going the to moun-tains

We had a wedding to go to last weekend. Some friends, Anna and Jon, who we bike with sometimes were getting married near Hickory. It was Charlie's first wedding and it couldn't have been with more deserving folks.

We stayed with some other friends who are some great people. Here is Rick and Karen with Charlie. Charlie is teaching them how to use his toys...

These are their girls, Meghan and Ashley. Ashley has ridden the CNC by herself MORE THAN ONCE!! She, and her sister, are courageous young girls, and they have their parents to thank for that.

Charlie is ready for cold weather!! He just wishes, like many of us, that the weather would stay one way or the other!! It's just confusing what to wear!!!!

Charlie LOVES Grandpa...somewhere soft to sit. ;-)

Here is my cousin Courtney with Charlie, and I am holding Maggie, her daughter. Which one is heavier? Tough call...Maggie is 4 months older than "little" Charlie, by the way.

it's been 3 weeks!!

BUT, I wanted to wait til I had Charlie's halloween outfit.
Remember Olaf?


Yep, Katt made little Olaf's garb, as well as mine!

She is taking orders for next year, by the way... (yes he is holding a fake ax)

So, King Olaf of Sweden was a real person. We have traced our lineage on my Grandma Curran's side to him. There were actually two Olafs who were king, one, then his grandson. After the first Olaf was basically thrown out of the land, he cleared some of the land he fled to, and called it "Vermeland" and named himself king. Since he cleared the land, he was then called "Olaf the Woodcutter" as he was laughed at by the Swedes. The second Olaf "the Humble" laughed later as he took control of Sweden again!

So, there we were...family vikings this year! It was fun, and I am sure we will make a reprise again, when Charlie can better appreciate being a viking!!!

UNC vs ND--for those that miss Kenan

At the top is BMFD, getting the players ready to go.
Third video is the--what I call--the "D-Line Pump Up Shuffle." At least once before every game, Marvin Austin dance a bit, and gets all the DLine pumped up and ready to go.
At bottom, Charlie is looking to see who is seated behind us for the ND game!

Fun day to be at Kenan...just ask Draughn!

The Bonner visit '08

Granda and mom hang out with Charlie on the back deck.
My favorite picture of the Bonner family...all looking at Charlie!

Of course, a trip to the states wouldn't be complete without a snake spotting...meet "Barbara".

Thomas meets Finn McCool...the Irish version of Paul Bunyan.

Thomas is a natural! He came in first on the track! Uncle Niall, watch out!!!!!!

Was a great visit, and a short one surely. We wish they could have stayed longer, but we all had a good time with each other and we were sad to see them fly off back to Ireland.

Baptism by fire??

Above are the Bonner family, with Barbara and nephew Thomas, flanked by Neilly on the left of Katt.
The Leflers above...my mom Judy, and my pop Dale on Katt's left.

The Baptism!
Of course, everyone knows that your child can be in great spirits, UNTIL HE HITS THE ALTER!

Yep, Charlie was laughing and cooing, and having a wonderful time. Then we put on his great looking cardigan, and it all went to hell in a handbasket--so to speak. He got hot, and my boy doesn't like to be hot. So a-screaming he went...but that's ok, mom settled him down, and we all got through well enough without tripping on anything.

He looked great, as did mom. Mom is doing better since her surgery (she wouldn't let me post any pictures on here). And Charlie is doing great as well! We can't stop him from eating--now I know how my parents felt about me!!!!!!

Katt's folks are in town, and we have one more night for them to spend with us before they leave to go back to Donegal. More pictures of them later...

linebacker or what??

Heard on the street in somewhere, USA...
"who goes there with those two linebackers under his arms?"
"oh, that's that Charlie kid...he's solid."


or anytown in Ireland...

he'll never get in trouble because he can always say...

How many adults does it take to give Charlie a bath? Grandma, grandpa, and mom!

Charlie is growing, and having fun in daycare. He can't wait until rugby camp though!!

Milestones...GOOD AND BAD!!

These are some of our neighborhood kids...they are great with babies!!

Above here he is looking at his dangly toys in his chair. But his REAL milestone, was looking at himself in the mirror!!!!! IT WAS AWESOME!! "Who is that other baby in there?"
Good stuff...and then>

Anyone ever been to the emergency room with their 10 week old? Never do it! If you do, make sure your pediatrician, or at least their colleague, is GOING TO BE THERE!!!

Long story, but Charlie is alright. Just a 103 temp scare that was not as big as THE ER STAFF manifested it to be. Should have been in and out, with a general antibiotic, and that's it. 3 hours later, we still hadn't seen a doctor, and we were fit to be tied (as they used to say)!!

Anyway, Charlie has had his first intestinal bug, and is almost over it. But what a night/day.

I need a drink.

Go Heels

Wow...we haven't seen this kind of aggressive, "I'm faster than you" look since about '97. Great win for a rebuilding program. Charlie was happy!!!! He really likes Brandon Tate. Oh, and Mom likes Marvin Austin. (Even though Bruce Carter pictured above is great!)

a healthy baby

We can't ask for more.
14 pounds and counting. The Doc says he looks great! Like he doesn't miss a meal...we can only hope this will always be the case.

So far so good. Even his workouts are going great!!!!! ;-)

First game!!

As Carolina was winning 14-nil, Charlie was enjoying every minute of it. I have to say, it was a wonderful show. Streaks, flashes of brilliance, and then the lightning delay was over, and Carolina took the field again...
Yep, Charlie saw his first weather delay. The lightning show was great, so was Carolina before the delay. Oh well. Live and learn. At least there is a "W" in the column.


Above is Charlie and Mom at his first tailgate. It was a beautiful day, a little warm, but it could have been much worse! The food was great though!!

Charlie has a look like "Pop, what are we doing here??"

We miss you Jerry...