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.

Toothless

"T" lost his 5th...well no...his third...but not really....his first tooth today. Our story began last summer when "T" fell and knocked out his upper two front teeth. He got a pediatric partial so for almost a year "T" looked as if he had a full set of teeth. Then last spring he had his "fake" teeth knocked out at school. Someone came down the slide too fast and kicked him in the face. That event was so traumatic that the poor kid chose not to get a second partial. So since spring "T" has been missing his two front teeth. Today at school his first naturally loose tooth came out on it's own. Poor guy-there is a good likelihood (since his other bottom center tooth is loose) that he may have all 4 front teeth missing at once before any new ones grow in. However he has adeptly learned to bite on the side of his mouth.

"J" is missing a tooth too-she knocked one out last summer (photo) about a week after "T" did.

All's Fair in Love and War

Why oh why do I insist that we visit the "County Fair" year after year. A more appropriate title would be County Money Pit. I was lured in yet again this year by the prospect of the Alligator Wrestling show...which was, in reality, a guy dressed like the Crocodile Hunter chasing a tiny alligator around a make shift baby pool. The children did enjoy feeding the farm animals and they very much enjoyed the balloon dart toss (which cost 10 dollars for approximately 17 seconds of dart throwing fun). Poor "J" was too short to go most of the rides. And perhaps the highlight for me was going on my first Farris wheel ride...my husband made me go...and since I was pretty sure that if I did not ride along my children would fall to their death...I climbed aboard. I kept my eyes shut the entire time. It didn't help that "T" loudly exclaimed..."we are all going to die" while laughing maniacally. At least I got some great photos.

4th Birthday

My daughter's birthday is today. I can't believe she is 4 years old. It is getting harder and harder to claim my extra pounds are "baby fat." I was so worried because five kids in her class didn't RSVP at all and several more canceled the day of the party. But I have to say it was wonderful having a small group. We had 8 kids and a huge gym to ourselves. I have never seen a group of kids have such a blast. "J" LOVED the rope swing. Everyone had tons of fun. It was such a great day.

Let's get ready to blog

It has been years since we updated our website. This "blogging" thing seems like an easy alternative and a great way to keep friends and family up to date. I hope that we can share photos and stories. Maybe you would like to start your own blog.