a collection of memories that are near and dear to us.

Monday, November 26, 2007

gingerbread fun, our family tradition










after weeks of fierce anticipation the quaintance clan arrived! they landed in charlotte just after 11pm on monday and rolled into asheville just before 2am on tuesday. in good spirits we exchanged a few quick hugs and kisses and then it was off to bed for a few short hours of sleep.

to kate's delight, opa was up in time to accompany us on our ride to school, allowing him his first real look at oakley elementary. just a few hours later; mika, aunt emmy, austin and ally accompanied me back to school as i had made arrangements to pick her up early. after stopping by the office to get our visitor badges we made our way down the kindergarten hall. kate's class was just returning from lunch when her teacher spotted us and motioned to kate.

it was a magical moment. the minute she laid eyes on austin and ally she began beaming. the kids exchanged a few quick hugs before kate marched off to return to her classroom with her fellow classmates.

mrs. donohue kindly invited us in so a curios austin and mika could get a better inside. kate was handed her pie of freshly baked pumpkin pie and smothered with hugs from her adoring teachers and we were off. destination: chuck e. cheese! i know... eekkk! but really... the one we live near is not that bad...all things being relative of course. not only did kate get to run around with austin but her pal gabrielle and my partner susan were in town and were able to join us as well.

highlights of our week together would have to include the decorating of our gingerbread men, bath time for the kids, the ladies covert trip to the grove park spa, our thanksgiving feast, pie - way too much pie, seeing the kids play, laugh and love on each other, our group dinner at the grove park, and the wonderful stomach virus many of us shared!

the days went too fast - they always do when we are all together. fortunately i am left with the many fond memories that will stand the test of time. at the end of our week together it was once again reaffirmed that i am incredibly blessed.

i have a mother i can't get enough of;

a father that i enjoy and i share more with then i ever thought possible;

i have a brother that i admire and i am incredibly proud of;

a sister-in-law i adore;

and a beautiful niece and nephew that i will always cherish!

(we missed you jim)

3 comments:

The Sundbergs said...

oh, that looks like fun! I LOVE decorating gingerbread men! Sounds like you had a great T-giving! (minus the stomach virus, of course--poor you guys!!)

Barngirl said...

WOW! A great time!
So happy for you and the fam. I would like a covert trip to a spa. I bet that was hysterically relaxing.

the roe family said...

it was indeed, hysterically relaxing. come on down and we can plan our own little covert expedition! :>)