord's protection and provision, we have fought our way through a pretty insane year.  So grateful for the chance to start afresh in 2025.  Praying the year ahead is filled with peace, joy, good health, blessings beyond measure, and time to enjoy each other.  May we be filled with Him and shine to others as we journey through this new year.

Christmas Round 3

We ventured to Simpsonville, SC to celebrate Christmas with Dave's family today.  It was super low key, like we picked up a pizza for dinner on the way, and had a cookie cake for dessert.  It was just nice to see the rest of our family and spend some time together . . and a nice way to extend the  Christmas holiday a little longer.

 

A Charlotte Christmas

We enjoyed a nice quiet day in Charlotte to celebrate Christmas this year.  Of course, we started off with Santa gifts and then had a yummy cinnamon roll breakfast.  

Much like her mom, Savannah gets car sick very easily.  We hope these crazy glasses will help with that!

It wasn't long after breakfast before we headed upstairs to open the gifts to and from each other.  There were a few good surprises, but mostly it was stuff from the list.  Both kids were excited to get new sunglasses.

Dave was surprised to get a knitted frog to help keep his bananas fresher. :)

It was a fun and relaxing day with nowhere to go and nothing specific to do.  Dave and I even made time for a morning run and then we all enjoyed burgers for dinner.  Very grateful for our family and that everyone is happy and healthy.  Happy Birthday Jesus!

Christmas Festivities

I feel like Christmas has been ever so rushed this year.  Maybe it was Savannah being sick or just the normal chaos of life or the short time between Thanksgiving and  Christmas, but either way it has just felt different.  We have tried to do some of the same traditions like driving around for the light shows, but there are others, like seeing the gingerbread houses display, that we just never made time for.  One thing Savannah always makes time for is baking . . . the kids have enjoyed working together to bake cookies this season. 

Savannah was excited that a gift she ordered with Pawpaw's money arrived quickly.

One tradition that we did keep up was Christmas Eve at Carmel and Chili's for dinner afterward. It was a joy to worship together as a family tonight in anticipation of Christmas Day tomorrow.

Sibling Adventures

These two could not wait to set out on a morning adventure together.  The coin jar money was burning a hole in their pockets so they hit the credit union first to deposit their loot.  I guess they had made some sort of pact with their jar guesses and decided to share the winnings in a "fun account".  Sooo, as soon as the money was deposited they headed straight to Costco for chicken melts and yogis. LOL  They had plenty of time on their hands now that they were both on break so waiting in the pre-Christmas checkout line that was to the back of the warehouse wasn't a problem for these two.  

 

Christmas 2024 in Mebane

We traveled to Mebane today to celebrate Christmas with my family.  Now when the Pages are together there is almost always a funny memory made . . and today was no exception.  Let's just say Pawpaw had a little trouble figuring out how to get Teresa on Facetime so we could all see her and the new ring!

Thankfully, Savannah came to the rescue and we were finally able to see her!

The catered food was delicious, but the memories and time spent together were what we will all remember.  So thankful for this time to catch up with everyone!  Oh, and for the record, Savannah won the coin jar estimate this year with a guess of $123.  She and Preston have planned to turn the money into a "fun fund" and use it for things I refuse to buy. LOL 

 Thanks, Denny for hosting us and for all the great memories. :)

Love in a Krispy Kreme

 

The kids have been dying to try the new Grinch doughnuts from Krispy Kreme.  We tried our best earlier this week and the dumb store was completely sold out with an hour's wait to get fresh ones.  KK isn't exactly close to our house so we went home, disappointed.  However, today when Preston was driving to flight, there just happened to be a Krispy Kreme that they passed so the kids were able to get the long-awaited doughnuts.  For them, it was a treat, well for Savannah at least . . . Preston's doughnut was missing the cookie dough filling so he was sad and wrote a long hilarious e-mail to their customer service department.  For me, it was a reminder of Aunt Cherry and her love for us all.  

Many years ago I took the kids furniture shopping at FLS (gasp, I know) and there was a doughnut stand out front.  Preston was begging for some fresh doughnuts but we kept brushing him off trying to finish our purchases.  By the time we got back outside they had closed the stand and were gone.  Aunt Cherry felt so bad so she gifted the kids with a big gift card to KK, which they have only used on special occasions.  So today, this was a small reminder of her and how she loved us all so well.  Maybe the grinch doughnut didn't have filling today, but it sure had love.

UNC Girls Trip - Make Up Exam

Thankfully, Savannah started feeling better on Thursday . . . and felt good enough to travel to UNC to take her last make-up exam, which had to be in person.  She took one online at 10am (in Charlotte) and then we hit the road for a girls' trip to Chapel Hill.  We made it in enough time to swing by the dining hall for some lunch and then I drove her to the professor's office.  While she was doing the exam, I went to her dorm to change the sheets and do some laundry.  It was a quick trip, but we accomplished everything we needed to do.  Hallejuah the semester is done and now we can enjoy the holidays!  Praying we are done with sickness!!!

Super Sick Savannah

Savannah got back to school on Sunday and started feeling icky on Monday.  By Tuesday things were BAD and she was in campus health.  They ran every test imaginable and decided it was just a virus.  She was excused from class for the last week of school and I went to pick her up.  Long story short, after two more doctor visits here in Charlotte she was still completely miserable and severely dehydrated so we ended up in the ER Saturday night.  We had the most excellent care by a very thorough doctor, who eventually discovered she had "severe pneumonia" that was some sort of microplasma one only detected by x-ray.  They gave her fluids and immediately she felt better.  It brought her 130 heartrate and 103 degree fever down so we were released to go home with two pretty powerful antibiotics.  Unfortunately, the patient refused to eat which set us back quite a bit on Tuesday, but by Wednesday she woke up fever-free (for the first time in 8 days) and was feeling sooo much better.  

I even got a laugh out of her at dinner on Wednesday when she opened the Christmas card from "carl".  I am just so grateful she is better and on the mend.  She still has a nasty cough that gets us both up at least once a night, but overall, what a drastic improvement.  So tomorrow we drive to Chapel Hill so she can finish out her finals for the first semester.  And then, hopefully, we can all enjoy the rest of the holiday festivities all healthy and happy!

Thanksgiving Weekend Recap

 

This year we didn't travel or host for Thanksgiving . . . and although it was untraditional and odd not being with extended family, it was marvelous just staying in Charlotte together.  We had a leisurely morning and did a run through the neighborhood (even though the official one was canceled due to the threat of rain) and enjoyed time at home as a family.  We also did our annual family pictures before dinner and were thankful to have that off the list.  Having Savannah home for 10 days has been such a treat, and I'm sad to send her back to UNC today.  BUT, she'll be back in just 3 days after the last day of class. :)

These three found a yummy peanut butter pie recipe and enjoyed sampling the ingredients after it was all made.  We had homemade macaroni and cheese, chicken tenders, rolls, and carrots for our Thanksgiving meal.  It's not about what you eat but the time you spend together.. . and after this weekend my cup is full!  We are so incredibly blessed.  It's been a rough year with a lot going on, but we are all happy and healthy; for that we are so, so grateful.  We also have an amazing group of friends here in Charlotte and a church that we love.  

To wrap up the weekend, Dave and Preston drove to Wake Forest to see Clemson men's soccer play in the playoff game tonight.  Unfortunately, they lost in overtime, but the boys had a great trip and Preston loved being able to be the driver all the way to Wake Forest!

So now we are officially in the holiday season.  My house is a disaster and half decorated, track seasib starts this week for Preston, and the to do list is ever growing, but bring on the holiday adventures!