Happy Holidays 2008

Mom, Keith, and I enjoy Smith Family Christmas in Grover, NC

Alicia and Pam, two close friends from NCSU, and I pose with part of the floor from the old Reynolds' Collesium. If you've never been to a game there, you have to go. The RBC Center is nice, but there's nothing like a game at Reynolds!

Christmas Eve Midnight Service

We hope that each of you has had a restful and enjoyable holiday. We have been keeping the roads hot and have had a busy first week off work. We spent some time in Conover with my parents and then traveled to Elkin to spend time with Keith's family. From there, it was back to Conover and visits with old high school friends Suzanne Cadwallader, Amanda Moose, and Tatum Preston and their families. Then, it was off to Grover, NC for Smith Family Christmas and then, finally, back home to Raleigh! We spent yesterday cheering the Wolfpack on with friends - despite the football loss, we were happy to witness the basketball win live and in person. Not sure what will be going on the rest of the week. Hopefully, lots of lounging on the couch!

Holiday Fun 2008

Portsmouth Lane's own Team Hardy four months before their St. Baldrick's shearing!

Marshall Loew, our resident Santa, and Pammy Sue

Captain Cleavage action figure (made by Britta) is coming to a store near you!

Elaine, Carolyn, and Jane catch up

Sharing good times at my work holiday party

Last week started the week of parties for us. We spent Monday night at my boss' house with most of my work colleagues. Her husband is a gourmet chef, so we ate well that night.

Friday night, we hosted around fifty of our friends and neighbors for our annual Holiday HooHa. This year, we decided to collect donations for the Triangle Girls on the Run program which I have become involved with. (The program works to build self esteem and a love of fitness and overall wellness in girls grades three through eight.) We collected four large boxes of items and over $200 in cash. We are lucky to have such fabulous and generous friends!

NSDC Conference in Washington D.C.

Gorgeous views from the downstairs atrium at the Gaylord on the Potomac

These were all over the many trees in the lobby

Looking down the lobby of the hotel- These trees lined both sides.

Three of my colleagues from the school system and I just returned from four full days at the NSDC Conference. We presented during two of the session times and also attended many fantastic and informative classes during our time there. If you get a chance, Google this hotel. It's absolutely GORGEOUS- right on the water, has shops that are in houses in the middle of the atrium, has four restaurants, a night club, WOW!!!