Lately

 I received the "you haven't blogged in a long time" text this week and I knew it was true.  It has been a sad and unusual week around here and it's hard to put your good memories on a blog when everyone is so sad.  Last Monday, a mother of one of the students in Chase's class was hit and killed by a drunk driver during her morning run.  We know the family well and it's been a very hard thing to process.  (You can check out more of the story starting at "Meg's Miles" on fb.)

 On Friday, Chase's school asked the students and staff to wear blue in honor of Meg and her family.  Chase was beyond excited to participate, especially since blue shorts were allowed!

 Saturday we headed up to the track to participate in one of the many runs held in her honor.

 It is such a sad thing that has happened but it has also been such an encouragement to see how many people this tragedy has touched and how close of a community we live in.

 In other events, dating back to the first of the year.....Chase finally got me back to the pottery place to paint the football bank he had his eye on.  Unfortunately, they were out of that so he settled on a soccer ball.

 Taylor remembered that she still wanted to paint an ice cream cone for Kerry, so she did that.

 Sweet Frog was conveniently next door!

 Taylor's friend Kathryn came over to play one day.

 Taylor's dance class got their costumes for the recital in June.

 Costume day is the highlight of the year.

 Getting ready for bed?

 Never a dull moment with this one...if it looks like she is missing some clothes, well....she is!  She's not missing all of them though!

 Chase and Bryce were decked out in basketball gear and Taylor would not be left out.  She picked out some of Chase's clothes to go with her pink socks.

 We went out to Maggiano's to celebrate Marty's 50th birthday.  Chase got him a card that played the NFL song and couldn't wait to give it to him.

 Chase has had a wee bit of a rough time going back to school since the break.  He also had another less than relaxing dentist appointment last week.  As a little bit of motivation we ordered him a candy claw machine.  It was on the porch when he got home from school on Friday. 

 We also got one for Bryce, for his birthday.  However, on Thursday Chase and Taylor stayed at Bryce's house for a little while.  When I got there to pick them up, Bryce asked me "What time on Saturday are you bringing my claw machine over?"  Chase is no good at secrets!

 You can't really blame him though - wouldn't want to wait a whole month for this fun!!

 It was everything he thought it would be!

We also watched plenty of basketball this weekend.  One game Friday night, one Saturday morning and then Landon joined us for the Randolph Macon game on Saturday afternoon.  We're expecting snow tomorrow, which is just as exciting as candy claw machines and basketball games!