So I was supposed to look after Maddie today and instead I got our dog, Dakota, to do it. Maddie and the dogs have met before, but never this close. I figured it had to happen sometime. They got along great all afternoon. Maddie especially liked it when Dakota licked the back of her head. I think Maddie wanted to lick him back but I told her she couldn't until she was older.
Maddie can pretty much take care of herself now. I walked into the kitchen and found her drinking her milk all by herself!!
I had my ten year high school reunion last weekend. I had to go because Kelly was the class president(i said it was because she was a nerd, she says it was because she was popular) Anyway, we had a great time catching up with the people we graduated with. One girl came all the way from Alaska! Here I am with my hot high school girlfriend!
Kelly and I took Madison to her first ECU basketball game. They won the game, but haven't won again since.
Maddie can pretty much take care of herself now. I walked into the kitchen and found her drinking her milk all by herself!!I had my ten year high school reunion last weekend. I had to go because Kelly was the class president(i said it was because she was a nerd, she says it was because she was popular) Anyway, we had a great time catching up with the people we graduated with. One girl came all the way from Alaska! Here I am with my hot high school girlfriend!Kelly and I took Madison to her first ECU basketball game. They won the game, but haven't won again since.
Here is Jonathan Smith, myself, and Justin Smith after a long hard day of shootin'
It was a very emotional time at the game as this was the first football game at VaTech since the shooting last April. The ceremony before the game to honor the victims was something I will never forget, capped off by a fly over by two F-15's. This is one of the coolest places I've ever seen a football game...nice background!
ESPN's College Gameday was at the game. ECU's defense held VaTech to 33 yards rushing. East Carolina's backup QB threw an interception on the 6 yard line that Tech walked in for 6 and that was pretty much the difference as ECU lost 17-7. Even though they lost, I am very excited about this year's team. Here's a picture of Jimmy and I at our tailgate after the game.
Last week, we went to Ocean Isle with three other couples. We had a great time and the weather was awesome.
Maddie and Mommy in the pool...
UNC visited Greenville for only the second time ever on Saturday and wow what a game! We hit the tailgate lots around 1:00pm for the 6:00pm game. My dad, mom, brother, sister-in-law, in-laws all went to Carolina...so we had a "divided" tailgate. (Kelly was the only one at the tailgate who didn't go to either school, but she is also the only one that went to a school whose football team just beat Michigan in "The Big House" and has back-to-back national titles)
UNC was up 17-7 at one point only to have ECU come back and tie the game at 17-17. East Carolina went up 31-23 and things were looking great. Then UNC returned a punt for a touchdown and made the two point conversion. ECU's kicker missed three(!) field goals before finally nailing the game winner! Below is a picture of the teams setting up for the final field goal.
The crowd was the fourth largest in ECU's history and it was loud. I can't believe I'm about to say this but UNC has a great football team. I was expecting us to beat them by double digits. Their RS Freshman QB burnt our DB's a few times for quick TD's. 
Any of you Carolina fans reading this: You can use this picture as your desktop background!
Jay Ross--ARRRGGGHHH!!
With this game behind them, the real test comes this weekend when we host Southern Miss. USM has won the last 7 contests in Greenville. If ECU wants to turn the corner in college football, this game is a must win. ECU beat Southern Miss down in Hattiesburg last year--so we're looking for two in a row. 
Madison has teeth! Two of them on the bottom row. I didn't know babies got teeth that early. She's actually been pretty good (kelly might tell you differently) She is rolling over, laughing, trying to talk, feeds the dogs, does her own laundry, etc. Next week, we may teach her how to ride a bike. 
We took her to Green Valley pool tonight(thanks Jeff and Becca!) She loved playing in the water with her mommy. 
We had our annual Young Life leader's retreat this past weekend down at Lake Tillery. We had a great time hanging out and fellowshipping with the other leaders. One of the highlights of the weekend was hitting golf balls into the lake off of the dock--especially when we lit them on fire at night!! I finally broke my 0-for streak on fishing when I caught 6 little bream on my favorite lure--the diving cricket--if you don't have one of these lures and you want to catch some fish, you need to get one. We took Madison to the lake with us and she had fun sleeping in her sun tent. 
Speaking of Young Life--I am now starting my 9th year as a Young Life leader. I have been blessed by many relationships with high school kids--some who have already graduated college, which makes me feel old. The guys that I am leading this year are all seniors at Grimsley High School here in Greensboro. One of the ways that Young Life is able to function in Greensboro is through fundraisers such as our annual Golf Tournament and our annual Sporting Clays tournament. I am on a team this year with 7 of my good friends. If you would like to sponsor our team, you can follow this link 
I received my season tickets to the ECU games last Wednesday and on Friday I got my tickets to the Virginia Tech game. 
My dad, mom, Jimmy, and I are heading up to Blacksburg on September 1st on what should be an awesome game. ESPN Gameday is going to be there (its the first game for VT since the awful shooting that occurred last year) so it should be a pretty hyped up game. VT is ranked 7th in the country in some polls so ECU has its work cut out for them, but that's why you play the game.
We stopped in DC so Maddie could see the Capitol and where all the crazy politicians live.
We saw the Orioles play the Chicago White Sox. Madison was given this certificate in honor of her first Orioles game. I first came here in 1992(the year that Oriole Park at Camden Yards opened) with my parents and brothers. My favorite baseball player growing up was Cal Ripken, Jr. He is being inducted into the Hall of Fame this year. The Orioles came back to tie the game in the 9th inning and ended up winning in the 10th (of course we stayed!!)
Madison and Kelly near our seats on the third base side!
Here is Maddie and Kelly eating lunch at the Inner Harbor. If you haven't been--you should!!
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Here I am with my two brothers (Jimmy and Wally) wondering if we're ever gonna catch a foul ball--Jimmy actually did catch one in the 7th inning and gave it to James, our little nephew--all the girls in the stadium said, "awwww Uncle Jimmy that was so nice!" +050.jpg)
Kelly's parents (Mama Lu and Grandaddy) came to visit us last weekend. We went to the Bog Garden to feed the ducks and look at the waterfall--another great place to take visitors in the 'Boro. Just look out for the weirdo doing some kind of crazy thing with no shirt on near the waterfall-seriously I think I was the only one that saw him but it was weird--he may have been doing some type of power yoga or something. +003.jpg)
I've got three and a half words for you! Bright Leaf Drive-In. If you haven't been to the Bright Leaf Drive-In movie theatre in Mt. Airy, NC then I feel sorry for you. If you have a couple of minutes call this number to at least listen to their answering machine (336.786.5494)Folks, this is as red as it gets! Until I went there the other night, I could only imagine what a drive-in movie was like. My mom told me they used to get in their pajamas and my Pap and Grandma and would take them to the drive-in. 
A guy at work told me they had the best hot dogs in the galaxy--he was right!+016.jpg)
Wow, she is cute. Madison can't wait to see the fireworks and celebrate the 4th of July!!+028.jpg)
Madison and her cute mom hanging out at the 4th of July cookout at Justin and Sammie's.+033.jpg)
Madison loved the fireworks at Grimsley High School!
