Eight

D,

This morning when I went to wake you up, you were already awake and after I sang happy birthday to you , you gave me the biggest grin and said "I'm eight now". You are so excited to grow up and be a big kid. I want to stall time and let you be a little boy for just a little bit longer. Mostly only for selfish reasons though. You have always had an old soul in a kid body. I just want you to stay that little snuggly mama's boy forever. Maybe you'll just be a big mama's boy instead? You do still love to snuggle.

You are growing to be such a little man lately. You are more confident than ever and more assertive with people who would otherwise take advantage of your sweet personality. Its been good for my heart to see you thriving socially and making new friends all the time. You've always been so much more shy than your little brother but you are coming out of your shell more and more, showing off your fun, caring side to more people.

Second grade is treating you well so far. You are enjoying the little bits of extra freedom your personality grants you especially. You are the kid that teachers trust to run errands for them. Even last year you were the kid that your teacher trusted to take other kids places like the nurse or office to check out. You are trustworthy and its good that your teachers are seeing it. Academically, you are thriving too. Math is not your thing but you make it happen. You get it honest kid, sorry.

Baseball is still your thing. You have grown a lot on the field in the last year too. Its crazy how much skill and determination you show on the field. You want to be the best and want to learn. Your coaches have all said how impressed with your drive and how well you take direction. Its shows in your playing too. You are quite the slugger and have settled into the pitcher/ second base rotation with more experienced kids and are showing them a thing or two. To say I'm proud is and understatement. Of course all that baseball and your second favorite pastime, swimming, means you are built like a rock. Tall and slim but literally all muscle.

Of course you also welcomed your little brother Bae with an open heart this year too. I knew you would. You've always had this ease about you when it comes to babies. They always just adore you and he is no exception. You get a little rough with him some times without meaning too but as he gets bigger, I'm sure he will make an excellent wrestling buddy just like Kai. You were so excited to see him for the first time. I will never forget the way your face lit up when you walked into the hospital room and saw him laying there on the bed with me. It was like excitement and a sense of peace all rolled into one. It was as healing to you as it was Michael and me. Like a puzzle piece just clicked int place in your heart.

I am so proud of you D. You are strong in ways beyond your years, you are kind to every one you meet, and you are so very smart. I can't wait to see what the next few years bring you. They will be a period of immense growth, and while I don't think I am ready for it, I know you will handle it with the same grace you handle everything else with. I will always be right here behind you, in awe, if you need me my love.

Love always,
Mama

Monster 6.0

My Sweet Monster,

Today you turn six. Six hurts my heart more than five did or some reason. You are just so excited about it though and its infectious. You have been giving us the countdown for weeks on how many days until your birthday and I have been impressed at how well you have kept track. Then you woke up this morning all excited because its finally here! You opened most of your presents yesterday and you loved the toys you got but your face when you opened the Skylanders game is one I won't soon forget. Pure joy! You get to do show and tell at kindergarten all week for your birthday week and I can already tell you are going to run out of days before you run out of things you want to take.

This past year seems like such a blur. You have grown physically by leaps and bounds. Getting taller and stronger by the day it seems. You have officially outgrown your big brother in the weight department and are getting close to doing the same in the height department as well. I still hold to my stance that you will eventually outgrow us all. You will be a big, strong boy when you grow up, just like you are now.

You've grown in the sports department too. I used to say you were going to be my math-lete instead of my athlete because of your clumsy but you've actually (finally) started getting more control over your own feet. You played t-ball again last fall and spring but you still hated it so we skipped it this fall. You will like coach pitched ball so much better, I am sure of it. For now though, you have been excelling at swimming. We started you in swim classes early this summer and you've taken to it extremely well! You keep moving up levels and out swimming kids much bigger than you. Michael thinks you might be a swim team kid if you put your mind to it and I agree. You are strong and fearless and love a good competition.

You still have that huge personality too. The kind that draws people to you like a carnival ride they weren't sure they wanted to ride but convinced them to anyway. You love to entertain and love to play but mostly you love to talk. Also, be in charge. We're working on that last one but sometimes its impressive how good you are at it. Even with much bigger children. They all listen to you and do their part. Maybe you'll be a politician.

You got a new baby brother this year too and you have absolutely been over the moon. Your little brother, even at a few weeks old, just adores you. He will be fussy and wiggly but when placed in your arms, or you start to talk to him, he gets still and pays attention to you. Even when nothing else works. ITs really pretty amazing to watch. I'm glad for you. You were so excited about im. Especially after Gage, you needed a take home baby as much as any of us. If anyone asks, you always tell them you have 3 brothers and it makes my heart leap every time because you remember. You loved and you love and I love you.

