Sunday - A Day to Rest? Not this week!!

Today was a lovely warm & sunny day in Charlotte.  Regina slept until 10am - so I know she has caught up on her sleep!  After a lazy morning, Regina went with Zoe and Gina to see "Clue the Musical".  It was a great play and one where the audience actually participates in the the production.  Regina won!! She'll fill you in on the details later.

While Regina was at the play, Morgan played in her soccer game (about 30 minutes away).  The team won 2-1 and Morgan scored the game winning goal:)  Afterwards we bought pumpkins, carved  Halloween faces into them and played outside.

Then we went to my parents house for Sunday dinner - the entire family was there so Regina got a full dose of our extended family!  A bird was loose in our house, so the kids had a great time trying to capture the bird - finally it flew out an open window. The evening was such a good time and I really think Regina enjoyed herself.

Thank you for giving Regina the opportunity to be with us.  She has such a kind heart and our entire family has loved getting to know her!  We know the next week is going to fly by and we are going to make the most of every moment!

Our cousins getting crazy - with Regina & Morgan- at Sunday dinner

Choosing a pumpkin at the pumpkin patch.

Regina carves her pumpkin.

Sunday dinner at The Bissell House (my parents)

Howard Bissell, Cary Pickard (Morgan's uncle and aunt/my brother & sister), Burns Bissell (Morgan's cousin), HC Bissell (Morgan's Grandfather/my dad) and Joe (Morgan's Dad/my husband)

All the cousins at the dinner table.

Morgan's team mates celebrate her goal.

Morgan's soccer coach - Katie - and her puppy Brine.

Morgan's soccer team.

Renaissance Festival & Shopping at SouthPark Mall

The slumber party went well and the five girls slept in until about 9am.  After a yummy breakfast of eggs, ham biscuits, banana bread and fruit, we hit the road to The Renaissance Festival in Huntersville, NC - about 30 minutes away by car.  The festival takes place on over 22 acres of land & is an annual event that celebrates the lifestyle of the Renaissance era.  Lots of food, items for sale, rides and shows.  Everyone dresses up in costume!

The afternoon was spent at SouthPark Mall shopping - a big hit for the Cabo girls!!

We took Regina to our club for dinner tonight - Quail Hollow Club (home of The Wachovia Championship golf tournament).  Our waiter, Alfredo, speaks Spanish, so he had a good time talking in his native language with Regina.  After dinner we came home and fell fast asleep - yet another action packed day has come to a close:)

Entrance to the Renaissance Festival: Regina, Morgan, Zoe, Jack, Rex, Yvette and Gina

Zoe and Regina posing as royals!

Jousting at the festival.

A walking tree!!

Making a candle at the festival.

Posing with some of the festival's characters.

Rex and Jack Hallow - knights and dragons!!

Banana split treat at Quail Hollow.

Dinner at Quail Hollow: Regina with Barbara, Joe, Morgan , Jack and Rex Hallow

The finished product - wax hands!

Making the wax hands at the festival.

Discovery Place, High School Musical and a Sleep Over!

The students went to see a fabulous museum today called Discovery Place - located in the heart of Charlotte's downtown area.  The museum is a place we take our children too often and it has wonderful exhibits there year round.  Today they saw the "A Day in Pompeii" exhibit which is like a journey back in time to experience the life of ancient Pompeii in 79A.D.  It is a fantastic exhibit and I'm so glad they were here to see it and the rest of the museum.  Then they went to an old neighborhood pub type place for lunch called Providence Road Sundries.  Then back to CCDS. 

 Because rain was forecast for the most of the weekend in the mountains, we decided not to go up to Linville, NC as originally planned.  But the back up plan may have turned out better than the original.  I took a car full of girls - Morgan, Regina, Zoe and Gina, Claire and Yvette, and Mary Hill Brooks to see the newly released movie "High School Musical III".  Afterwards, we went out to dinner at Harpers Restaurant.  My husband Joe and our eldest son Jack had baseball games to attend so they could not join us for the fun this time.  However, our youngest son Rex went with us and enjoyed every moment being with 8 women!!  We are now back at our house and the girls are setting up sleeping bags in our playroom for a massive spend the night party.  Let's hope they get to sleep before the sun rises:)  We are truly enjoying our time with Regina.  She is such a sweet girl and makes a big effort with everyone she meets. We are so glad Regina is our Cabo buddy!

Dinner at Harpers: Rex, Yvette, Claire, Mary Hill, Morgan, Zoe, Gina and Regina

At the movie - High School Musical III

Glam girls shopping at Phillips Place: Zoe, Regina and Gina

 Going incognito: Yvette, Claire, Regina and Gina

In front of the fountain at Phillips Place - before the movie.

Tour of Bobcats Arena & Levine Museum

Another beautiful day in Charlotte, NC.  However, it was much cooler than yesterday - high only around 60. The Cabo students went on a tour of Charlotte's downtown area; the Bobcats Arena - where the NBA team plays basketball and many big name concerts are held; lunch at the popular Brix Pizza and finally to the Levine Museum. The museum has many exhibits that demonstrate how Charlotte has grown and changed over the past 100 years.  I met the girls at CCDS main campus and greeted them at the shuttle bus.  Then we went to visit an old family friend - Mindy Carnell- who was my nanny when I was a child.  Mindy is having surgery tomorrow to have a spot of cancer removed from her mouth.  She was delighted to have the opportunity to meet Regina and visit with her today.  After our visit with Mindy we headed home and relaxed for the remainder of the day and enjoyed a simple dinner together of cheeseburgers, corn, water mellon and salad.  The girls were really tired and happily went to sleep quickly.  A calm close to an active day.

Morgan and Regina visit with Mindy.

These two are beginning to look like they are related:)

The CCDS bus

The CCDS bus arriving to the main campus from middle school 

The U.S. National Whitewater Center

We had a great day today.  The students went to Charlotte Country Day School (CCDS) at 8:00 this morning and were given a quick tour of the school.  Then they boarded a bus and headed to the US National Whitewater Center - www.usnwc.org.  Once there they did the huge climbing walls and then went rafting.  The day began quite chilly, but thankfully warmed up by rafting time.  After the thrilling rafting adventure, we all ate lunch outside and enjoyed the beautiful sun shine.  It was an amazing field trip and the kids really got to know each other really well.  I'm confident the participants (students, teachers and chaperones) will all sleep soundly tonight!!

Buddies already!

Sarah Campbell Tucker, Morgan, Regina & Daniela

Let the climbing begin - strait up!  Not easy for those afraid of heights. But everyone did it!

Regina climbs almost to the top.

Morgan really is spider-man!

  Here are the rafters ready to go - wet suits and all.

Yes, they got wet!!

 The girls' boat was all smiles and did very well.

This is what the students  rafted down today!

Regina Arrives in Charlotte!

Finally at our house, the girls eat some dinner and start getting to know each other. Great start to what is sure to be a wonderful 12 days!

Yeah!! Regina is here.

Regina & Morgan; Zoe & Gina

Regina meets Morgan and Barbara Hallow

The Charlotte Country Day students wait with excitement for their Cabo buddies to arrive at the airport.

Meet our family

Here are some photos of our family...

We (the parents) Barbara and Joe - smiling big :)

Morgan is showing you how far Charlotte is from other big cities.

Jack is ready for his baseball game!

Rex is playing on the slide.

Evee - our dog - is just hanging out.