Boys Weekend Vs Girls Weekend

So, the boys are off this weekend for a 4-wheeling, off-roading type weekend. The drove somewhere over near Chattanooga with a couple other fellows and spent a couple days just driving Jeeps and being MEN.
These photos are courtesy of James' phone.
Jeep on haul because to be trail worthy means you just can't drive it on the road. And if you did you certainly would have back issues later that day.
Here's the Jeep at work. Dirty is good.

The "little" boys - Bennett and Shannon. They were fortunate to get to go and are thrilled to be included. It's a cold weekend but they always manage. They never are lacking for food or snacks or man fun. Here they are enjoying freshly scrambled eggs for breakfast and I'd guess juice - although Shannon probably had coffee if it was available.
So while the boys were roughing it we girls decided to do a few fun things for the day on Saturday. After a "sleepover" in Mommy's bed Friday night we started a little droopy... and least Lydia and Mommy did. I think Ruth and Maggie slept just fine!

Saturday we got up and headed to the brand new Babyland General Hospital... home of the famous Cabbage Patch babies. They had property issues with the old hospital where they've been housed forever and ever and ended up moving north of the town square by a couple miles. It definitely off the beaten path but the place is much more beautiful, and big, and clean, and new, and shiny.

The inside is the same as the old place... only bigger. They have the same "birthing" tree right in the middle where we were able to see the birth of Terry Montana. Nurse Davis (in white) assisted Momma Cabbage with her delivery. :) I think I have their little spill memorized but the kids always enjoy watching more births and still long for the day when they get to pick the baby's name. Not today. Today, had they been picked, it would have been Bennett. They missed their brother in most of their activities today.

When we finished looking at all the babies and accessories and Santa (Mr. Jerry from our school) and friends - we mosied over to the local Huddle House, a place Curtis refuses to eat. We filled our bellies with a quality (?) breakfast feast. It was fun, just the 4 of us.

While we were eating we decided to continue the fun and head over to our Yonah Bowl and Skate. We just couldn't decide whether to bowl or skate. I tried to explain to the big girls that skating was probably something we should do when Bennett was home (because he loves to skate) and when Lydia had something else to do, since she doesn't skate. Poor little girl. :) So we opted for bowling.
The girls are good for about 5 frames and then it becomes very tiring. Lydia was hilarious the first few times and so stinkin cute. Then she needed to take off her bowling shoes because they made her feet feel weird. I told her she couldn't bowl without them after she tried to bowl a frame with no shoes on. I just knew she was going to bounce the 6 pound ball off her big toe and end up breaking it. She quit after frame 6 and just entertained the rest of us.

Maggie was frustrated because she couldn't figure out exactly how to roll the ball. She still can't decide if she wants to bowl right handed or left handed.. and it's hard for me to help her do it left handed. I wanted her to just do the "granny" roll (between her legs) to avoid the horrible loft thump each time she went. But she continued to try to figure it out. She even found a little heavier ball thinking it might make a difference.

Ruth got the hang of holding the ball correctly (I'm making the I love you sign!) but kept throwing it more sideways than straight. She didn't show her frustration very often. She was very pleased to knock something down... anything. And the little grin of satisfaction as she turned around to face me... priceless.

And ALL this before NOON. :)

We also went to Ingles and Rite Aid before heading home.

The big girls decided to wash the van and the car and Lydia went to play in the bedroom on her mat.
This is how I found her a little while later. She's NOT tired! :)

Ruth was actually diagnosed with strep and is on antibiotics... and Lydia was also complaining so we're treating her as well. She's NOT sick and does not need medicine! But then she can't swallow and cries at night in her sleep. Good thing I'm making her take it anyway. She slept a LONG time today... for not being sick and all. ha!

The boys will return after church on Sunday afternoon when I'm sure we'll hear lots of stories and hopefully see a few more pictures. We have to return the borrowed Rock Band we've enjoyed all week. The girls are getting very good at singing quality Beatles classic tunes. Here Comes the Sun (Ruthie) Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (Maggie) and While My Guitar Gently Weeps (ME). :) We may have to invest for Christmas... but it keeps the laundry in baskets and dishes in the sink. But it's fun quality family time!!! Right?!?! :) Sunday night we have a family commissioning of a family who are leaving for at least 3 years (last I heard). They are going to South Asia and Thomas is our friend - Lydia's age. We love him and will miss them. You too can pray for this family.