Baby, I'm so proud of you. I love your crazy. I love your heart and incredible mind. You are an amazing little mama's boy and I am excited to see just how far your drive and personality takes you. It will be far.

I love you my monster,
Mama

Disney on Ice presents Frozen TRIVIA!

Excited about Disney on Ice presents Frozen? How about a little trivia to help the time pass?

Have you bought your tickets yet?? If not, head on over to Ticketmaster before they sell out!

Famous Footwear is Coming to Suwanee!

If you have kids, you know how absurd it is how quickly they out grow their shoes. In my house, it never fails that they always outgrow their shoes at the same time. Usually two or three times a year, I am shoe shopping with the two of them and while K is easy to shop for, D is increasingly picky about the style and brand of all of his clothing.

Good news for us, Famous Footwear announced today it is opening a new store in Suwanee, Georgia, located in the John’s Creek Town Center at 3630 Peachtree Parkway, marking its 16th location in the Atlanta market!

The 6,000-square-foot store will open on July 23 and will host a

series of grand opening event activities throughout the day. To celebrate the opening in Suwanee, Famous Footwear is hosting

an all-day grand opening event on August 16 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Shoppers are invited to experience fun activities including:

· A local shoe artist customizing shoes for customers from noon to 6 p.m.
· Drawings every hour from noon to 6 p.m. for a chance to win free shoes.
· An appearance from popular local radio station, WWPW-FM 96.1, giving shoppers the chance to meet some of their favorite radio personalities.
· A DJ spinning live music!

Famous Footwear is a leading, easy-to-shop footwear destination, featuring brand name merchandise for women, men and children, making it a one-stop-shop for the entire family. Shoppers can access Famous Footwear’s loyalty Rewards program and vast style selection in-store to meet their family’s footwear needs.

Famous Footwear recently launched their new mobile app which gives Rewards members 15 bonus points just for downloading, makes redeeming Rewards points even easier and gives shoppers access to exclusive mobile offers. The Famous Footwear app is available for download today on Google Play and iTunes or simply by texting APP to FAMOUS (326687) to get a mobile link.

For more information, visit www.Famous.com or www.Facebook.com/FamousFootwear.

*I was provided a gift card in exchange for spreading the word about Atlanta's newest location but all opinions are my own.

Discounts for @RinglingBros Built To Amaze in Atlanta! #ringlingATL

So, last week, I shared with you all about Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey's new show, Built To Amaze, coming to Atlanta. Now, if you haven't already, head over to the other post for your chance to WIN four tickets for the venue of your choice.

Not lucky? Here are a couple of other "amazing" discounts for you to buy your tickets!

• Read five books and receive a FREE Kid's Ticket with the purchase of a Full-Price Adult Ticket through our Reading With Ringling Bros. program. Visit www.readingwithringling.com to see participating libraries and library Clown appearance dates.

• Gas South members can save 20% on their tickets by simply using the promo code GASSOUTH at check out!

SAVE 20% on the face price of the ticket, excluding fees. Good for all performances. Excludes Circus Celebrity, Front Row, VIP and Club seats. No double discounts. Subject to availability.

All seats are reserved, and tickets are available at The Arena at Gwinnett Center and Philips Arena Box Office, online by visiting www.gwinnettcenter.com (Duluth), www.ticketmaster.com (Philips) or via phone by calling 888-9-AXS-TIX (Duluth) or 1-800-745-3000 (Philips).

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Built To Amaze! #RinglingATL

Its that time again Atlanta! The circus is coming! Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Built To Amaze!. Coming to two of Atlanta's most amazing venues in February, Built To Amaze  is an extraordinarily engineered circus experience where Children Of All Ages find out what it takes to build The Greatest Show On Earth. Andre McClain, the circus’ ringmaster and America’s favorite cowboy, takes the Ringling Bros reins accompanied by his horse, Comanche, and leads his funny and mischievous super circus supervisors to construct The Greatest Show On Earth. Unique in its design and awe-inspiring in its construction, more than 110 of the world’s best performers, both human and animal, have been assembled to help build a super circus that showcases never-before-seen heart pounding performances. With a contemporary toolbox of unparalleled imagination, this show is engineered for excitement and custom built for family fun.

Of course the Ringling Bros. circus is one of our favorite family traditions (the fact that it usually falls the week of my mother's birthday is a bonus), but this year looks to be extra exciting!

Ringling Bros. is thrilled to introduce:

· Nine-time international award-winning comedic animal presenting duo Alex and Irina Emelin of Russia.

