Happy New Year Samantha!!!

Happy New Year!!!  We had a good feeling that Samantha was not going to make it to midnight but we figured we would just go with it and see what happened.  One of the traditions that we have always done with Ron, Shannon, & Marcus is go bowling while they are down here.  We had told Chad that we were probably going to do that at 3:00.  The Keenan Bunch beat us to the lanes and found out there was no lanes available however at 4:00 they were having a New Year's Party which was 2 and half hours of unlimited bowling with a New Years count down at 6:00 pm.  They only had two lanes left so luckily Uncle Chad and Aunt Rae Rae scooped them up for us.  We had a blast bowling; this was my first time seeing Kamden bowl, who has become a very good bowler.  All of the kids were pretty impressive with high scores bowled by all.  It was especially fun to see Karstyn and Samantha bowl.  It was Samantha's very first time stepping on the bowling floor and daddy was proud at how she stuck to it.  She bowled her turn every bowl for a game and half and then we let her relax and Marcus took care of her throws.  Daddy won the first game and Kamden beat everyone in the second game.  The count down for New Year's was very neat and glad we ended up doing it although I am a little concerned that when the countdown got to zero Samantha proceeded to lift her shirt up (hope this does not become a tradition).  We said Happy New Year to everyone and then headed over to Grandma JuJu and Grandpa's to eat dinner and say Happy New Year to them.  Samantha was showing off for Grandma JuJu showing her how smart she was and we all got a kick out of it.  After saying goodbye to Grandma JuJu and Grandpa we headed home and turned on Samantha's Favorite Movie - Toy Story 3; prior to her calling it a night.  We are now going to watch the ball drop and daddy will go up and give his sweetheart a kiss at midnight.  Love you Samantha, Happy New Year!!! --- Daddy & Mommy

Back to Charlotte Motor Speedway!!!

Since Ron, Shannon, & Marcus were in town we decided that we would go back to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the lights but this time go a little early so we could spend some time in the play area.  So we first went to Concord Mills and knocked out a little shopping.  Grabbed a quick bite at Macado's and then met up with the Keenan Bunch for what was sure to be a good time.  Everyone had a blast and at the end we had a special treat; fried pickles, fried twinkie, and a fried snicker, I think the guy would have fried up anything for $5.  Samantha was a big fan of the fried twinkie (yes I know I am the worst parent for letting her have it but it just melts in your mouth).  Daddy's favorite part was still driving up on the race track.