Wordless Wednesday

I took this picture at my friend Candi's house while we were there to watch an airshow... the planes were doing "loop de loops" and all kinds of acrobatic maneuvers right over her house! They live close (as the bird flies) to a local airport that was sponsoring the event, and it just so happens we had great seats in her front yard.

I love that she used an old John Deere tractor seat in her Fall decor - perfect!

Happy Halloween yall, and for more "Wordless Wednesday" participants, go to 5 Minutes for Mom!

A Day Out with Thomas

Last weekend we went to Cordele, GA to see Thomas the Train... it was a fun day, and the kids were thrilled that they not only saw Thomas, but got to take a ride with him.

We left on Friday night and went to my Grandma's house. She passed on about a year and a half ago now, but my Momma and Aunt Runelle have kept the house. It was nice to be there, even for just a night. She lived in a little town as well, and I have fond memories of this place.

Saturday morning we all got up early and dressed. Then we went into "town" and had breakfast at the one stop mart there. Momma and Aunt Runelle had a time reminiscing with the old men gathered in there for their usual breakfast routine, and I loved just watching it all. Small towns have a charm all their own, and being from one myself, I love that everyone knows everyone, and most are usually related.

Even if it is 8th cousins twice removed!

Okay, so back to Thomas... we left Grandma's and headed to Cordele. When we got there Elizabeth and Cub were anxious to "go ride with Thomas!" Our tickets were for noon, and we were there early, so we headed to the various stations they had set up for the children to play in.

Here EJ is coloring with the markers/crayons provided... this is one of her favorite things in the world to do, so it was perfect for her. They also had Thomas and Friends stamps out for the kids to play with, and she stayed at this table for awhile too.


Cub could care less about coloring (usually), so he ran to one of the Lego train sets there for the kids to play with. At first he was very good about sharing with the other children, but became a bit possesive of the Engine later, so off we went to see if we could find the "real" Thomas!


After a stop for funnel cakes, pretzels, drinks and face painting, we finally saw Thomas coming around the tracks!


While we were waiting for Thomas to take us for a ride we had a family picture made... Cub has on a het he got at an exhibit there, and it's on a bit lopsided...


My parents and Aunt Runelle were with us on this adventure, and here they are with EJ. Aunt Runelle was sitting on the other side, so she didn't make this picture, but we all enjoyed being together and watching the kids excitement as we rode the train.

When the ride was over, and we were headed back to the car, I could tell our children needed NAPS! It was that time of day, and with all the fun and excitement I knew it wouldn't be long before eyes grew heavy. Elizabeth never succomed to the much needed nap, but it took Cub all of about 5 minutes before his eyes closed and he took a little snooze.

Isn't he sweet?


Another successful and exciting fall journey completed, I hope to be home now for awhile!

Anyone Know a Dentist?

I couldn't resist... this was too funny. But since I am showing you Cub's picture, I will also show yall mine as well.


Scary, huh? Nothing like fair play!

Plus, he'll see this one day, and by then he will probably be much bigger than me.

We went back to Aunt Reynie's house to visit last Friday. She has a toy cabinet that the kids all love to get in and pull everything out... this time Cub pulled out a new box of these play teeth. (I think Aunt Reynie has been shopping!) He was very intrigued, and brought them over to me to open.

As soon as I pulled them out of the package Cub grabbed one... it took a little bit of coaxing, and me trying on the pair you see above, but he put the teeth in his mouth. He got a kick out of it, and thank goodness I'd slipped the camera to Reynie, because she got a great shot of the fun.

Elizabeth came over to the couch, and after watching Cub and Mommy try on some of the teeth, I could tell she really wanted to as well. She got a pair in her hand, and half way to mouth, but it was a no go... there were just too many people watching her. She is very concious lately of looking "silly", or anyone laughing at her, so even though she really wanted to try it, she decided not to.

I have so much to catch up on here! Last week I visited with EJ's kindergarten class again, and this past weekend we went to South Georgia to see and ride on Thomas the Train! I have lots of great pictures to share, and may be back later in the day to post again.

But, at the moment I have to get Cub and myself dressed and head into town to run some errands... it's those priorities again, getting in the way of my storytelling!

I'll leave on this note... Cub is running around here this morning with his Darth Vader mask and cape, cowboy boots, underwear and play shotgun. He's "shootin the bad guys" and "takin care of Mommy"...

My little hero!

Come On Around to Our Backdoor...

Happy Fall, Yall!

This is the fall decor that will greet you at our backdoor... the scarecrow at the top was made and decorated by Elizabeth at school. Isn't he neat?! She was thrilled the day her class was to make them, and is very proud of her little guy. He has all of her "goodies" from the pumpkin patch this past weekend in his lap... little white and orange pumpkins, colored corn with husks, etc.

I think she named him Jasmine...

The large pumpkin is Cub's... he made this at preschool, and the pumpkin's face is made from his handprints! When he came walking out of the door with this in his little hand, I could see his grin from ear to ear... he knew Mommy would LOVE it!