Thumb Sucking Fools!

Ok, so the title has absolutely NOTHING to do with this post. It's just that the smallest thumbsucker is snuggled up next to me this morning and she won't even let me pull it from her mouth. I'm not sure if the suction is that strong or if she uses her teeth to dig in and hold. Ok, now the title has something (albeit small) to do with this post. Love how that works? :) I should take a picture. Every now and then she'll lean over onto me or just put her tiny little hand on my arm. And then I'll lean over and sniff her head, then her arm then I end up tickling her. I'm sure she's annoyed. But she leaned first!!

So, today is Veteran's Day. We are all so thankful for those men and women who have given up so much just to serve our country. It seems so empty to say it but it's true. Someone just last week said something like... we think we're at war, but we really aren't. The soldiers are at war. We just sit in our Lazy Boys and watch the news living our normal day to day lives while they are sitting there with guns and having to watch every move they make. No, we are not at war. And it's only because our military will GO instead of having to fight on our own soil. Can you imagine what would happen around here if the action was on our own shoreline? If we had to worry about incoming bombs while driving downtown? There's no way we would function with the mindset we have today. All this entitlement stuff. Maybe we wouldn't worry so much about our government healthcare if we had armies marching through our cities. Anywho... enough of that. I am still thankful I don't have to go to war and I can sit in my chair and watch the news because of young people who are willing to leave what they have and who they know to keep me safe.

Maggie's 2nd grade class put on a performance for the veterans around here yesterday. These videos are snippets from the show. Very cute and very good job! Thanks guys. Maggie is in solid red on the front row. (you can also hear Ruth and Lydia singing along in the background) My Mom and Dad got to come up during the day and watch the one during school. Then they got to stay for lunch with the girls. Mom just raved and raved about what a good time they had and how good the food was and what fun it was to walk down the halls with all the students lining the hallways waving flags for all the veterans. What a sight! When Ruth and Lydia get to 2nd grade I'm going to have to invite my brothers too. They started listing everyone who had served in the military because I'm supposed to send in their names and pictures for the slide show. Well, I failed this year. I usually just send in the grandfathers... but they have figured out there are many more family members who qualify to be in that slide show! 2011 boys, 2011! Mark the calendar now. Show's at 10am with lunch (FREE) following.

Oh, a little news here that I haven't shared yet. A few weeks ago during church I leaned over to see what Lydia was scribbling on her paper and realized it was actually her name. She had finally started making real letters and the ones that matter! I was so shocked that I asked her at that moment if it was her name, then I leaned over and told Curtis. I'm sure the families behind us thought I was crazy for being so loud... She's making progress!! Maybe by August she'll be able to write more letters. She's such the baby!

On the work front, I have been doing charge nursing for 2 years in the NICU and the politics of it all finally got the best of me. I put in my resignation for the charge position in August. Well, due to some HR red tape and the abundance of staff nurses and the lack of a willing soul to step up... here we are in November and I'm still doing charge. It looks like I'll be "stuck" in this role for some time so I'm trying to take it in stride and just continue to do what I'm supposed to do. I hope to be able to go back to the bedside soon. I'm miss my little babies and their families. On a good note... we have a new neonatologist on staff. Now we have 3 "normal" docs to work with. They are actually friendly and nice to work alongside. Yeah!

So, enjoy the videos... I'll do fall photos one day.

Excellent Post for all my Parenting Friends

http://thepioneerwoman.com/homeschooling/2009/10/mama-don%e2%80%99t-let-your-babies-grow-up-to-be-deadbeats/comment-page-4/#comment-56010

In case you haven't become a reader of The Pioneer Woman.... Mrs G. is a frequent guest. This particular post was worth reading (in my opinion, of course).

