Posted by Michelle on Feb 9, 2009 in Hayley, Jeff
We’ve been so busy with work, school and activities lately that I haven’t had a chance to post much of anything but I wanted to post these two quick small versions of photos. I’ll post them bigger and with lots more soon I promise.

Hayley with her Blue Ribbon for winning an event at the ASAC East Winter Horse Show at the Horse Complex at the State Fairgrounds!!! She won her group of the 9-10 year olds Command Walk/Trot event. She was fantastic!!

Jeff & Hayley at the UNC-VT basketball game where Hayley was a ballgirl.
Tags: family, photos, sports
Posted by Michelle on Jan 10, 2009 in Hayley, Michelle
Hayley found this stunned complete half circle rainbow on the way home from the beach. We had to pull over and take photos it was so lovely. At one point there were two, one echoing the other.

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Tags: cool, photos, travel
Posted by Michelle Cell on Jan 10, 2009 in Hayley, Michelle
We had a great time visiting Nicole and Mason down at Wilmington earlier this week. We went to another lighthouse – Oak Island. Luckily instead of having to make an appointment, one of the volunteers was there and let us in. Hayley was old enough to climb up a level to see how things worked.
It was relaxing – Monkey Joes, Wiis and a lot of good conversations with my old dear friend Nicole.
We checked out UNCW, how it has grown. All the students were getting books are the bookstore in the Student Union and Hayley liked all the activity there. She wanted a sweatshirt so we grabbed a cute teal one with navy polka dots.
On the way home we saw a stunning rainbow – a fitting end!

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Tags: friends, fun, photos, travel
Posted by Michelle on Jan 1, 2009 in Hayley, Jeff, Michelle
We had a low key New Years Eve with our dear friends Mike, Sara and Landon. UNC had a game at 10pm so I had to actually work some but considering our game plan was to just hang out, play games and let the kids be silly, it didn’t matter too much.
I love Hayley playing with Landon. They are so funny together. I think she chased him around the house for like 30 mins and he loved it. At one point, she was laying on the couch and he decided to crawl up and snuggle with her. So much cuteness. She’s so good with him. She’ll make a fine babysitter when she is older.
Hayley nearly crashed at 11:45 but I came up with the bright idea to let her pick out glasses to drink the sparkling grape juice at midnight. So she perked right up and came back with a wide variety of glasses just in time to make it!
Guitar Hero Rock Star:

Boozing it up with pregnant ladies:

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Tags: friends, fun, holiday, photos
Posted by Michelle on Jan 1, 2009 in Hayley, Jeff, Michelle, More Family
For the fourth year, we charged up the remote cars and carefully carried out the lovely gingerbread creations to the bottom of our steep driveway in the cul de sac.
We summoned our friends next door and then the GINGERBREAD DEMOLITION DERBY commenced.
Four-time competitor Purple car was joined by three-time participant Silver and a surprise entry of a jeep driving by a stuffed Elephant joined the attack force. The gingerbread houses put up a good fight but the cars again prevail and the kids finished the job by stomping on the remains.
Yes we are strange people but we love making gingerbread, we just don’t like eating it so why not have some fun with it!

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Tags: crafts & cooking, family, friends, fun, gingerbread demo derby, holiday, photos
Posted by Michelle on Jan 1, 2009 in Hayley, Jeff, Michelle, More Family
We continued our family tradition of making gingerbread houses on Christmas Eve. Obviously you can’t destroy them if you don’t make them but of course that’s for Xmas day. We started about 10pm after being next door for the annual Christmas Eve celebration at the Renfroes. Good times was had by all and I love that we have these traditions with friends and family each year.
As usual we made a huge mess of it but that definitely is part of the fun. We didn’t try the 2nd floor like last year but did two side by side ones – of course one wouldn’t stay together until we made some super sticky paste royal icing.