I love both the handmade fall decorations I got to use this year - what a lucky Mommy I am!

What a special welcome for our family and friends...

A Trip to the Cabin

This weekend was our annual trip to the Pumpkin Patch up in the North Geaorgia mountains... for a little bit I was afraid we weren't going to make it.

Last week Cub got a stomach virus that was going around, and missed two more days of "playschool". As usual, I caught it on Thursday, and was in bed all day... if someone you know gets it, run like crazy. It is an awful experience...

I wasn't sure on Friday if I was going to get us all packed and ready, but I kept at it, stopping along the way to sit on the couch to stop the room from spinning around, and around, and around.... ugh!

When Geoff got home, and as we were getting the bags packed into Momma and Diddy's Expedition, Momma got dizzy and nauseous... like I said, just run if you even think someone has it. Save yourself, the sick friend/family member will understand.

Momma was a trooper, and better woman than I, and brought herself a little trash can for the ride up to Diddy's office to pick him up. It was there they decided to take Diddy's car, just in case they needed to go home... the kids were oblivious to the adults plight, and kept asking over and over that dreaded question-

"When are we gonna be there?"

Oh yes, the beginning of this trip wasn't the best as memories go, but it sure wasn't forgettable!

We did make it up to Dahlonega and Aunt Lucy's cabin that night, and settled in. Nana, Lee (Geoff's sister) and her son Jeffrey were coming early in the morning, and it didn't take much for everyone to fall fast asleep.

Saturday morning we dressed, and Momma was feeling better... we met up with the others at the local McDonald's for a quick breakfast, and then off to the pumpkin patch we went.

I must back track a bit to the part where we got dressed. Every year Mom and I look for something really cute for the kids to wear for their pumpkin pictures. Usually I find it at the country fair a couple of weeks ago, but this year we got something from a trunk show at my cousins... adorable outfits. EJ loved hers, no problem... but my world was rocked when I was dressing my son and he refused the collored shirt that went with his matching outfit!

Wha?!

Oh well... I knew it would happen one day, but at 3 years old?! He's still my baby, right?

So, I had to get a turtleneck to put under his jonjon... and when I put on the jonjon, it was inches to short. It was almost more than I could handle, but decided he was gonna wear it anyhow. It looked almost as if it was supposed to be that way... kinda.

As usual Burt's Farm was full of families taking pictures, picking out pumpkins and enjoying the fall weather. The line for the hayride was around the entire back of the place, so we didn't attempt it... the kids were pretty good to take some pictures, but as soon possible they were done with that too.

I surrender! My babies are growing up. Elizabeth was way more interested in her cousin Jeffrey's ipod than I ever imagined she would be, and Cub was thrilled with his Star Wars toys. What happened to Toy Story 2?!

After we had as much fun as we could stand at the pumpkin patch, we headed to the apple orchard. The kids picked apples, watched the honey bees working to make the delicious honey, played in the petting zoo, and shot apples at targets with the high powered apple shooter... they loved that!

We ate supper that night in Dahlonega at the famous Smith House, and then went back to the cabin for some rest. Aunt Lee brought the kids all kinds of nice goodies, and crafts to make. They enjoyed decorating trick or treat buckets, and playing with Jeffrey before bedtime.

At 7am my Diddy woke everyone with an old Army cadence (!!!), and so we were up, dressed and out in time to go to the top of Amicolola Falls for breakfast at the Lodge. We love this place, and go back every time we make it up to the cabin.

From there, it was back to town for the Gold Rush Days festival, and then to the cabin to pack up. We stopped off by Cane Creek Falls, right there by the cabin, on our way out for the kids to play around in the creek and take some more pictures... if you haven't noticed, I am never without my camera.

I was hoping to show yall more pictures of the weekend , but my internet connection (via the lovely satellite) is really slow today... maybe tomorrow for wordless wednesday I will be able to post some more. Some are really sweet, and I love that I got some great shots of the cousins together...

We had a wonderful weekend with our families and have lots of good memories... Aunt Lucy's cabin is full of them for Geoff, and for the past six years I have many as well. I love knowing our children are making some they will remember and treasure as long as their Daddy has.

It is a beautiful and special place...

I am Still Here...

I've just been taken back on a trip through college, via Facebook! Seriously, that isn't the only thing that has kept me away from this place, but it has taken up some of my "free" time... I found a few of my old albums and have been scanning in pictures to upload on my page there. My sorority sisters and I have been laughing and poking fun at our big hair and bows, huge RayBan sunglasses and choice of clothing.

Hey, it was the early 90's!


This is my best friend from GSU, and also my ADPi Big Sis, Laura. I met her during rush week, and we have been the best of friends ever since. She cheered for Southern, and I was on the majorette line, so we enjoyed many years of great Eagle football games together...