Mortimer's Mouse - by Bennett Davidson

Mortimer’s Mouse
By Bennett Davidson

Once upon a time there was a monkey named Mortimer (which in this story is called Mort). Mort was very smart. One day the King wanted all of the town to come to his palace. The King was going to pick someone to go on a quest to look for a mouse to be his royal assistint. He was going to pull 3 names out of a jar to be in the monkey bar race to go on the quest. The person who won the race would get to go on the quest. So it was time to pull names out of the jar. The King pulled the first name out of the jar! He said in a high voice, Lovie Lamb! The King pulled the next name out of the jar, Mort Monkey! The King pulled the last name out of the jar, Tom Tortise! The next day Lovie Lamb, Mort Monkey and Tom Tortise were all exersizing. Finaly after 5 days of work they were all ready for the race. They were all warming up on the starting line of the monkey bar race. After 30 minutes the race had begun! Lovie Lamb was in the lead! Mort was catching up! Sudenly Mort was in the lead! Mort was getting closer and closer to the finish line! All of the sudden Mort had crossed the finish line! Everyone was cheering! The king came up to Mort and said, you have won the race and now you will go on a quest for a mouse to be my assistint. You will need plenty of sleep tonight so you can leave in the morning. Mort now you need to go to your hosue now and get some sleep. Meet me at 7:30am tommarow so we can get you ready. The next morning Mort and the king had met. You will need this box of cheese for the mouse when you find it. Also take this box of bannas for you. Take this backpack, flashlight, 10 dollar bill for plane tickets. Now go on your way! Mort had begun through his town. When he got out of the city limits he thought mouse holes would be a good place to find mice. After walking over bridges, through tunnels and on a place he found a mouse running through a field without a family. Mort saw the mouse and quicky asked if he would be interested in coming to be the kings assistint. The mouse said yes only if he would give him a box of cheese. It was lucky he had one in his packpack. The mouse hopped in Mort’s hands and they started walking through the field going on a plane, through tunnels and over bridges. Finaly Mort’s town was in sight! They started running and then the mouse yelled STOP! The mouse wanted to tell Mort his name. The mouse said his name was Montie and finily they started having conversations. When they got to the Kings palace the King was glad he found a mouse for his assistant. Mort and Montie almost said by to each other and the king stopped them and said Mort could visit Montie any time he wanted to and said thank you for finding a mouse to help the king and Mort visited Montie once a week and they had a great time together!

THE END

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!

Soccer season to drawing to a close. This has been a terribly wet and cold season. Fall is supposed to be hot and pleasurable. Not so much this year.

Tonight we had a couple of make-up games from earlier rained out games. Something happened to keep half of the team at home. I know several of the kids are sickly. Maggie got to play her entire game and her teacher came to watch and we were playing our good friend Leah... Maggie was showing off!! She scored at least 3 times (there's dispute over the number, Daddy thinks it was more). My camera battery died as I was following her into the goal for the 2nd one. Sigh!

Ruth and Lydia played short staffed as well. Ruth played the entire game and scored as well. There's a little dispute as to who actually touched the ball before it went across the line... but we're giving them both credit because it's cuter that way. Ruthie and Nelson worked TOGETHER to make the score. :)

Happy Happy Birthday Birthday

We just celebrated Ruthie's 6th and Bennett's 9th birthdays. Ruthie turned 6 and we spent 2 weeks having a 6, 7, and 8 year old! Those are always my favorite weeks for strangers to ask their ages. :) It freaks people out. I love freaking people out. Then, Bennett turned 9 and it wasn't so much fun to explain ages.

Ruth has asked for a booster seat last year. Easy enough, since it's necessity! This year she had a doll in mind. She said she wanted either a Build-a-Bear (like Lydia's), American Girl, or Cabbage Patch doll. Curtis and I both concurred that we are beyond the stuffed animal stage... or at least would very much LIKE to be beyond that stage! So, we researched the American Girl options. Those things are $100 a piece. Whoever heard of a $100 doll? Crazy people out there buy those things... crazy!

