Wedding Day anticipation

We're all getting excited in Atlanta and New York, as we prepare this week to travel to California for Alan, Kristin, Aidan and Keegan's wedding. We'll all be there and we are packing all our love and support and bringing it along with us.

I will be in daily prayer as these two lover tighten up the details for their special day. I ask you to join me.

Heartfelt moments of celebration

Issy took this picture of us celebrating her Father's 44th birthday. It was a happy occasion at Nancy G's, where I felt honored to be in the company of this fine family. Keep doing what you're doing, Mike and the years will only confirm your and Mary's success...

P.S. Kristin, do we have pictures of Aidan's special day?

Photo of the day...

Little Miss Emily, who isn't frightened by spiders at all,

but is a lover of all things small (or big as far as spiders go!).

Maybe she could give Shannon spider phobia therapy.

Double your pleasure!

August 25th will forever more be a day to remember...for a couple of reasons...

1.) In 1965, on August 25th an incredibly beautiful little boy was born to a teenage mother. That mother was me, and when I looked into his eyes I knew my life had a purpose and I would be in love forever. That little boy was Michael; son, grandson, brother, husband, father, attorney at law, golfer, beach master...and oh, so much more.

With as much pride as he has when watching his children do whatever they do, I want to wish him a very, very Happy Birthday! I am so proud to call you son.



2.) Then after many years, on August 25, 2001, along came another little boy that filled our hearts and made the date even more special. We sang for joy as Mike shared his birthday song with Aidan.


Aidan is a son, brother, friend, ball player, inventor, story teller and the precious grandson to Mimi and Grandad.


To you both, I wish you the good things in life, the time and health to enjoy them and people you love to share them with.


I love you, Guys. Happy, Happy Birthday,


Mom/Mimi

Memories of Family Summer Vacation 2009

Each year Molly gives us her heartfelt memories of our Family Vacation. After much anticipation, this year's memories came, via email, today...

August 2009
The 7th Annual trip to Grayton Beach
(went to Earth Shine in 2002 and lovely Jekyll Island in 2001

FWEAKIJAM 2009 – aka “The Week of Green”

First year with Alan joining us – WELCOME!

Mimi’s amazing music video of the Beach Boys – Surfin’ Safari

First year of the awards! Andrew did an amazing job as the master of ceremonies. And the winners please . . . .

Mimi – creative guru award

G’Diddy – most graceful falling award

Andrew – most aggressive voice award (also want to add “The Yak Award”)
· Emily – helicopter braid
· Tom – Beachmaster-wanna-be award
· Will – best scary story award (aka thump-thump-drag award)

· Kim – rice cake award
Keegan – most creative use of zombies and tupok in Balderdash
Alan – most balls caught
Aidan – the giant squid award
Kristin – crab cake queen
Joe – for looking cool in the baby pool (when talking to the chicks next door)
Mary – workout warrior
Mike – the best beachmaster award
Issy – talk ‘til you drop award
Ford – 3 Cups of Tea award
Shannon – most extensive array of taco toppings
Morgan – true blue friend award (for sticking up for Emily)
Molly – squeaky bike tire award
Kate – the big giant green, green machine
Jeremy – most time on computer

Amazing weather with crystal clear water like the Caribbean – no seaweed, no jellyfish, even saw 4 dolphins (whale sharks there too we learned later) – also watched thunderstorm from the dock

The tongue-less tee shirts

Kate playing her banjo and teaching the kids how to play

The girls’ crazy hairdos

Tom’s G’Diddy sighting prior to the trip – “I’m just sayin’”

The week of green – thanks to Jeremy for bringing water bottles to inspire us to break our water bottle dependence – we did well with the exception of someone who got busted (she, who loves the sports caps, will remain unnamed)

Discovering the joys of shaved ice

Playing tennis 3 times in one day! Grandad showing us just how tough he is.

