The (Obligatory) Family Photo

Well we survived it again, the annual obligatory family photo session. The photographer this year was a saint. You have no idea how difficult it is to get my children to smile (and at the same time). What follows is the result of many threats and bribes.





J's School Pictures

Crash Bang Boom

This has been an eventful week. On Monday afternoon I was driving "J" to speech therapy when I was seriously rear-ended. Apparently, according to the witness, the other driver was talking on her cell phone, tail gating, and not actually looking when she slammed into me. "J" and I were OK. My car suffered minor damage considering how strong the impact felt. The other drivers car was totaled. She bounced off of me and crashed into a really large thick metal mail box post. I only wish I had a photo of her car to share. Suffice it to say her car looked like she hit a telephone pole.

On Tuesday we woke up to discover that D's car had a dead battery.

Then today we woke up only to find that the rental had a very flat tire.

I am not sure what will happen tomorrow but I plan on getting a good nights sleep so I can be prepared.

While you were sleeping

This could have never happened if "D" were awake. But while he was napping "J" lured the neighbor's cat into our playroom. "J" absolutely loves animals. She especially loves the orange and white cat that lives across the street. This poor sweet cat was abandoned by his owners and now the lady across the street feeds him. I am sure he enjoyed his little nap on the chair with "J". Update: the orange and white cat now uses our cat door and comes and goes as he pleases. Whoops!

Boo

Wow! what a GREAT Halloween. Maybe it was because for the first time "D" and I let the kids walk up to doors alone while we waited in the street-yelling out "say trick-or-treat" and don't forget "thank you". Less walking for mom and dad is always good. Or maybe it was because for the first time neither child had a complete meltdown 1/2 a mile away from the house. Whatever the reason the evening was a complete sucess. There were tons of families out-kids running around everywhere. One neighbor had created a haunted "lawn" with a lighted spooky trail and multiple special effects. Awesome. The kids loved it. The key to our success was going over to the other side of our neighborhood where more kids live. I love our secluded corner of the neighborhood-but when it come to trick-or-treating....it isn't too great. Jill had a party at school-thus the two costumes.

It seemed like a good idea at the time.

It happens every year. I see a cute magazine photo and decide to try to duplicate it at home. The project in question this year was "bug cupcakes". What a fun project for the children to make one afternoon. But sadly each year I completely forget that someone makes 100K a year to artfully design and create fun to do at-home projects that are completely impossible to actually make at home. First of all it is impossible to actually find the "easy to find" ingredients at any store. Secondly the project is difficult for an average adult to complete and not even a possibility for a child. And the magazine article never mentions that your kitchen will be a complete disaster when you are finished. Here are our results. Enjoy.
J's creation

T's cupcakes

What they are supposed to look like

Cupcakes for the Fall Festival at school

The Middle of Nowhere

Beautiful Amicalola Falls

"Hiking" to the falls

Picking Pumpkins

"T" took this photo-we are impressed!

"monster faces" the kids favorite way to pose

My husband and I think it is fun to surprise the children with weekend "outings". This weekends outing was to Burt's Pumpkin Patch and nearby Amicalola state park in the north Georgia mountains. When going on surprise "outings" we try not to reveal the destination which I am starting to think is more fun for my husband and I than for the kids. After driving about 30 minutes this conversation ensued:

Son:"do you need a map"?
Husband: "we have a map (pointing to our GPS attached to the windshield)
Son: "dad do you EVEN know where we are"?
Husband: "yes son"
Son: "Well I know where we are, we are in the middle of nowhere"

The pumpkin patch was fun...well the sort of fun you have with five hundred other families that have made the same 2 hour drive from Atlanta to enjoy a peaceful and serene (traffic, crying kids, long lines) afternoon in the mountains.

After the pumpkin patch we hiked to Amicalola falls which were quite beautiful despite being crammed onto a tiny viewing platform with about 20 other day hikers.

If you asked the children what the best parts of day were I think this is what they would say. "T" : "not being stung by a bee" and "J" petting every dog that came within 100 yards" OK I added the 100 yards part.

Fall is in the Air

The days are getting cooler, the nights are getting longer and festivals are popping up on every corner. This Saturday we attended a community festival and the kids had a great time. "J" got to hold a rooster and "T" tried holding a piglet-a first for both children. The children also enjoyed sno cones, face painting, and crafts.