Sounds like us? Whatever! :) We've seen American Girl before. My sister's girls all have one. My brother's girls both have one. Or at least that's the rumor around our house. We've watched a few movies too. Molly - about the dad who was off at war. Kit - who survived the depression. Well, Kit has a best friend. Her name is Ruthie. Perfect?!?!! We told Ruthie she could have an American Girl doll... but we drove to the mall first without saying a word. She can't exactly read road signs and when Bennett and Maggie had it figured out they were just as excited about getting there as we were. When we showed her where we were going her face erupted into pure smiles. We let her go into the store and peruse the different characters. She (we) had talked about the Ruthie doll but we all wanted her to look around at all of them before deciding. So, we met up with Grandma and Grandpa for the shopping adventure. The other 3 kids did so well with helping her decide without being grumpy that it wasn't about them. They all wanted to show me what they would want IF it were their birthday, but none of them whined or complained at all. Yeah! My preaching on the way down worked! She picked out her Ruthie then had to get an outfit (PJs) from Grandma so she could have something else to wear. She's actually taken good care of her so far. Whew!

Her birthday dinner desire was IHOP. Cheap - if the kids pick a kid's meal and you go after 4pm. We were there at 2pm and they all wanted LOTS of food. Our waiter was very sweet. In fact, I believe several of the waiters were very sweet... but we weren't in rural north Georgia either. He quieted the entire restaurant to announce her birthday and then had the whole place and all the wait staff sing happy birthday to her. She was so embarrassed. Cute! Cute! Cute!

I'll have to get pictures from Grandma's camera one day.

As for Bennett's birthday... that was our fall break trip to Chattanooga (see previous post). We celebrated Monday morning by spanking his little behiney 9 times... each of us. :) He just giggles. At the end of our day, before heading south for home, we found the Grand Opening of Chattanooga Cupcakes and went in for birthday cake. He picked out the chocolate cake, chocolate icing with chocolate ganache inside. The girls picked a sprinkles topped one. I chose Key Lime (YUM) and Curtis picked a different chocolate flavored option. We made a big deal and sang happy birthday to him in front of everyone, which he LOVED! He ate his entire cupcake. Ruth decided she didn't like the sprinkles but my Key Lime was tastier. Of course, I shared! Maggie and Lydia finished off the other. Then we headed home... and slept. :)

We're still searching for the "perfect" Indiana Jones Lego set that includes Indy in his proper attire with his hat. The boy knows!

Now we get a month off before all the December birthdays 8th t0 31st (Grandpa, Aunt Holley, Eddie, Emily, AnnaGrace, Tyler, & Maggie). Whew!

Oh - Sept/Oct birthdays... 15th to 12th Jared, Aunt Leslie, Zack, Adam, Briella, Ruth, & Bennett.

October Stuff and more

Each time I start a new post I say how long it has been and how busy I have been since the last post. So, I'm not going to say it anymore. It's a given. We are in that stage and will remain here until after all the girls are married and given away! I'm accepting it. We are busy. With 3 in school and 4 in soccer we keep busy just from those things. Soccer season is short lived and only 2 days a week... until you multiply that by 4 kids. Some weeks we have played soccer each night which seems to stress out the adults more than the players. I love watching them play and learn new tricks. Maggie seems to be the natural athlete in the bunch, if we have one.

School is moving along well. We just got report cards back for this quarter and they all were all A's. Not such a difficult feat in the lower grades but I was very surprised about Bennett. He is the ONLY one in his class with all A's at this point. We are proud... slightly. :)

We just took a quick vacation to Chattanooga for our fall break and Bennett's 9th birthday. I have 200 pictures to sift through to put some here and a few videos as well. It was a terrific time all together and away from our responsibilities. This was the first time we've been "nap free" with all 4 and were able to go all day doing whatever we wanted. We visited the aquarium, saw some collegiate rowing, went to a children's museum, did a lot of walking, climbed aboard the Chattanooga Choo Choo, visit Rock City, went swimming and had some yummy food. At the hotel we went swimming each day and it's such a nice time now that the eldest two can actually swim safely. Lydia is a fish with her floaties on and jumps in and swims through crowds of strangers without fear. Ruth is still a little reluctant to get too far from safety and the crowds really freak her out. She spends most of her time in the hot pool.

