two North Carolina weeks

Our first two weeks back in America, spent in North Carolina, have been most memorable. Tomorrow we leave for a month and a half of visiting other family and friends from here to Minnesota, before coming back here. Here are a few photos of all we've done and who we've spent happy days with the past couple weeks...

Sweet cuddles with Grandmama...

 downtown sightseeing in Hendersonville...

countless games of "Hey Cow!" (never played it? Ask me how!)

Adam and Tom visiting Mac & Doris, sweet friends who donated us a car (what generosity!)

Making "baby biscuits" with Granddaddy...

 planting a tree in memory of Mamaw...

visiting the historic bakery where Granddaddy and Grandmama first met!

playing in the snow for the very first time (they were so excited, they just put on their snow clothes on top of their jammies to race out and play in the snow as fast as possible: good thing, as the snow melted within hours once the warm sun rose)...

taking pictures of an obliging cultural icon familiar to all Americans who drive the side roads during "tax season":

and visiting dear friends and family, like Uncle Pat and Aunt Sandy...

You can see we had quite a full two weeks? Yes, and a wonderful "first two weeks back in the States," made special by those we spent the days with.

Funny side note. When we were at the hardware store in Hendersonville, Grandmama told John he could pick out one thing to buy, and he picked an Elmo lunchbox. I was perusing some items when John came up to me holding this lunchbox pictured below, and handed to me, exclaiming, "Mama, you are a grownup, so you should get this lunchbox, with the big mans on it!"

I didn't actually end up getting it, but I appreciated his sentiments on my behalf. Oh wait, but maybe I should have gotten this for a certain dear friend and blog reader? (You know who you are).