Thanks mom!
Afterwards, we came home to a cook out and games to celebrate the 4th. As always, there was food to feed an army. What I really enjoyed were Alan's grilled scallops. The kids enjoyed playing Tin Can Knock Down, Crazy Bats, Liberty March and making key chains. It got a little crazy with 11 kids in the backyard but they all had a great time. The day ended with glow sticks and fireworks. We joined some neighbors down the street that allowed us to shoot off Erik's aerial fireworks from last year along with theirs on their property next to the lake. It was a great firework show.
Sunday, we went to church and headed home. We brought back some caterpillars that dad gave me from his garden. I couldn't believe they survived, well one of the two did, and became a beautiful butterfly. It is an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. Couldn't find my pictures so I'll have to showcase the second set of butterflies that came with mom on her last visit here in Carolina. Right now I have one in its chrysalis stage.
It was fun having the Bruning family for the Memorial Day weekend! It has been a tradition to participate in our ward 5 k run in the morning, followed by breakfast. This year, Sefa kept up with his Uncle Erik and Greg and Tua ran together. I chaperoned the 3 musketeers (Pelu, Masi and Tita) who started off strong for the first block and then decided to save their energy for the finish line:) Everyone did great this year! Afterwards we headed off to Greg's parents to cool off in their pool and have a picnic with them. We all had a great time. We thank those who have served honorably and sacrificed much for the freedom we enjoy. We remember Greg's uncle who he is named after, Alan Gregory Flloyd, who died in the Vietnam War. We thank those who have served and are currently serving our country. In our family, Uncle Tom serves in the Army and Uncle Erik serves in the Navy. In the past, Greg's dad served in the Air Force, Uncle Joe served in the Marines and my dad served in the Coast Guard. May God continue to Bless America!
Yes, there was a siting of a group of Bitgoods in Raleigh, NC recently. Our family joined up with Papa and Grandma Bitgood, Bruning Family, Uncle Steve, Uncle Brian and Aunt Marsha, Uncle Butch and Auntie Gail for a birthday celebration. It was Butch's birthday and they celebrated at Steve's place in Raleigh. We had a great time catching up with each other and playing games. Check out the "bright" new light fixture they installed. We all oohed and aahed over the light and how the new light bulbs turned lavender (color we agreed on) when cool. The kids enjoyed playing with their cousins. It was good times and fun to be together, even if it was for a short weekend.
We had many visitors these past couple of weeks! John Hancock visited in early February (Sefa in costume for a school project). I'm grateful for the end of that event. Sefa was very patient while fitting for his wig and he didn't get burned by the glue gun:) Then we had grandfather Pelu closely after for his 100 days of school. We had a surprise visit from Grandma Bitgood and Uncle Erik who happened to have a meeting nearby (Kernersville) and didn't even realize they were that close so they came by. Grandma Bitgood couldn't believe how grown her grandkids had gotten since the last time she saw them in November. Yes, they'll definitely pass all of her 5' stature since I'm almost eye to eye with Tua myself. Finally, Greg's college buddy, Mike, drove from Washington D.C. after his conference and enjoyed the weekend here catching up on good times and a Wake game. 
We've just experienced our first derby race! Sefa has been really excited to be a part of cub scouts and participating in the derby race was one of the activities he was looking forward to. On the other hand, flashbacks of Down and Derby left me weary of facing the competition. I was grateful for the instructions given out that this was to be an experience for the cub scout to make their own car and not for the parents to make it for them. Still, I knew it would be competitive. I almost didn't have him enter the race because I was clueless and intimidated by the whole ordeal and seeing that block of wood didn't help either. Well, thanks to a friend, Brad C., came to the rescue and offered to have Sefa come over so he could cut out his car using his band saw. After it was cut, Sefa sanded it well and then painted it. He was so proud of his car and I knew that he would be alright at the race no matter what the outcome would be. On Saturday, January 31st, Sefa proudly entered his "Panther Prowler" into the race among eight other cars. We all went to support him and cheer him on. Out of the 8 rounds, he won two. We are so proud of how well he handled the competition and showed good sportsmanship. Way to go Sefa!
The kids had fun in the "little bit" of snow we received, which was a bonus because school was cancelled making it a four 
day weekend with the Martin Luther King day off. As the pictures will show, it was maybe an inch or two of snow on the ground, you can actually see the grass poke through. It didn't matter. Layers of clothes were being piled on, gloves and scarves hunted for in the closet and who cares that we don't have boots, just put on two pairs of socks and sneakers. The kids headed for the snow and were excited to finally use those sleds we have had in the garage for the past few winters without a bit of snow to actually play in. They enjoyed sledding down the hill in our backyard even though the snow was disappearing where they would sled. They even got to make snowmen...well, miniature snowmen. It was fun while it lasted. But the boys keep hoping for more snow so they continue to wear their pajamas inside out, sleep with a spoon under their pillow and throw ice in the toilet just so it will snow again. However, their sister believes it was her magic toe socks with snowmen on them that did the trick, but it only works once a year (wink).
