Year in Review 2024

Well here are my highlights this year in the list below. Only highlights. Happy things. 

We had deep loss this year with Kevin's best friend Brad and his mom both passing. We watched my mom decline rapidly, Mills is not doing well and that's been a long road. 

Okay let's keep our heads up and march on. We had a lot of excitement too and spent good quality time with the kids. They're at the best ages right now and I know it! Here's to 2025!!!

January - sports central

February - Wagon Wheel and night in Raleigh

March - Girls on the Run 5k

April - Spring Break in Ocean Isle

May - Grady turned 6 and Memorial Day Weekend in OIB

June - Camp

July - Molly Anne turned 9 

August - Maryland part one and part two

September - a low key weekend 

October - a really fun time at a Halloween party 

November - Napa part one and part two 

December - Dad's Visit

Christmas #3

On Friday we had Christmas with my brothers family that came to visit. But first... Kevin, my dad and Grady went to lunch and Dad took Grady to have some bloodwork done and to a couple woodworking stores. Boy stuff! 

Home to ride his new dirt bike. For the record, that is not our wall but gosh I want to powerwash it so badly!! 

First time riding in my front seat. Only a short distance. And technically she can. But I still don't let her! On the way to swim!


The good stuff! My dad brought it down. We had crab dip and crab cakes! 


The golden boys. 


We had an Italian chopped salad with dinner and it was really good. Used the Good Seasonings packet for dressing and like my friend Hilary said, people love it. 


A bit fire all day on our back porch. PS if you're building a house, add a gas starter - you'll be glad!


Marsh is 6 months old now and has gotten so big!


He fell asleep in my arms!


Some of us stayed up til 1:30am whewww! Good family time. 

Chat soon. 

Christmas Card 2024

I need to share more of these pictures we had done by Karen Morneau Photography, but here is our Christmas Card for this year!

Christmas Day

The wait! Grady came to get me at 6 and I said go back to bed til 7 haha. He did and Molly Anne had to wake him up at 7:30am. 

Their big gifts were an electric scooter and a dirt bike! Both big hits. 

Molly Anne had requested a signature from Santa and he had a second to make it happen on his long adventure that night. 








Matching golden retriever Santa boxers for the boys!


It was a great day to test out the toys!




Electric scooter girls 


These three played all day back and forth with all of their new goodies. 


Kevin's dad, brother, niece and Shannon came over that afternoon for a couple of hours. 

Hilary was kind enough to take our annual photo. 


More fire tending in his new dirt bike helmet!


We made our crab soups. Didn't double MD Crab Soup but we did double Cream of Crab Soup and that was the perfect decision. 


King


Mills' favorite spot with my dad rubbing his ears




It was Merry indeed!

Christmas Eve Eve and Eve

Christmas Eve Eve has become one of my favorite days. We always go to our friends house next door with another family and have appetizers for dinner. It's just easy and fun. 

The girls ran back and forth between houses most of the day. They got the bright idea to organize our playroom and that was a big Christmas gift for me haha! I told them to go to Hilary's and do the same thing! 

Grady and I delivered fudge to friends in our hood. A long tradition from my mom's mom to my mom and now me. Always done this for neighbors. 


My dad ran a bunch of errands for me, including picking up this gorgeous arrangement from Ashley at @prettythings.charlotte Isn't it stunning? I wanted something to have on our island. 




Over at Hilary’s. This year I made this wing dip, Asian Appetizer and cheeseburger sliders. 






Christmas Eve - Molly Anne made cookies completely by herself. That was awesome. Peanut Butter Blossom 


While Grady and my Dad built a fire!




Christmas Eve dinner table setting. Molly Anne set the whole table for me and made place cards for everyone. 


Arugula wreath salad with mozz and tomatoes. Just sprinkled balsamic glaze and olive oil on top. Salt and pepper too. 


We had filets from the butchers market (cooked like this, such a fool proof and tasty way to cook them), mashed potatoes, steamed green beans with olive oil and everything but bagel seasoning and these burgundy mushrooms. It was so good!








Grady learned how to cut meat! They both loved the filet and had seconds. 


Then we went to the 7pm church service. 




It was beautiful. You can see the second and third row balcony in the big windows. 


Grady was freaked out when we got home that Santa would try to come and know that he was still up. We had looked for Rudolph's nose on our way home from church too. The magic was alive!


Annual reading of Twas the Night Before Christmas






And to all a good night!