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Hooray for messy hands!
Tags: crafts & cooking, family, friends, fun, gingerbread demo derby, holiday, photos
Posted by Michelle on Dec 18, 2008 in Hayley, Michelle
Tonight was amazing! I took Hayley to the UNC game to see Tyler Hansbrough become UNC’s all-time leading scorer. My dad got us seats four rows behind the UNC bench.
Not only did we get to see a fun game and see Tyler break UNC legend Phil Ford’s scoring record set 30 years ago but Hayley got to chat with and take photos with Phil Ford and Tyler’s dad. They were all sitting really near us and were just as nice as could be to her.
Phil Ford, one of my childhood hero’s – three-time all-american, two-time ACC player of the year, national player of the year, 2nd pick in the NBA draft, NBA rookie of the year, gold medal Olympic team! What makes me smile is thinking how much Hayley loves Tyler and knowing that I was about her age when Phil set this scoring record. Nice to be able to share something that like – I hope she can take her daughter some day to see whoever breaks Tyler’s record, if it is ever broken.
Oh and if you guys see this, thanks to my husband and some colleagues at InsideCarolina who took over my duties tonight on so we could go to the game!
Hayley with Phil Ford, now an assistant with the Bobcats:

Hayley with Gene Hansbrough, Tyler Hansbrough’s father:

You can see the side of Hayley’s head here as Tyler comes out of the game:

You can see my light blue and navy striped shirt here on THE record breaking shot:

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Tags: fun, photos, sports, unc
Posted by Michelle on Dec 13, 2008 in Michelle
I went to see old friends Tracy and Sheri who were sorority sisters of mine in college that I hadn’t seen in over 16 years on Wednesday night. We met up at Tracy’s house where the wine and clock hands moved fast and I laughed at memories I hadn’t thought of in a long time.
Sometimes even just a few photos can capture a moment well and looking at these images I’m struck by how much they really remind me of them.

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Tags: friends, photos
Posted by Michelle on Nov 14, 2008 in Hayley, Michelle, More Family
I have always loved Halloween. When I was young, I read a Ray Bradbury book called the Halloween Tree. I read it once, twice and then again, repeating that every fall. I loved that book.
The book starts on Halloween and takes a group of children on a scary journey through cultural history and version of Halloween, as they attempt to catch up with and save a dying friend. One of the key elements is the Mexican celebration Dia De Los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) which seemed fascinating to me.
Celebrated on on Nov. 1st and/or 2nd, The Day of the Dead is where gatherings of family and friends to pray and remember loved ones who have died. Some other cultures celebrate similar holidays as well and the Day of the Dead has its roots in Aztec culture. The idea is to honor the dead but also that people who have passed away are supposed to be able to hear your prayers better at this time than any other time. November 1st is traditionally to celebrate children who have died and November 2nd for adults.
Dia De Los Muertos isn’t as sad as it sounds, it is rather upbeat. Good candy, good food and good memories. The celebration can be at the graveyard or an altar/shrine in your home. You decorate with photos, food flowers, candles and items of those of who have passed away or things they’d like. You are supposed to tell funny and warm stories about those people and talk to them.
I was printing of some weekly reading assignments I thought would interest Hayley and found a great one of the Day of the Dead but it was written for 5th to 7th graders. Of course, she read it perfectly and loved it too. So we decided to make our own shrine at home to celebrate.
Interestingly last night Hayley was over at my folks and they went to the family graves this morning to tidy up. How perfect for our Day of the Dead event!
We set out to do it for my Grandpa Jim, Grandma Jeannette and Uncle Mike (my mom’s parents and her brother) but then Hayley decided we should add in our dog Sam who passed away, which was awesome. We made sugar skulls ourselves and decorated them in the style. Hayley talked to my mom and made lists of food and hobbies of our family members who passed. I got out photos, my grandmother’s engagement and wedding rings, my granddad’s prayer books and golf hat and ton of articles on my uncle’s golf championships plus Sam’s dog collar. My mom made a family recipe book that was a great addition. We added all sorts of food and snacks – doggie biscuits too. (I’m going to post a photo on flickr with all the items labeled.)
After some time talking to them, we ate the candy and food and blew out the candles. It was a great way to share about family history, learn about another culture’s history and traditions, not to mention be creative and silly! (It is so much fun it is to have a child with an inquisitive spirit.)

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Tags: crafts & cooking, family, halloween, holiday, photos
Posted by Michelle on Nov 13, 2008 in Hayley, Michelle
We went this super fun kids/tween beauty salon called Sweet & Sassy. Hayley had her hair done, a manicure and pedicure. It was just adorable – and a totally glitter filled experience, lol. It was a really fun time and we totally recommend this place.

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Tags: fun, photos