Take me out to the ball game

We went to Mormon day at our local baseball field to watch a baseball game.  It was dollar hot dog day.  The concession stand person said they have never sold so many hot dogs.  I thought she has never had so many Mormon's there before, we are a frugal people!

Holly loved hang out with the other girls from our stake.  Some older girls (actually young adults)  took the kids to the kids place area to play.  Can you dig Holly's side pony tail?  She did it herself.

Josh trying to get the game.

And us, should never go with someone taking a picture going up, but going down. I love when we get to go together as family.  One of the best parts was we got in free because of a reading thing the kids did.  They each got two free tickets.  I think this may have to be a family tradition as long as we can cash in on that.  We didn't stay for the whole game or we would have been there to midnight it was slow going but Don and I enjoyed it.

Fourth of July fun

We went to Mississippi for the fourth of July.  We decided to take a road trip to Shiloh and see the historical site.

This is inside the museum.

Here we are at the cemetery, did I mention it was quite HOT!

Checking out the headstone.

We also went to some cemeteries in Mississippi to see some family headstones.  Every year before school is out we make a list of fun things to do, going to a cementary was one of Holly's ideas.

Holly in grandma's curlers.  Just had to add it because it is cute.

First Family Campout

Well, I brought my camera but forgot to bring extra batteries. So no pictures, when Katie emails me some pics I will post them.

We went with our friends the Teed's, camping. It was a quick trip, but I loved it. I don't know who was more excited me or the kids. I started packing 2 days before hand and our trip would only last about 24 hours.

Katie, the kids and I went up earlier on Friday and got a site and started setting up camp. Yep, we put up both tents, started a fire, and started dinner (roasted wieners). The guys carpooled up and met up with us after they got of work. Josh was so excited. Wow! look at our tent. Wow! look at the fire. You know I was doing the same thing inside. I love the campfire smell, I love making Smores, I love playing games, I love playing in the water, I love Don telling pretend ghost stories, I love Don pointing out the stars, I loved being together as a family. I would have stayed longer.

Holly loved the water, she kept catching minoes with her bare hands. I think she loved everything except , "The dirty part" on her marshmellow. I think she thought it was cool to pee in the river, play with her flashlight, and get to play the whole time.

Josh loved every new thing. He definetly liked the swimming, and the smores, sleeping in a tent.

Don loved that he didn't get eatten by bugs, playing games around the campfire, and squirting us all with water guns.

I can't wait to go back.

Family Truip to Atlanta

In April we decided to take the kids to the Atlanta Temple open house. We drove up Friday evening and stayed at a hotel. The kids were way impressed. We even got to eat there and there was fruit for Holly and doughnuts for Josh. Does life get any better?





We packed our Saturday. First is was of to the temple. The tour was quick, but the kids thought it was neat. Holly loved the chandlers and Josh said that he felt the Spirit.

Me and the kids in the courtyard.

Next we went to the Fernbank Natural History Museum. Josh LOVED the dinosaurs. I wish we had more time here. We found the coolest kid play place in the last 15 mins we were there.

Don let me get a couple of goofy pictures of him.

After dinner at Outback another exciting and special thing for the kids (and mom and dad too) we headed over to Stone Mountain where once the sunsets they do this amazing laser show off of the mountain. This is a carving in the mountain of General Lee and part of the confederate army. (I tried to take pictures of the show I just couldn't get the right setting).

We spent one more night and drove home. We really had a fun family time.

Ladies Night

Let me just start by saying I wish that I had more pics, my camera was not behaving. We went to Panera bread and grabbed some dinner, yum, and a lot of gabbing.

Some of us then went bowling. I was so surprised I bowled 105 my usual is some where between the 54 to 65 range. Thanks Alice for the healthy competition. I love going out with friends!

I love free days!

A couple of Saturday's ago, The Children's Museum had a free day. It was a really neat place. They had all sorts of stuff for the kids to do and see, and it didn't bore us parents either. This is an old school that was transformed into an interactive museum. They had a puppet room, water room, train room, and this huge life/kid size doll house.

What I found interesting about the doll house was that after both kids looked around the whole house Holly went straight for the kitchen that was fully stocked with play toys. While Josh found the nearest bookcase found a good book and sat down to start reading.

First Grade Field Trip

Josh had his first, first grade field trip. I chaperoned! Who knew that you had to pay to be a parent on a field trip. This is my little group of kids that I was in charge of. For the most part they were a good group. We went to the Little Ponderosa Zoo. It is a shelter for animals that either have been abused or abandoned. They had kangaroos, just look at that little Joey.

