State Band Competition

On Saturday afternoon, we traveled to Orangeburg for the State Band Finals. Clay and the Byrnes band were competing and we arrived in time to see Irmo and Boiling Springs as well. Byrnes did a terrific job and placed 4th overall...way to go Rebel Regiment!

Rebel Regiment

Mother's Day Part II - Columbia

My Mother's Day kept getting better! When we got back to Columbia Clay arrived to have dinner at Garibaldi's with me, Glenn, Ben, Mrs. Matthews, Glenn's dad and Belinda. It was delicious as always and I was thrilled to have both boys with me. When we got back home they gave me these two shirts and of course I loved them and can't wait to wear them!

Clay spent the night and left early Monday morning to get to school on time so it was a short trip but I am really glad he came down. It made my day even more special!

My Last "Single" Hours

Between brunch and ceremony I stopped at the Forum Shops Pandora store to buy the wedding ring pillow charm as a Vegas/wedding souvenier and then went to the room to watch the fountain shows while I did the first of my "getting ready" activities.

Meanwhile, Ruben took his job as the "manny" (male nanny..LOL!) seriously and made sure the boys got some rest and dressed to impress by time to be at the chapel!

Seeing Vegas!

First stop on our sightseeing - Ceasar's Palace....amazingly HUGE place!

You never know who you will see on the strip!

The boys on our (very, very cold) open air bus tour of the Vegas strip

gorgeous sunset

views of the strip from the top of the bus

stop at the famous sign!

walking down the strip

m and m store

dinner at the Hard Rock

What a great first day (last night before coming Mrs. Matthews!)

Viva Las Vegas - Getting There!

We started out for Vegas early on Tuesday, November 23rd. It was the boys first flight! We flew from Columbia to Atlanta and then on to Las Vegas. The flights were great and all on time! When we arrived in Vegas we were immediately surrounded by slot machines and a LOT of people.

On the flight from Atlanta, in addition to me and the boys, were Glenn's grandmother, Mr. Rick, Ruben and Billy and Gwen. We were all able to visit while waiting on luggage and then Mrs. Matthews treated me, the boys and Ruben to a stretch SUV limo ride from the airport to the Bellagio. Ben was in heaven!!

Mother's Day 2010

Ben wanted to wear his new pink shirt and the tie from Mr. Matthews (ie..Glenn) for Mother's Day!

Church courtyard shots before service!

After service

After church: Tripp, Ben Andie and Margaret

Glenn and his grandmother after lunch

me and Ben after lunch at Blue Marlin

Love this picture!

Wow! I acutally feel short between these two!

USC vs. SC State

The boys were here for the SC State game and so the four of us plus Glenn's friend, Van and his son, Tripp loaded chicken and pizzas and snacks and headed down to CWP early on Saturday for an afternoon of tailgating! Tripp and Ben hit it off immediately!! And, all of three of them had a great time playing football around the parking lot.

First on the agenda -- pizza for the boys!

Tripp, Clay and Ben

I LOVE this picture of Clay giving Ben football advice!

Playing football

me and Glenn

We finished off the day by the four of us going to the game!! It was Clay's first Carolina game and Ben's second. Ben was thrilled when Glenn offered to let him take his foam finger in since Ben had left his at home. The highlight was seeing the SC State Marching 101 perform at halftime. They were awesome!