Week 50, Let the Good Times Roll!

Since, we're piggy backing off of last week's partying ways, I decided to post one last picture from the PT Christmas Party that Bill had on his blog that I really liked of the whole Catchings family :)

The Catchings fam!

This week was so much fun, but it was almost like a blur because it was so busy!  Thankfully I have these pictures to remind me of what was going on!  Although there were plenty of good times to be had outside of the house this week, my boys (all 3 of them), still enjoy a good ol' fashioned "DANCE PARTY!!!"

Cheese!

DANCE!!

Haha, awkward kiss attempt between the boys :)

Boogie down!

What's better than a dance party?!

Now, for the more, ehem, adult parties :)  First stop, my "big sis" from college, Elisha's birthday party!!  Now, for those of you who don't know, Elisha was my first manager at Red Lobster in Greenville, and then we later worked together as managers at the Durham Red Lobster.  Actually, to take it really far back, she was the dance teacher at Fuquay Middle School while I was a student there-hahahaha (umm, yeah--didn't take that class!).  Anyway, throughout all of these years, we have always been dedicated to remembering and celebrating each other's birthdays when possible!  This year's festivities were at Buku in Raleigh, and it was UNBELIEVABLE!!

My girl Elisha!

Me and "Li"

YOU. MUST. GO. HERE....SERIOUSLY!

Some glorified version of a gin and tonic with a thai chili and cucumber--it was AMAZING!

Smile ladies!

Elisha and her BFF, Brandon :)

A swell time was had by all!

Crab stuffed avocado--so good!

This was my absolute favorite--it might rank up there with the best thing I've ever eaten...tuna sashimi--incredible!

Guacamole Empanadas

PEI Mussels

Pan seared halibut with butternut risotto

Also insanely good--lava roll...best roll I've ever had!

Tiramisu for dessert--with a coffee creme shooter!

Elisha's bday apple pie a la mode!

CHEERS friends!

The party continued after dinner, but I had to bow out--I am a Mom after all, and I just can't hang like I used to!  Not to mention the fact, that I had to be functional for a couple of more parties the very next day!  So, next up--back to kiddie land--Winter Festival at Waverly Place with the boys and Goggi!  We got there right at noon, which was when it supposedly "started", but based on the first picture below, I am thinking a few of our friends arrived a little early!  Despite the crowd though, the boys had a blast!!

Holy moly crowded much?

The boys had so much fun!

Ethan trying to hang with the big boys!

He couldn't do everything though :(

Shocker--Tommy went for the slide!

Up, up, up!!

Goggi and Ethy

My handsome man looking quite trendy :)

I love  this shot of these 2 gingers!

I love his little dimple peeking through here

Ethan's not sure if he wants to expend his energy climbing the ladder

Yaaaawwwwwwnnnnnnn

Goggi to the rescue--must conserve energy!

Goggi with her baby, and his baby :)

This face means we're in for trouble...and, wet sweaters!

Who me?!

YES YOU!!

Hehe--you're right--trouble!!!

That water is a little chilly babycakes!

But, it sure is fun!

Time to splash Goggi!!

Tommy is loving it!

Meanwhile--Ethan is trying to escape to get back to the crowd!

Shooo--Daddy caught him!

What a rascal :)

I wanted to sneak in for at least one picture!

Oh boy--now we're at the water fountains....

Tommy acting like he's too mature to splash in the waterfalls

well....maybe just a little :)

Honey badger don't care!!

what a little dennis the menace our Ethan is!  we love it though!

And, now Tommy's getting into it since Ethan did it!

Check out that wet sweater!

or, that wet face!

Tommy's first picture with Frosty and Rudolph--Ethan was not having any of that!

Tommy was all too eager to take a picture with  the giant ice cream cone!

Whew--what a day!!  But, the fun wasn't over for me just yet!  That night, Becky and Steven had a little gathering at their house to celebrate their new status as man and wife!  I was so so happy to meet and really hit it off with both Becky's best friend, Courtney, as well as Steven's best friend, Taryn.  We all had a super fun evening, but the camera must've gotten adjusted during all of that fun, and none of the pictures turned out :(  That said, I'm definitely looking forward to snapping some great shots at the next gathering!

The following evening, I was so happy to go out to dinner with my good friend, Eleanor, and "our" cousins, Kathryn and Emily Howard!  We went to Sushi Thai, and it was delish!!  I seriously think I could eat sushi, and lots of it, every single day of my life!  And, just as lovely as the dinner, were the post-dinner conversations at the Howard's house--thanks Peter and Donna for snapping this photo of the four of us--I love it!

This is one of those classic photos that belongs in a frame or on a framed ornament!

A couple of days later, Davey and I went out for a little pre-anniversary date!  We went to The Aviator in Fuquay for dinner, where even Davey cheated a little bit on Paleo!  We shared some bbq nachos, I got wings, and Davey got a big ol' juicy burger!

Davey acting like he wasn't working while we waited for our food...

luckily for him, I'm totally fine watching football while he's working!

After dinner, we headed over to Crazy Glaze in Fuquay to do our annual Christmas ornament paintings for the boys.  Every year we each paint 2 ornaments--one for Tommy, and one for Ethan from both Mommy and Daddy!  Now, I assumed they'd be open until at least 8pm, especially considering it was the last 2 days of painting to have your ornaments ready by Christmas....but NOOOO...closed at 7pm!  We had to go back the next morning (thanks Dad for watching them!), and finish up so we could have them for Christmas!

Davey is so cute painting his ornaments--we have a really great time every year!

So, just as the partying continued from last week, I think I want to pick up from last week's life lesson.

Life Lesson:  Generosity, Time and Talent

Last week I spoke about being generous with your treasures, usually in the form of money or material items.    This week I want to talk about other ways to be generous--namely the giving of your time and talents.  I think usually these two go hand-in-hand.  Many times, if you are freely giving your time to others, it is because you possess some type of talent that others need or want, but do not usually have.  As I've said several times before, we are all gifted differently, and that is what makes this type of generosity so valuable.  It may be easier understood with an example.  Last week, I used my father-in-law as an incredible example of being generous with treasures.  This week, I am so proud to be able to brag on my own father a bit.  He has always given and given of his time and talents, with no expectation of anything in return.  He has a very specific talent that most people don't have, coaching and playing baseball.  Yes, even at nearly 59, he can still throw in the mid-70s!!  Anyway, these days he uses that to throw BP for his players, and occasionally the NC State baseball team.  His main talent these days though is definitely in the coaching arena.  He helps out with a travel team of younger kids when he can, around 10 year olds I believe.  He is the assistant coach for FVHS, and he is the Commissioner of a summer baseball league, and head coach of the Fuquay summer team.  It takes a TON of time, and while he is compensated (although he wasn't for the first 10 years), I think one time my Mom figured it out to be less than $1 hour!  That is not why he does it--he does it because he is good at it, he enjoys it, and he wants to make a difference in kids' lives.  Coaching kids can be a very thankless job these days, yet he continues to give his time and talent to them.  Well, I am so happy that he is finally being acknowledged for his services--he will be recognized on January 22nd at a banquet in Raleigh as the recipient of the "For the Love of the Game" award, given to those who show outstanding dedication to their players and the game of baseball--GO DAD!!  Be generous with your time and with your talents, whatever they happen to be.