This was a shot of the girls in the museum.

The kids at the top of Lookout Mountain, Georgia. Rock City. See Seven States.

Just outside the Aquarium... family photo shot op.

More Video from the Geeky Band Nerd

My friends, the people I hang with and whom I love... make fun of me. They talk about me while I'm gone and make fun. It's ok. I'm used to it and I'm ok with it. They are also the only ones who read my blog so I'm ok with telling them... Go Ahead... make fun! I'm enjoying my band videos over and over. And I'm going to DCI next year when they come to the big ATL... and I won't take you with me! By Golly!

and I'll wear my hair however I feel!! Until I can get it all cut off again. :)

Enjoy my videos and laugh... I still get chills when the beat penetrates my whole being.

This last video is so you can hear the voice of my friend... screaming at the players. The coach in the stands... I love that voice!

Alrighty then.... if you just watched all 3 of these videos.... well, you have no room to make fun of me!! :)

Georgia Tech Memories.... 18 years later.

I feel really, really OLD even saying it... but it has been 18 years since I was at Bobby Dodd stadium, dressed in the band geek uniform and playing my heart out. Jumping up and down. Go Jackets! And trying to be a perfect RAT. I was there for one football season while I was in nursing school at Georgia Baptist College of Nursing. GBCON was a very small, all girls, no extra curricular activities kind of nursing school. We weren't there to have fun. Georgia Tech was just across the interstate and they didn't really care who joined their band, as long as we played. So I did! It was the 1991 season... and they had won a championship in 1990 so they were good times. I hooked up with some old high school band friends and played like old times. I had great fun. But I hadn't been back to the campus since that year. We've been in the area for random things (The Varsity) but no games, no school activities. I had the opportuity to join an old friend for a GT game this week. She said she was just looking for someone who liked Tech and her enough to do it... I almost turned it down. But it fell between my work days and Curtis agreed to do the soccer run that night. So I went. GT played Clemson... an ACC rival and the game always proves to be exciting. I really didn't care. I just enjoyed being there with Lenee and cheering in the midst of a crowd of Tiger fans. We met up after she got done with work and scooted across town to her secret $5 parking lot. She's always proud to share a find with the right people. :) We walked through the tunnel (which I don't think existed 18 years ago) and we found the band gathering on the steps (which I don't think existed 18 years ago). They played their pep songs and the crowd cheered and then they marched into the stadium. Now that, I remember! We hurried in to our seats so we could see everyone come out on the field. The game was very exciting as GT blew ahead for a 24-7 lead at the half. The second half they let Clemson come back and tie it up so everyone would stay to the end. ha! It ended up being a nail biter all the way to the end and Tech kicked the winning field goal with just 1 minute left. After the game we scavenged up some pom-poms for the kids... to make them happy for having me gone another night of the week. They're easily pleased. :)

I couldn't have had a better time... I don't think.

The memories came flooding back.

I still feel old.

More video soon.

September News - photos added

I really can't believe that this is already September. I have lots of things to share from August and no time to sit and write. I guess I could sit and write after the kids are in bed... but then my brain is a bit slower and my eyes a bit heavier. The big kids have had an entire month of school and so far things are plugging along. Ruthie got her "clip moved" twice the very first week... but has since settled into the routine and is learning to be still and listen. :) Bennett even has had a few issues with listening to instructions and doing what he's supposed to. Surprising to us... yet, not really. He has a difficult time doing what we tell him here at home because he always has a better idea, reason, plan, distraction, etc. And... much to my surprise, Maggie has been the perfect little student thus far. At least as far as we know. :) Surprised because in the past two years she has been the one to bring home the notes for misbehaving. Maybe she's growing into a fine young lady.
This past weekend we had our first bout of real illness. Curtis was home alone and ended up at the doc's office... with strep in the middle children. I was away with the ladies in our church at the Women of Faith conference... and he was home with febrile girls. I'm thankful he doesn't get all worked up over things like that. And I also didn't have to worry that they weren't being cared for and medicated as needed.
Speaking of WOF... we had a great time. It was a new group of ladies... well, a lot of new faces. With a church the size of ours it takes something like this to meet new people and learn a little about them. I don't get to go to the women's classes because of my own involvement teaching Sunday school, Cubbies/Puggles, helping with preschool choir, working, etc. This year, though, I have given up ALL responsibilities at church and maybe I'll get to do some of those "grown up" things again... at least for a year. :)
I have some fun photos to get loaded here... sooner or later. My Mom went with me again and it's always fun to spend some time away from the kids with her. As a GRANDMA she can't say "no" to them... so when they interrupt our games and conversations.... well, it's good to be away.
She got to meet Sandi Patty in the elevator of our hotel. SP was often a visitor in our home growing up... on the LP, CD, and tape players. I was "tortured" by having to listen along at the conference... :).
Steven Curtis Chapman also sang at the WOF conference. He's always good, but this year he displayed a more emotional side (with the loss of his daughter) instead of the stand up and dance songs. I have video to insert here -->Both his boys were playing on this tour... bass and drums.

