Happy Birthday, Erika Lindsay!

Happy 22nd Birthday, Erika Lindsay!

You are so precious and dear to me and I love you with all my heart and soul. You are not only my daughter, my first born child, and my angel but also my friend. Please always know I'm just a thought away -- I love you. Happy Birthday!

Erika and Jack are westward bound...

Today Erika and Jack are on their way home to Idaho and it was a tearful farewell. It has been so wonderful having them close for the past five months but my oh my has it passed so quickly. I know they're anxious to get back to their home -- I'm just going to miss them so much. The past couple days have been filled with such fun family times. The memories we've made will stay carved in my heart for many days to come. My prayer is that they have a safe and happy journey back to Idaho and that all will be safe and sound until we all meet again. At least I know I'll be seeing them in May to welcome "Baby Maxfield" into the world!!!

As you've probably already figured out from previous posts on my blog -- a favorite family tradition in our family is going out together to eat -- all of us or at least as many as possible! Ha! We have a great time and always enjoy a nice meal together as family and friends. For birthdays you get to choose the restaurant - and since Erika's birthday is next week on the 23rd (and she has not had a birthday in SC since 2003) she chose the meeting place last night for her birthday celebration and for their "going away" dinner. The place was LHOP (Lugoff House of Pizza), one of her favorites. We had a crowd and it was a fun time.

After a fun meal we headed home for some cheesecake for Erika's birthday. Joey played the guitar and we sang "Happy Birthday" to Erika. Everyone seemed to have a good time and I tried hard not to think about the morning when the loaded-down Honda would drive away with my dear daughter and son-in-law.

This morning brought more fun when Ginger and the boys stopped by on the way to take Spencer to school so they could say good-bye and wish Jack and Erika a safe trip. Spencer, Andrew, and Carson looked so cute! They smiled and had their picture taken with Jack so that we could see how much they've grown the next time they're together with Jack and Erika. They are so sweet and so special. Erika has really enjoyed the time she's spent with them this summer. (And it's been good practice getting ready for the baby!)

Have a safe trip, kids, and make lots of joyous memories on your journey home...I love you so much and look forward to our next reunion! May the Lord's blessings be with you until we meet again... Love forever, Mom :)

Thoughts for today...I hope today is a long, long day.

With the Thanksgiving season quickly approaching I've been reflecting on all the things we have to be grateful for. My heart if full but today it also hurts as the thought of Erika and Jack leaving in the morning to head back to their home in Idaho lingers in my mind. It's been so nice having them close this summer and I'm so grateful to have had this time with them -- especially the Sunday afternoons at Grandmother and Grandaddy's house. Even San Jose' is not the same when they're not here as it's one of Erika and Jack's favorites. We love you so much, Erika and Jack (and baby Maxfield) and we wish you a happy and safe ride back to Idaho. I hope the remainder of this day passes slowly and I hope tonight will be fun at your other favorite restaurant - Lugoff House of Pizza where we've planned a special going away together an early "birthday party for Erika" since she'll be back in Idaho on the 23rd. (This is the closest she's been home to her birthday since October 2003 so I hope it's a fun night for you, Erika Linsday.) I'm so grateful for my family!

It's a family a-FAIR!

Monday, October 13, 2008 - We were off to the State Fair! What a great time we had! There was Grandmother and Grandaddy, Erika and Jack, Ginger and the boys, Addison and Wesley, and Joey and me. Erika's friend, Rachel, also met us there. It's always a fun time even though it was really, really warm temperatures this year for the fair. We're glad Jack got to experience the South Carolina State Fair here with our family before they leave this week to return to Idaho. We had such a fun night. It was especially fun having Spencer, Andrew, and Carson there and watching the excitement in their eyes -- it was great!

Grandaddy and Joey in front of the sand sculpture

Tradional little ducks feeding -- trying to avoid the slide...
Will they make it without falling?????
Oops! There goes one! The boys just loved seeing the duck slide!

Spencer enjoys the pony ride...

Jack, Erika, and Spencer

Grandmother has fun watching all!

Joseph loved the billy goats and sheep...

Ginger and Carson in the lead ahead of Andrew and Mic-Mic!

(I had fun doing this!!!! Andrew is so brave - he wanted to ride

the elephant, too, but Mic-Mic is kinda chicken. Ha!)

We all enjoyed our share of fair food which is usually the most important part of the fair! We had corn dogs, beef and buffalo sticks, fried ocra, candy apple, yummy lemonade, mushrooms, pizza, french fries (which Erika loved with the vinegar), and Jack tried a deep-fried Milky Way which he said was gooey and very good!

The Dinkins Women Sisters, Aunts, and Cousins Night Out...

Saturday, October 12, 2008
(Pictured in top photo are Jennifer, Paulette, Aunt Ronella, Addison, Joeli, Aunt Jane, Aunt Teresa, Valencia, mom (Lana), Aunt Pinochio, and Tiawanna.)
In honor of Aunt Ronella who'd just had knee surgery and doing great and in honor of Grandma Tessie's Birthday this month we had a night out to Sumo's Japanese Steakhouse and then some went on to the movies to see "Nights in Rodanthe" (Richard Gere--how perfect for a girls' night out!) We look forward to the next Dinkins' girls night out!