Gorgeous moons every night – fun nighttime beach walks – a full moon on our last night

Shannon, feeling brave (and inspired by Jeremy and Kate to eat local), went to a boat bought shrimp and mullet from a woman with a peg leg in a bikini, Cheri Dawn, who had caught them that morning

Kate, Ford and Joe reading on the dock

Tubs almost falling through the ceiling and other exiting leaks

Issy and Emily painting at Mimi and Grandad’s house – all three girls sleeping in the pink room

Discovering Shorty’s and Hurricane Oysters (drinking oyster shots during Happy Hour thanks to Mike)

The boys flirting with the California girls living next door – talking to them dock-to-dock

The girls going kayaking by themselves for the first time on the lake (thanks to Mike for taking Morgan on the ocean)

William wanting to jump at all of the “crusty” waves


Favorite Balderdash definitions
Pignut
the button and loop used in union civil war uniforms (submitted by Tom)
a pig that eats nuts (submitted by Joe and Aidan)
Tomalley
a large zombie that lives under your bed and scares you at night (submitted by Andrew although everyone assumed it was Keegan!)
Chincherinchee
a noisy toddler—named after the sound made by a South American tree frog (submitted by Tom)
Pandiculation
a disease you catch by kissing a skunk (submitted by Emily)
Grapholagnia
a yak fetus (submitted by Andrew)
a type of graph the kids in Japan use for school (submitted by Issy)
Didunculus
large and pendulous (submitted by Shannon)



OLD CLASSICS

Kate and Jeremy singing the kids to sleep (and some of the grown ups too!!) – Summertime is my favorite -- also taking the kids to the bookstore

Mary’s “Booty Camp” with Tom serving once again as the official photographer

Great e-mail bantering prior to the trip

Drinking cold Mondelo beer on the beach

Another great FWEAKIJAM tee shirt (thanks to Tom and Kim)

Chicken fighting in the pool

Kayaking around the lake and playing in the waves

Ya Yas having a special evening together

Dancing to Day-O

Playing tennis with the group – Grandad having a special Kristi lesson the week prior to get ready. Very impressive!

Amazing massages from Kate and Jeremy

Squeak, Balderdash, Apples to Apples (William desperately trying to find an Apples to Apples partner), Sequence

The Big Kahuna Water Park

Reliving Mary discovering her valuable gems and even an arrowhead!

Fun bike rides

Thanks again to Mimi and Grandad for such a special week
and wonderful memories!!

******************************************************

Thank you, Molly for putting all these special moments to pen. I loved reliving them!

Joe's visit to Northcroft

(Grandson) Joe takes photos in Cashes Valley from Croft on Vimeo.

At Northcroft, Terr and I enjoyed several days with grandson, Joe, this past week end. Joe and I went on a couple of long "camera safari's" through the woods, to the waterfall and to Mrs. Oliver's. The above pictures were the delightful result of his efforts.

Joe tried his hand at other new things too, playing the guitar, cooking dinner and helping grandad cut up downed trees. It was a really good time together.

Oh! I think he even might have photographed a fairy! But he wouldn't have known...he's a boy. ;)

Aug. 16th, Happy Birthday Beth!!

Happy birthday to Beth, from Northcroft. I hope this is a wonderful year for you . Your Dad and I are looking forward to seeing you soon. Much love, mpc

Football practice has started

Joe made the fifth grade, Murphy Candler Colts travel football team, and Issy will be cheering for the fourth grade Colts this year! We know what the Regas family will be doing every afternoon this fall, as well as two fun filled games each Saturday. I'm sure Grandad is looking forward to a lot of football watching!

William started his first day of kindergarden this week. He has a great teacher and as soon as he gets his singing under control he will be at the top of his class! (Always keep the song in your heart, Will :)

Grandad and I are praying for safety, good teachers, new friends and enough sleep for clear minds to learn with, as all the Grandchildren head back to school. We are excited about the things you will be participating in throughout the coming year. GodSpeed!

Fweakijam 2009!

Family vacation 2009 is all but over. The Atlanta families are safely home and the out-of-towners are staying with us tonight and flying home tomorrow. It has been a fun packed week with so much going on that it was hard to decide whether you should go the beach, the pool, the dock, the tennis court, the kitchen to help with the next meal, the living room to play a game, on a bike ride or over to the little house to paint with Mimi! What a privilege it was to be all together once again.

The following music video was our "Mimi's Project" this year (my contribution). I think it speaks for itself. Enjoy a little surfing with us.

Untitled from Croft on

Untitled from Croft on Vimeo.