Fall Break 2021

 Fall break was back to normal this year.  You know.  Normal, like 1 BC - Before COVID. I feel with classes back in the classroom and Coco taking the shuttle back and forth to campus, he needed a break.  It was very nice having the whole family together for a few days.  Just the casual interactions are amusing to me.  I like the time spent together.  We had binge watching sessions, college football, cornhole and of course, plenty of food.  We never starve when we are all together.

Isn't this what life is supposed to be?  Surrounded by your loved ones.  Making memories.  It doesn't have to be an epic trip.  You remember the feelings when you are all together.  I know I will

Labor Day Weekend 2021

 What a weekend for the Chins.  We were not all together.  But I am happy all the same.  Demi and I got to spend a great day at the beach with family and friends.  The day turned out far sunnier and warmer than predicted.  The kids behaved very well.  There was no drama.  As always, there was no shortage of food or drinks.

What really made me smile?  The boys were together.  Caz drove up to COLA on Friday night.  I gave Caz my tickets to the Gamecocks game.  Primetime kickoff meant the boys had Friday night and all day Sat together.  I remember visiting my brother at college after I graduated.  It helped us bond even more.  I hope it does the same for them.  

Last Night: Transformers

Last night with the 4 Chins in one place.  Caz leaves to go back to Auburn tomorrow morning.  Early.  Really early.  Somehow I seem to frequently draw the early morning airport runs.  But I digress.
     Caz gets to pick dinner.  We offered to take him out.  However, he procrastinated packing.  Procrastination is not an uncommon occurrence.  Chinese takeout is the call.  Takeout from Tsangs’s Village Cafe in Hanover to be precise.  Nothing but the best.
     We all have a good talk at the dinner table.  Family time is so important.  We talk about everything and anything.  We talk even when the subject isn’t an easy one.  I think that has helped the boys be prepared to go off to college and off on their own.  The boys may not talk much at times.  But when it is important, they know they can talk with us.
     It won’t be the same after tomorrow.   It’s the beginning of the breaking of our fellowship.  The start of the emptying of the nest.  A family transformation.

Griswolds' Vacation 2019

This year's vacation was epic!  Top 5 for sure.  It's funny, it didn't start out that way.  The idea of it rankled me from the beginning.  Personally, I wasn't happy that we had to go to North Carolina to celebrate our son’s high school graduation with that side of the family.  Over 20 years, we have requested them to be in one place, all together, at once, and by us, 4 times.  Two times at about each end of those two decades.  I was a bit sour about it.  But Coco didn’t seemed phased, so I just went with it.
     We started in Raleigh, NC.  In a 24 hour period, Demi and I went to three open house and caught up with old friends.  My college roommate, his wife (also a Colby alum) and kids have lived in Cary, NC for 15 years.  Demi’s high school friend and husband moved there 4 years ago.  The six of us had a great time out in Cary.
     Team Griswold drove out to Topsail Beach over 2 1/2 hours.  It was a straight shot.  Was the reward for that drive ever worth it!  Our first time using VRBO and we struck gold!  This beach house was amazing.  Three floors, a huge garage, fenced in back yard with an enormous deck for walking the dog, two front deck balconies with clear views of the ocean, great open kitchen and living space, all had our own rooms and bathrooms and private beach access.  What a HQ!
     I was in the ocean every, single day.  The water was warm.  The waves were huge but not overpowering.  One did need to beware of riptides.  I swam and floated in that ocean for over an hour at a clip on party day.  The beach was sandy.  Instead of hunting for beach glass, people were searching for shark teeth.  The weather was perfect.  Even at close to 100 degrees, we were happy.  There was one overcast day.  No rain.
     The party was a huge success.  We spent a lot of time with the family.  We had an amazing dinner at my sisters-in-law’s in Snead’s Ferry.  She did a shrimp boil for 30, with two sets of spices.  There was an incredible Vietnamese/Thai restaurant in Wilmington.  We got ice cream, then walked the riverwalk in Wilmington.  The highlight was the jet ski trip.  About ten of us cruised a 9 mile stretch of the Intercoastal.  The boys had so much fun they went back another day.  Caz had an ear to ear grin, permanently spread across his face the whole ride.  I saw dolphins twice, with one diving under my jet ski.  Forget swimming with dolphins, go jet ski with them.  Caz and Coco perfected their bodysurfing.  Caz was at it daily.
     A truly marvelous vacation.   The Griswolds won this one!

Sibling Bonding

Demi and I noticed the same thing today.  Coco and Caz were hanging out.  They were interacting positively together.  The two of them went out to play hoops together.  Caz had Coco hanging out with his friends.  They seemed to have a lot in common.  The had great discussions.  It made us both feel good.  The high school sibling rivalry, the battling, seemed to have passed.  It's the way we hoped they would be.  Family first.  You rely on the family.  We have each other's backs.  There is nothing we wouldn't do for each other.  We think they are finally getting it.