Soccer is now running full swing. All 4 practice on Tuesdays and Thursday but soon Bennett will start playing games on Monday and Saturday... making for a very busy few weeks. But before we're ready, it'll be over and we'll once again sit at home wondering where we can go and what we can do. :)
More soccer pictures here -->

Must go nap for work... will load pictures in the next day or so, but not right now!!

BTW... both kitties now have new homes. Yeah!

A Whole New View

The big girls and I went last week to get our eyes rechecked. It's been a year since Ruth and I got our glasses and it was time to reassess. Maggie has also been complaining about everything being blurry and had many school induced headaches last spring. We were checked and the doc said we all needed new scripts (of course). Mine haven't changed that much, but I could tell they weren't quite right as I wore them so I'm happy to pay for new lenses! Ruth, now that she's older, can verbalize her level of blurriness a little better... so her lenses are actually worse, but only because she knows how to tell him what she sees better. Maggie has a reading issue and hopefully after a couple years, will grow out of her lens need. She also needs to train herself to sit with her reading further away from her face.
We picked up Maggie and my glasses last week but we had to wait a week for Ruth's to come in.
Here's the picture of the girls tonight... mostly for Grandma. :)

School Begins Again...

We started school on August 7th... a Friday. It wasn't "real" school, as the girls informed me later that day. REAL school didn't start until Monday. I tend to agree with them on this one. Bennett is now in 3rd grade and started a new school... the Intermediate School, which houses 3-6 grades. It's a new experience and so far it's ok. Our very next door neighbor is a teacher there and is a good resource when we need information. His teacher is the "wicked witch" of 3rd grade. Her words, not ours! We heard from many people that she was the one to challenge and grow the kids. That's what we wanted for Bennett. His 2nd grade year was a bit, um... well, less than challenging! We've got some ground to make up. We have high hopes for him. He has many of his same friends in his class again this year. It seems they many travel in this group for a while. His boy friends that we like! :) Ethan, Nick... soccer buddies too and the ones who came and played in the mud at the beginning of summer.
Maggie is in 2nd grade and we have a new (recommended) teacher for her. Another of the more structured teachers at the primary school. Maggie is pleased and I'm thankful for stuff to do with her at home. She is suddenly reading quite well. I put on her goals for the year to become a more fluent and animated reader, as opposed to the Dick & Jane cadence. Then she sat on the couch tonight and read a couple books to her siblings and it was like she was on stage and was telling a story. It surprised me. So now I'm sure her teacher thinks I'm a dork for not knowing she can read so well. It was sudden I tell ya!! :)
Ruth started Kindergarten... FINALLY!! She's been waiting forever to get to go to school. She wants to do it all alone, buy her lunch, walk in alone, ride the bus, etc. She's going to be bored soon. She has a great, sweet teacher that we met during spring soccer season. Her daughter was on the same team as Ruth's and is now in the same K class together. They meet up each morning to say hello and check what's new. Ruth wants to be Ruthie at school so I'm trying to get used to writing that on all her stuff. She has already gotten in trouble twice this first week, had to move her card to yellow. She quickly confessed as she's stepping onto the front porch when she got home. After a few questions and many explanations... she's finished her work and is playing while she waits for her classmates. But she's blaming Dixie, another little girl, for causing her to play and talk. Then she grins and I'm supposed to stay serious and discipline appropriately. I was glad Curtis stepped in because he can keep a straight face when necessary. She's terribly cute!
So, the first week has been successful for the most part. Homework was mostly completed. Reading was mostly read. Lunches were mostly eaten.
Bennett also started soccer practice so fall running has begun.
I love it!