They had pony rides, very exciting. And all the kids were thoroughly grossed out when the horses pooped.

I loved the sign by the camels and llamas. "Beware of Spit"

Josh thought this deer was really cute.

My favorite part of it was when the owner had the kids gather around this cage had more fencing in 2 feet in front of it. There was a monkey in there that was acting all crazy. Biting it's own foot etc. He told the kids how this monkey had lived in a little cage in the kitchen of a meth lab. The people had it there so they could see if the fumes were getting deadly. If the monkey died then they would know to get out. This monkey he said was mean and crazy and had been effected by the drugs. He said if anyone ever offers you drugs or even talks to you about drugs, I want you to remember this monkey. Do you want to be like him? Crazy, lonely, mean to everyone? This is what drugs do to you. Don't do drugs. I felt like it was a powerful lesson.

I tried to keep the kids attention along the way by playing eye spy. When we were waiting our turn for the pony rides. Red light, green light when we walked around looking at the animals, and Do as I'm doing while waiting to get back on the bus on the way home. Josh yells out No, mom, that's a church one. I just said shhh and kept playing.

Trunk or Treat

Halloween was on a Sunday this year, we didn't have big trick or treating plans, but we did have big trunk or treating plans. My neighbors the Angel's invited us to go to their churches trunk or treat on Friday night and then we went to our own churches on Saturday night.





I invited my friends the Roses and the Teed's to come with me.

Holly was a princess and Josh a knight in "Sharping" Armor.

Teed kids, Fay, Mabel and Charlie

The whole gang.

Doesn't this next picture look like a line up?

The Roses: Benson, Adalyn, Brielle, Holly, Josh and Benson. Super hero's Rule!

The trunk or treat was crazy. There was a live band, games, hot dogs, fried oreo's (didn't try one), hot coco (it was stinkin' cold outside) , candy and long, long, long lines. I was so glad to have my friends there because it made the time go by so much faster. Thank goodness for blankets and coats and friends to warm us up.

This was one of the trucks handing out candy. Clifford the big red truck?

Fall Festival

Our Stake ( this is several a group of several of our congregations. Several ward, congregations, makes a stake. Several stakes makes a region and so forth and so forth. We like organization.) through a fall festival. My kids had to eat the chili from the chili contest, which they weren't happy to do, but after that they were in heaven. There was a bounce house, a carousel, face painting, popcorn, homemade root beer, crafts and balloons for all. It was a great time! I hope they do it again.

Poor Josh just barely fit on the carousel, but he was happy. He had a monster painted on his face and Holly had one cheek with a witch and a bat on the other. To round out our evening we went and got pumpkins at Aldi's (only 1.99 a flat price and their a decent size!) The kids had the best weekend ever!

The circus is in town

As a family we went to the Circus this last Friday night. (I don't know why I didn't take a picture of Josh). It was pretty cool. Josh's favorite part was the tiger tamer. Espcecially when he lite a hoop with fire and the tigers jumped through it. He also liked when the girls came out riding the elephants. Holly wanted to know several different times, "Mommy, where are the pants and shirt? Mommy they forgot to put pants on! Mommy, where are their clothes?" Those circus girls sure do dress like Vegas girls.

We did really love it I took more pics, but many of them didn't turn out. There were tigers, elephants, sheep dogs, ponies, spining girls, flipping boys, a contortionist, and a few clowns. It was Josh, Holly, and Don's first time to the circus. Thanks for the tickets!

Booms Day!

Last Sunday evening we went to Booms Day. I am not even sure what Booms day is, but they do a huge firework display, so we decided to go downtown and see it. We met some friends on top of this parking garage (ours is the gold car, good luck figuring out which it is). We decided to by pass all the vendors and craziness and went to go inside the sun sphere. I have never been there. Here's us.

Then we headed over to one of the parks, this one is by the water park.

Everyone had a great time, and when I say everyone I mean everyone. This turny thingy was really fun. The other husband, Heath was totally spinning kids off of it. I thought I had to give it a try. (it's harder to hold onto than it looks).

Don spinning the kids in a cage. Doesn't that sound awful!

Don and I in front of the sun sphere and the water park. Our friends kids went in and as we were watching Don kept saying I bet I could run through there and not get wet. Well I guess he thought it would be more fun to throw me in. Luckily I am very squirmy and he knows me enough to know when I am serious. Hey it was cool out and jeans don't dry that fast. I know I'm no fun.

Finally fire works. Holly watched them from the hood of our car and on Dons shoulders.

It was one of the best shows I'd seen in along time. We had a great time!