Catching Up with The Roberts Twins

So big! So big!

(and so on the move!)

Wylloh

Scarlett

Scarlett, Andy, and Wylloh at snack time

Bayley turns THREE!

Bayley turned the big THREE on September 10th. Patty and Paul threw a "Birthday Bike Parade" in her honor - complete with balloons and streamers and noise makers (and more noise makers) (and yet more noise makers) to decorate the bikes. Twenty kids driving under the influence of sugar paraded around Bayley's neighborhood, led by the birthday girl herself of course. A good time was most certainly had by all!

A Gathering of Mini-Gourmets

My parents joined a supper club, affectionately known as the "Gourmet Group," when I was 2 years old. The Gourmets are still going strong - and Mom still drives up to Delaware as often as she can to participate in their dinners. Mom spent this summer in Delaware and I took the kids to see her for a few days. Our timing was perfect: fellow Gourmet child Jimmy happened to be home visiting his parents with his children and we all met at the park for a gathering of the newest crop of Gourmets.

First Day of School!

Grace is officially matriculated. Child doing well. Mom slighty sad. Little brother a tad lost. Hippo in critical condition (he was left at home).

Week O' Sand

The Johnson and Smith families invaded Ocean Isle Beach last week. We declared the week our "happy unbirthday party" but that was mainly an excuse to get together, eat entirely too much, and exchange ridiculous gifts (though I happen to really like my Christmas mugs as much as Sweetie loves her Corona nightlight). Grandpa Hysen joined us (center of picture)- Hysen is Patty's biological paternal grandfather. In case you've been under a rock, Patty did a search for her biological parents five years ago. She found out that her father was on the Marshall football team and died in the 1970 plane crash. His parents were still living, in the same home in which they raised Jimo no less, and welcomed Patty with open arms and love the moment she found them. Her grandmother, Georgene, has since passed away - but Hysen and Patty have grown very close and the rest is history: he is officially Grandpa Hysen!

Getting there was half the fun! This was a little less the case for Patty and Paul (twins and travel - not so good), so Mom and I took Bayley with us. Here is one of the quieter moments of our drive.

Ma Maw Sweetie was superwoman - slept with Grace and Bayley and was literally "on" from dawn the dusk, and dusk to dawn each day. On a related note, the woman has not been spotted since, though rumor has it that she is in New York city staying at a fancy hotel, catching plays, and indulging in a little retail therapy with one of her best friends.

Somehow, the movie E.T. was the thing all week. Andy was particularly mesmerized.

I am still cleaning sand out of places on this kid. He loved it all: the sand, the shells, and especially the water. Andy was apparently not born with any fear.

Grace was equally thrilled with the beach. My normally cautious child only wanted to "go deeper" to "where the sharks are!" During her brief stints on land, she built sand...hippos! Of course.

Uncle Paul brought his own tradition to the beach: FUN ISLAND! Note to self: don't throw away the old inflatable mattress!

And then there was Claire! Claire is Darcy and Jeremy's two year old daughter. Grace LOVED Claire!!! Claire, much to Grace's delight, listened intently to Grace's four zillion stories about her Hippo.

So this is what Scott looks like when he is vacation!

Post residency life has been WONDERFUL!

Jenny, Stacey, Patty, and Darcy in 1977ish

The week was wonderful but the thrill was watching the new cousins play together!

Catch Up, Part Five: Weekend in Charlotte

We loaded the family in the "Codfish" (Grace's name for our minivan) and headed south to Martha Sue and Wes home in Charlotte. Aunt Ashley and Uncle Cooper drove over from Nashville, Aunt Suzie came from Charleston, and Aunt Jean and Uncle Wes came from Greenville. It has been ages since we were all together and it was simply wonderful. Grace had an absolute field day chasing the dogs around - and following cousin Carter's every move. The biggest shock of all was arriving to find teenagers - Mason, Leize and Carter were all in our wedding and I still picture them as little kids. They are now full fledged teens (pre-teens may be more accurate) that listen to music I've never heard of and carry around multiple electrical gadgets that I didn't even know existed much less know how to operate. Am I the only one that didn't know that you could watch movies and tv shows on your iPod?

Andy torturing-I-mean-playing with Ginger!

Grace and Cooper - my goodness she loves this dog! The puppy campaign is ON!

There is just something wonderfully comforting about Aunt Jean!

Grace and Aunt Ashley tearing it up on the swings!

Catch Up, Part Four: A Ballerina is Born!

Grace took a summer dance class at the YMCA: ballet and I-still-can't-hear-myself-think-tap. She LOVED the class and loved her fancy outfit even more. The kid is learning an important life lesson early: in almost everything you do, it is the shoes that matter most!

Preparing to be graceful. Clearly.

Catch Up, Part Three: Visit from Grandpa Ern

Grandpa Ern visited us in early July. We had a wonderful weekend together! On Saturday, we took a picnic lunch to Veritas Winery and had fun tasting wines and relaxing in the gorgeous country. Grace and Andy were so thrilled to show Grandpa Ern their new tricks - though Scott and I weren't sure who had more fun with the stomp rockets, our kids or Grandpa Ern!

Catch Up, Part Two: Dr. Dr. DONE!

Scott's residency officially came to an end on June 30. As luck had it, Scott was on call - which means that residency didn't end for Scott until the afternoon of July - but in many ways, that made the end feel a bit more real. The kids and I decorated the lawn with streamers and the driveway with chalk - and by Grace's request, we filled our two kiddie pools with water...on the front lawn of course. In short, we celebrated redneck style.

Catch Up, Part One: A celebration of Scott!

To celebrate the end of Scott's residency, my sister and mother planned a fabulous surprise weekend in Williamsburg. We arrived Friday to find everyone - including the Johnson clan and good friends Donna and Ted Kinni - in Hawaiian shirts and leis. It was a wonderful evening! It was fun, too, to watch the kids play.

Daddy and his mini-me

Mom, Scarlett and Scott

The twins! Scarlett and Wylloh

MaMaw Sweetie takes her grandmothering seriously: this child-sized dining room table and chairs is nicer than the one in my own dining room! No wonder our kids love going to Sweetie's!

Sweetie hired a babysitter to help entertain the girls.

Bayley, friend Lisa, Claire (Darcy's little girl), and Grace on a bear hunt. Thankfully, it was unsuccessful!

With five kids under 4 in the house, it should come as no surprise that Saturday morning started early. By 9am, we had built towers of blocks, read at least a hundred stories, launched stomp rockets to the moon, and had no less than 10 tea parties. Paul and I are clearly not regretting that last glass of wine.

And then the big shock! Patty, Paul, and MaMaw Sweetie presented Scott and me with a card that instructed us to pack our bags immediately for the Williamsburg Inn! We mumbled something insincere about hating to leave and jetted out the door in record time. After all, we didn't want to be late for our SPA APPOINTMENTS! A day of pampering followed by dinner in the ultra fancy Regency Room - sheer heaven!

Thank you Patty, Paul and Sweetie for this unbelievable weekend, and for all of your support over the past three years!