More Flags. More Fun. 6-Flags!

We took our end of the summer trip to 6-Flags with the big kids the other day. They earn free tickets during the school year and we always promise to take them. It was getting to the end of summer and the days were limited, but we managed. We took cousin Micah with us this year. It's always more fun with more people and he otherwise wouldn't get to go 'cause his Momma's a very protective type of Momma! :)
We also met up with another family... the Jennings. They have 2 girls either side of Maggie. We like hanging with them too.
Micah has never been to 6-Flags so I tried to take lots of pictures for him, so he can recount his adventures to his folks and sisters. Leslie decided that particular day would be a good day to have an appendectomy... even though we had left our little girls with her for the day. She was worried her pain had something to do with cancer again so when the diagnoses of appendicitis came, it was almost welcomed. Mom retrieved the little girls for us so we could stay and play. Thanks Mom! We started off our day on time but 30 minutes down we realized our tickets were still hanging on the fridge. So we ended up adding an extra hour of drive time... just for fun. Summertime in Georgia is iffy when it comes to afternoon thunderstorms and we were threatened a few times but it never did rain on us until we were leaving, or at least ready to leave. We rode the things we wanted. Played in the water slide, called Skull Island. Curtis and I realized every year is harder on our bodies and eventually... they'll have to ride alone. EEeek!

Micah's first ride was on the Dahlonega Mine Train. It reminds us of the good ole days. It's been there for us like the Mind Bender and the Scream Machine. It's an old wooden coaster and it's jerky... but mild. We have started with this ride for 3 years in a row... sort of a tradition now.

We met up with the Jennings and rode some of the milder rides, Hot Air Balloons, Rockin' Tug Boat, Splashwater Falls, Wyle E Coyote roller coaster. We took a break for lunch and while they ate pizza in the park we went back to the van and had a picnic on a sewer drain! Sort of... but it was covered! This saved us several dollars! At the end of the day we had spent $20 total in the park (not including tickets) and we had all you can drink liquid and 2 HUGE pretzels for our afternoon snacks.

After lunch we started on the Log Flumes and got a little wet and then went to Skull Island, where the kids played on the water slides for a little more than an hour. This also gave the adults time to chill... although "sit and chill" didn't happen because you're also trying to keep up with 5 little people to make sure they don't get hurt, lost or stolen. We all survived and I even danced the Funky Electric Slide with Maggie, Meg and Anne. We were a hit, I'm sure! I had to convince Maggie that these people would never see us again and they really didn't care if she danced in front of them. One hop, slide to the left, slide to the right, criss cross! Everybody clap your hands... I digress!

We parted ways with the Jennings so they could go get soaked on Thunder River while we glided peacefully thought the Monster Plantation, which is now called the Monster Mansion. A little freakier at the end and a little more entertaining to scare little people by reaching up and touching their arms when they don't expect it! Not that we would have done that or anything. I'm just saying!

Micah really enjoyed his first Scream Machine experience!

Bennett, at the end of the Ninja. This ride is not as popular because for the past two years we've just walked up and gotten right on. It turns upside down and does some corkscrew action that gives a body aches. Maggie's still just a wee bit shy of being tall enough. Probably a good thing!