She commented on a picture of us at my Bid Day (on Facebook) that we have known each other now for almost 19 years, which is half of our lives or more! In those 19 years we have hit many of the ups and downs of our lives together, whether across country or in the same place, we have a strong friendship that I am so thankful for. We have laughed, cried, giggled and just been there through it all... when we have the opportunity to see each other (she lives in sunny California now!) it's as if we haven't even been apart, and that is something special that I treasure.

During rush a year or so later, Laura also introduced me to the girl who would become my ADPi Lil Sis, Angie... they are from the same hometown. Angie and I became very close too, and she has also been a best friend to me in college and to this day... she lives way up in Atlanta, but we too can catch up just like it was yesterday.

Our sorority was close, and I have really enjoyed the walk down "memory lane" with everyone's pictures. It's been fun to remember things, and we hope to plan a reunion next year at Homecoming. I was also a Sigma Nu Little Sister, and so catching up with many of those guys has been lots of fun too!

Facebook was not the only thing keeping me from this blog, though.... unfortunately Cub has been sick, and I have still been under the gun with all the things my mouth (and heart, truth be told) said "yes, I'll be happy to do", and my head is screaming "Nooooooooooooooooooooooo!"

I'm working on that... it's a tough thing to say "no" when you really want to help!

This weekend is our trip up to the N. Georgia mountains, Geoff's Aunt's cabin and the pupmkin patch with the kids and our family... I am really looking forward to this trip, and just hope everyone is well by Friday and ready to go!

Revisiting the Old Dream House

My Momma is awesome... she had the forethought to save my Barbie Dream House, pool, motor home, corvette and accessories. She also saved the Barbie Fashion Plaza and escalator, but that is still at her house being cleaned up.

Elizabeth is sittin' in high cotton right about now.

Actually, EJ is at school, but I just got this all set up for her. She helped Momma get it down from their attic yesterday, and Geoff brought it all over here to our house, so she is already aware of it... but I think when she sees it all spread out she will be thrilled.

Cub is, I know... he's been driving Batman and Spiderman all around the house this morning in the Barbie corvette.


Here it is, in all it's 1970's glory! Look at all that orange and yellow on the house... the furniture is screaming seventies, with striped chairs and sofa, but I didn't get a close up shot of that. I did get a good little picture of all the itty bitty tiny pieces that Momma actually salvaged and kept, though. She managed to keep at least two full sets of the dinnerware - look at those tiny forks, spoons and knives!

I am so impressed, and so thankful!







The shower on this pool set actually worked too, and due to a bit of dry rot (!), a plastic piece that makes it work is broken at the moment... but soon we'll have it back and ready for Barbie to shower off after her swim.

What fun my best friends and I had with this stuff when we were kids... I can't wait to play Barbies again with Elizabeth this afternoon!

She'll Love This One Day...

Yesterday I went to the elementary school to take pictures for the kids yearbook... oh, how I wish I could post some of those great moments, but I wouldn't dare.

Instead, I'll show yall this picture of my daughter at lunch... notice the Dorito orange colored lips. (I am not a fan of those chips, but my family loves them...)

Oh yes, and of course, that silly apple grin!

This picture shows just a tiny part of the antics I observed while at the lunch table with Elizabeth's kindergarten class. I have been to eat lunch with her on many occasions now, and have been in and out of their classroom taking pictures, so I think they are just comfortable enough to let loose a bit...

Food was switching and swapping around like crazy, and all with no regard to how many kids touched it before they popped it in their mouths... ick! They had not a care in the world... fruit roll ups became sticky balls that got rolled down the table and back up the other side, and one guy tried to stuff his sandwich bread up his nose, but "Miss" Angela had to put a whammy on that.

The teacher's were not falling down on their jobs at all, mind you, but these kids are quick... they know when they can get by with it. I was enlightened by being included in their "inner circle", and began to remember back when I was in kindergarten.

That would be over 30 years ago...

It was actually great fun to sit among them yesterday, listening to their banter and watching the havoc ensue. I giggled like a 5 year old at some of the knock knock jokes they told, and tried hard to ignore the many food swaps.

It was also nice to see that my daughter is participating and enjoying herself at school... sometimes she is so shy, and when around other people she will become very quiet, and hide behind my legs if I am around. I saw none of that yesterday, except for when I had to leave. The tears fell, and she clung to me until I promised her it wouldn't be long before I picked her up from school.

As I walked out of the lunchroom door, I looked back for reassurance that she was going to be okay. There she was, already trading apple slices with her friend. She caught my eye and gave me a big 'ol apple grin as she waved a goodbye.

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Happy Friday, Yall!
I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! We are going to a great country fair tomorrow, one we never miss...

A tiny clarification: Yes, she is in a princess nightgown in the above picture! Yesterday was "Wear Your Pajamas Day"...

I Am Up To My Eyes in Laundry...

...and dishes, and kids activities, and a thousand other little obligations I made in earnest, but as a habitual procrastinator (!), and one tired Mommy, I am beginning to feel the pressure.

So, I am just going to get to it... as soon as I finish this one little tiny blog post.

Priorities, yall!

Anyone else overextend themselves and then stress when there is too much to do?