Celebrate 90

A trip to Gastonia, NC to celebrate Great-Grandpa Johnson's 90th birthday (aka Great-Grandpa-at-the-beach, as my boys call him).

A lot of family, a lot of laughter, a lot of food and a lot of fun.

The dinner, with good 'ol southern cookin'.  I had some fried okra, yum.
Then Uncle Lee, Grandpa's younger brother shared from their father's Bible.
Of course, things could not be too serious for long...Uncle Lee brought gifts for everyone.  Many years ago, the Johnson family would do a big gift exchange and pick names throughout the extended family.  No one wanted Uncle Lee to get their name since he apparently because notorious for not sending the gift.  So he brought everyone gifts, some crazy some sweet.

The kids were there taking it all in.  And of course spreading lots of love.

 Then onto Cousin Neil's house for more party.  Lots of laughing and lots of pictures.

Grandpa with his siblings.  He is the oldest (they have one more sister, Aunt Joanne that passed away several years ago), such a great bunch!

Pictures with each of the families there (only a few families were not able to make the trip...and of course they were missed!).

Then on to more fun...

And we had to finish off the night with more food at a local ice cream shop.  Some how, someone in the family convinced my boys that in North Carolina they could eat dessert first.

Then staying in a hotel with a pool.  Lots more noise and chaos!  A great weekend.

We will call it Luke's first duck

The Jenkins hunt (well most do, I do not).  Luke went out for one of the Christmas time hunts.  Luke usually goes along for the fun; in the blind with lots of snacks, the dogs and just fun.  This time he shot.  I believe the story is: someone shot the duck in the air; the duck was still alive and in the water; Luke shot the duck in the water for his first kill.  He felt very manly.

And Carter was home after getting sick from eating pizza while chugging a massive glass of egg nog...he learned a lesson about having too much egg nog.

Finally they get to play in the snow

After being busy on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day...another day came with snow and the boys could actually play in it (after their soccer camp)!  Well it was more like snow/ice but all the better so they could go fast.

And of course the dog was in on the fun.  The soaking wet boys (and dog) came in to warm by the fire with some mega hot chocolate.

Christmas Day 2012

Over the river and through the woods...literally.  We headed over the Potomac river and through the woods of Braddock Heights for the Johnson's Christmas time.

It is always an explosion of Christmas!

The kids love to hand out all of the gifts.  And Brayden spent most of his time being spoiled.

Singing. And silliness.

My sister, brother and me!

On to dinner.

To be followed with the torture of  taking pictures.

Then some downtime and dessert before heading home.