The storm started rolling in and we had one last ride to take... one of Maggie's requests, the train. Just a plain 'ole train that goes around the park. The bottom fell out while we were riding but it was ok since we were covered. But when we got off we were moistened just a bit. We stopped by the gift shop for souvenirs but the kids all agreed there was nothing they really wanted. I wanted to get a photo frame or something like that but we can never find those. It's always those crazy stuffed toys and cups with their names... but no one ever prints names like Bennett, Maggie or Micah. It stopped raining so we headed to the van, but the break was short lived and we got drenched in the parking lot. We were thankful for towels. We ate the rest of our lunches on our way to Grandpa and Grandma's house where we stayed the night, got the little girls and traded out the big kids. They get a turn staying at Grandpa/ma's now. Spoiling beyond comprehension! But like she says... What happens at Grandma's stays at Grandma's. I'm not complaining!

As Summer Winds Down

I'm a delinquent! I've had this post started for many days and I can't make myself finish it and actually push publish. I have so much to add. Pictures to share. Stories to tell. But I also want it finished so I can start again. :)

The kids have been taking turns sleeping out in the tent, on the porch. They stay up late and wake up later. Summer is a fun time for all of us. The pressures of being places on time is lifted... for at least a few weeks. We casually sleep in (past 0700) and leisurely eat breakfast. I've been working a lot of night shifts at work this summer and bringing home biscuits in the morning is fun, easy and a special treat for the kids. We've stayed home this summer. No trips to the beach. No vacation anywhere. That's ok. It really is. I would rather go to the beach when 90% of the other people are back home where they belong. Like Columbus day or Labor Day or some other day when we can scoot away for a long weekend. I wanted to go back to Charleston because last year it was rush, rush as well as rainy. I also wanted to go to Disney.... THAT's not happening! So, instead we play around the house, go to playgroup with our friends, watch the laundry pile up, and send the eldest two to camp. If you read the earlier posts you know Bennett went for a week with Maggie then got to go back for two more weeks with his cousins. It was a LONG time! I was there for several of the days as well. It was a great week. I still don't think I've caught up on the rest, or lack of. I would stay the whole 6 weeks of summer camp... if they would let me, if Curtis would let me, if work would let me. That's a whole lot of if's... and I'm pretty sure most of them would say NO! I just don't like having to grow up and be the responsible adult. Sigh!

We had a week with the Rose family too. After we sent the boys off to camp... we did girlie things like shop for shoes and paint nails. Aunt Lara did all that stuff. I just went along for the ride...

we also made tie dyed t-shirts with all the kids. It was almost painful for the eldest of the Roses but we managed.

There are more pictures. I can't find them. Our main computer crashed and I moved them somewhere. I'll get them back one day.

In the meantime, Curtis is shopping our tax free weekend for a new computer or tower or something that will function more than 2% of the time.

Hopefully, I'll get back in the swing of things. I think part of it is working night shifts. As much as I enjoy doing it I am much less productive during my time at home... simply because I'm just trying to stay awake.

More soon... or later. Who knows?!?!

Boys Go To Camp

We had the extreme privilege to send the boys to Strong Rock for a 2-week session. It's the last session of the summer and they had some empty spots... so Friday when we went to pick Bennett up from his first session they made an announcement about the spots. We tried to talk Seth & Leslie into sending Micah. I didn't think it was going to work... but in the end they decided it was ok. Leslie had a hard time having him gone for 2 weeks but the reports we were getting from camp was that Micah was non-stop running... sheer joy!

We also talked Lara into sending Jared as they were driving down from Pennsylvania for this same time frame. It worked out perfectly. The opportunity would never come again.

Then we managed to figure out a way to get Rob & Stacy's Adam to camp as well. 4 cousins. All in the same cabin. All at the same lunch table. All having the time of their lives. Jared and Adam are on the opposing tribe from Bennett and Micah. It worked out! We'll certainly have some tribal cheers and songs to hear once they return home. A little competition is a healthy thing.

Here are the boys one lunchtime... after having read some mail from family back home.

Jared (9) Micah (8) Bennett (8) Adam (9)... all within 18 months of each other.

It's been a long 2 weeks (3 for Bennett) and the mother's are counting down the days until they return. I'm sure the boys are all counting down the days too... but for different reasons.
I'm going to camp on Tuesday and will work as the camp nurse for the rest of the week. It will be fun to see how they're doing instead of just hearing stories. I hope there are no major health issues. These are big kids! :)