Start of Another Great Soccer Season!

Toby & his friend Mark after the game
Toby scoring a goal

Toby throwing the ball in

Toby is having another great soccer season! He's playing on a league called Optimist (same one he played for last year) only this year he is on a new team. The team he played on last year was disolved and he is now on 'The Strikers'. Toby's team has won their first 3 games, Toby has scored 6 goals, he's on fire and having a great time!

Boy Scout Court of Honor

Unfortunately, my scouting pictures of Toby are few. I was able to snap this quick shot right before his recent Court of Honor. He looks thrilled, doesn't he? LOL. He actually conducted the Court of Honor to satisfy a communications merit badge requirement. He also earned his Woodcarving, Geocaching, Fish & Wildlife and Mammal Study merit badges. He is more than half way to his Eagle!

Virginia Creeper Trail

Barter Theater

Our halfway ice cream stop (us after biking 17 miles= scary)

Our cute little window shopping area in Damascus

Taylor's Valley, 10 miles into the ride. This is half way for all those wusses who were only biking 17 miles. Lunch for most, just a pit stop for us ;)

This one's for you Mom :)

Our picnic spot

Historic mile markers lined the 34 mile ride. Here we are starting our LAST mile. We have already biked 33 miles and are "feelin' it"

So Jules has been talking to me about the Virginia Creeper Trail for the last year since I moved to NC. She was dying to go bike it. She offered to pay for a cheap room for us if I could just get to VA and bike with her. This was an offer I just couldn't resist :) We had a WONDERFUL girls weekend in Abingdon, VA! Spent Fri & Sat night in a luxurious hotel (Days Inn, LOL). We booked it on Hotwire and after we realized where we'd be staying we read the reviews and they were all terrible! We were pleasantly surprised that while it was a basic 2 star place, it was just fine and not nearly as scary as we had feared after reading reviews. Of course we didn't spend much time in the room because we were too busy biking (and eating, and eating, and eating in true Lovelace fashion). Saturday we caught a shuttle for the 34 miles up to White Top Mtn, NC where the trail starts. Then we spent about 6 hrs making the leisurely trip down the VA Creeper, stopping for photos, munching on granola bars by the river, treating ourselves to ice cream at the little country store & window shopping at the halfway town. It was a gorgeous late September day. 80 degrees, sunny- couldn't ask for more perfect weather. The trail winds along a river downhill and over many bridges. It is mostly tree lined but does go through a pretty valley with wide open meadows. Our photos don't do it justice! We ended Saturday by scoring cheap student tickets to a play in the historic Barter Theater in Abingdon. Refreshing trip, couldn't ask for more :)

Arielle's Get Well Card

Arielle has the sweetest friends! After catching a "back to school bug" she was home from school for 4 days with bronchitis. On her 3rd afternoon we heard the doorbell ring and found this cute "get well" poster on the doorstep. Two of her neighborhood girlfriends made such a sweet giant card with well wishes and silly bands taped all over it. It made her so happy and made my heart melt!

Pony Club Events

traditional hunter outfits still worn today
a couple of dads trying to keep themselves entertained (we had been at the barn for 4 hrs at this point)

The girls having a rest & a lesson after their long ride

The well trained hounds always stayed next to their master. They weren't even distracted by 9 young girls on horses- very impressive.

Pony Club girls following along for a trail ride

Arielle's instructor "Miss Michelle" in the brown hoodie, along with some other family members watching the action

Arielle & Miss Scarlet

I realize this blog is kinda turning into horse central with all of Arielle's horsey pics. Oh well, that is life around here! These pics are from an event mid Sept. when the Pony Club went to Yadkin Valley Hounds to learn about "Hunter Style". Being mostly vegetarian and animal lovers at our house, needless to say I was a bit leery of supporting hunting. However, I was happy to find out that the current sport (at least in our area) doesn't actually kill anything. Basically it is all about the hunt and a wild ride following dogs who are chasing fox and coyote. The Pony Club girls got to ride in the field and on trails with members of Yadkin Valley Hounds and even meet and ride with the hounds. It was an interesting day.

Missing Mel

New Years 2010
Crowthers going away party July '10

Ward Halloween Party Oct. '09

New Moon Movie Nov. '09

Aaron's CRNA graduation Aug. '10

Beat the Heat 5k July '10

I love that Melissa takes great pics & gets them online quick. Then I can steal them!! Aaron & Melissa welcomed us with open arms when we moved to Clemmons/ WS area a year ago. Aaron was a senior in the CRNA program at the time and he was Jim's senior "buddy". Aaron showed Jim the ropes as far as school goes, what to buy, what to expect, etc, etc! Melissa helped me figure out schools, neighborhood, ward and most importantly GIRL TIME :) Jaime, Mel & I quickly became three good buds. It was a fun filled year hanging out with them, but went by too fast! Mel & family have moved onto NM and I know that is best for them. It's not goodbye, just see ya in awhile. Love ya Mel, thanks for everything!!!

Ashley's Birthday Cruise

Mom surprised Ash by having a cake delivered at dinner the last night

our lively British table buddies

"Elegant Night"

lunch at blue lagoon

yes, it truly was a perfect place to spend the day!

Isabelle made this great poster for Ash's cabin door

Ah! Love my sisters :)

Miami in background

That's our ship "Imagination" in the background

me & ash in Nassau where we did some fun shopping after playing at blue lagoon

jules & ash with their coconut juice in the beautiful bahamas

this is supposed to be us with the famous "Atlantis" resort in the background, but we blocked it in the photo, LOL!

Jules looking like a babe

Eddie!

Edward surprised Ash by greeting her in her cabin & staying with her all week!

Gooooood times! The Lovelace girls like to celebrate in a BIG way when one of us turns the big 30. When Jules & I hit the milestone, the girls went to Vegas. Mom decided a cruise would be a great way to celebrate Ash turning 30. We agreed :) Mom, Jules, Ash & I flew into Miami and stayed one night before we took off on a 3 night cruise to the Bahamas on Carnival Imagination. We had a WONDERFUL time: staying up late talking, lounging in a private tropical lagoon in the Bahamas, shopping in Nassau, having an excuse to get dressed up, participating in games on the cruise ship, watching cheesy, glitzy shows and eating LOTS of great food. Ash was surprised to be greeted by Edward Cullen who stayed with her all cruise (what happens on the cruise-stays on the cruise). The trip was TONS of fun and over before we knew it.