March Madness 2019

Day one of the Big Dance!  The boys and I made our brackets.  We each did our own thing, so we weren't directly competing.  I decided to start a group text with the boys and Demi.  I thought Demi might enjoy the banter.  Did she ever. 
     The boys were watching the first game, right out of the gate.  Auburn was an early game.  It started at 1:30 pm EDT.  That meant I would not be able to watch tip off.  I actually only caught the last few minutes, using my iPhone.  That was enough to totally stress me out.  It was wild.  The Tiger let NM St stay close.  Too close.  It was almost like Auburn was going to give the game away, in the last 20 seconds.  They missed their free throws.  They turned the ball over.  They didn't play the right defense.  Somehow they maned to squeak out a one point win. 
     We all lost the very first game.  Lousiville choked.  I didn't realize there was some interesting links between Minnesota and Louisville.  I do think had I known Rick Pitino's son was coaching Minn, I might have picked them.  That is what I get for being a part time fan.
     The boys texted updates.  They "voiced" their enthusiasm.  Demi really enjoyed seeing the interaction.  We all won!

Football Fans & Feathers

What a successful day!
     Demi accompanied Coco on the campus tour of Auburn.  I got to go with Caz.  I wanted her to see the view from the Eagle’s Nest.  I think they both enjoyed the tour immensely.  I hung out around the Quad with Gizmo.  It was nice.  We hit a food truck for ice coffee.  Gizmo attained Auburn Rock Star status, making friends all over.  Caz got of out class just before the tour ended.  I sent Gizmo running across the grass to Caz.  What a happy puppy!  A happy boy too.  He was excited to see his dog.
     We bought grilled pimento cheese sandwiches and lemonade from Toomer’s Drugstore.  We hit the bookstore.  We visited Caz’s room.  The boys watched the dog, while Demi and I went to an event at the Raptor Center.
     Every Friday, before a home football game, the Southeast Raptor Center on campus runs a birds of prey exhibition.  They trot out owls, vultures, falcons and eagles.  These birds are well trained.  They fly right over patrons heads.  The instructors explain how the birds come to the sanctuary, how they are cared for and how we can help protect them.  It is really an amazing display.  We were so glad we went.
     Following the Raptor Center, was dinner.  BBQ at Jim & Nick’s.  Always a crowd pleaser.

Auburn 2018 - The Visit

It is off to Auburn again.  The whole family is going again.  That includes the Giz.  She is wracking up the frequent flyer miles.
     This trip would include an official campus tour of Auburn for Coco.  Caz is slowly warming up to the idea of his brother attending the same institution.  We also had tickets to the football game.  What a coincidence, right?  What were the odds?  Caz was also cooking up a big tailgate, since his girlfriend’s parents, and her roommates parents would be going to the game.  We were expecting a good turnout.
     It has only been a month since we dropped Caz off and moved him into his dorm.  But we really only got to see him for less than 24 hours that trip.  It will be nice to spend some more time with him.  At least he is coming home for Thanksgiving this year.

RAK - Brotherly Interaction

It is imperative that I note Caz's random act of kindness for today.  Today was the first day that Caz trained Coco during XC practice.  They came to an agreement to treat each other appropriately.  They agreed to be respectful with each other.  Caz would instruct and inspire.  Coco would learn and give his best effort.  Caz had to leave practice early to babysit his cousins.  He told Coco that he did a great job and the first day was great.  When Coco and Demi came home, they found a present waiting as they walked through the door.  Caz left a tray with a note of encouragement for Coco, water and a power bar.  Well, done Caz, well done.

Brothers & Friends

It was nice to see a few brother bonding moments recently.  They were those times that it was evident that the boys really do care about each other.  As they should.
     Caz helped out his brother twice in the last two days.  I mean really helped.  Coco went next door to do something for my folks.  Contrary to what he's been told, he went completely barefoot.  On his way home, he jammed the top of his big toe.  He nearly lost the end of it.  It was all banged up from hitting the pavement.  He was bleeding profusely.  He manged to get inside the garage, up the stairs, and to the door to the house.  He called for his brother.  Caz came right away.  He got ice, first aid cream, towels and bandages.  Of course, the one minor hiccup was that instead of hydrogen peroxide, he got rubbing alcohol.  Whoops!  Coco took it well.  And Caz meant well.
     Today, Coco got his lips stuck in his braces.  Yes.  He is still adjusting.  Caz helped him out big time.  And...he actually did it gently.  Coco became unstuck and only bled a little.  Caz got him ice again.  It is so nice to hear them helping each other.  Sometimes they are all they have.