· The Tower Tumblers, a troupe of competitive aerial athletes who launch themselves from trampolines to scale, repel and pass through a three-story high translucent tower.

· The next generation of whirling unicyclists, the legendary King Charles Troupe from New York City who brings a spirited and fiery competition of basketball to the show.

· Ringling Bros. Presents Built To Amaze! opens an hour before show time with the All-Access Preshow®, FREE to all ticket holders.


Performances at The Arena at Gwinnett Center, Feb. 5-9, 2014

Show Times:

· Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.

· Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.

· Friday, Feb. 7, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.

· Saturday, Feb. 8, 2014 at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.

· Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014 at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m



Performances at Philips Arena Feb. 12-17, 2014

Show Times:

· Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.

· Thursday, Feb.13, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.

· Friday, Feb. 14, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.

· Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014 at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.

· Sunday, Feb. 16, 2014 at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.

· Monday, Feb. 17, 2014 at 11 a.m., 3 p.m.

Want to enter to win a set of tickets? 

I am giving away a set of FOUR tickets for your choice of either the February 5th show at the Arena at Gwinnett Center or the February 12th show at Philips Arena! You chose which arena is better for you!

*This contest has ended!*

All seats are reserved, and tickets are available at The Arena at Gwinnett Center and Philips Arena Box Office, online by visiting www.gwinnettcenter.com (Duluth), www.ticketmaster.com (Philips) or via phone by calling 888-9-AXS-TIX (Duluth) or 1-800-745-3000 (Philips).

Reindog Parade @ATLBotanical Garden

Dogs in costume – what could be more adorable? Find out in person at the sixth annual Reindog Parade on Saturday, December 7! The only day of the year that four-legged pals are allowed to set paw in the Atlanta Botanical Garden, the event, which begins at 11 a.m., invites pups clad in their finest holiday attire parade across a stage before a panel of judges to compete for prizes – or just to show off for fun.
Categories include Best Puppy, Best Adult, Best Botanical, Best Dog-Owner Dress-alike, Best Dog Pack, and ultimately, Best in Show. TV and radio personality Holly Firfer will emcee the competition.

While you are there, check out the Doggie Expo! This year's Expo offers canine-related products, services and information, warm refreshments will be available under the Pup Tent, and participants may have photos of their dogs made with botanical Saint Nick.

All dogs participating in the parade must pre-register online between November 1 and December 3. The cost, in addition to regular Garden admission, is $15 per dog, or $18 at the door (maximum two dogs per owner).

Reindog Parade joins the Garden’s array of holiday offerings this year, including the third annual Garden Lights, Holiday Nights November 16 - January 4 featuring botanical-inspired displays created with more than 1 million lights.

The mission of the Atlanta Botanical Garden is to develop and maintain plant collections for display, education, research, conservation and enjoyment. The Garden is located at 1345 Piedmont Ave. NE in Midtown, between 14th Street and Monroe Drive. The Garden is open from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday (till 10 p.m. Thursdays). Admission is $18.95 adults, $12.95 children 3-12, free to children under 3 and Garden members. For more information visit atlantabotanicalgarden.org or phone 404.876.5859. 

Kicks Country Fair at Verizon Ampitheater

The Fox Theatre Introduces Haunting “Ghost Light” Tours

For the first time ever, the Fox Theatre will host special Ghost Light Tours this Halloween with its resident ghosts. Guests will travel to spaces haunted by those who loved the theatre and the ground where it sits so much that they never left. They will take a walk in the footsteps of the Confederate soldier, pay their respects to the woman of the house and hear about Roosevelt and his work keeping the Fox warm in the winter. People have seen these ghosts and felt their presence, will you?

The Ghost Light Tours will take place on Saturday, October 26, Tuesday, October 29 and Wednesday, October 30; and will start at 7 pm and run every 20 minutes until 10 PM. Tickets are $25 each and available for purchase now at www.FoxTheatre.org, at the Fox Theatre ticket office or by calling 855-285-8499. The Ghost Light tours are not recommended for children under 10, and children under 6 are not permitted.

“We’re excited to spend our evenings with the Fox’s patrons,” says Roosevelt (Resident Ghost of the Fox Theatre Boiler Room – deceased, 1945). “It sure beats playing tricks on the workers.”

The Boiler Room is just one of the spooky stops included in the limited-time Ghost Light Tours. The special tours will feature the Fox’s resident ghosts and his/her histories, along with real accounts of unexplained events gathered from the Fox’s staff and contractors. Guests will also learn about the history of the lot before the Fox was built. Some of the other tour locations will include the Elevator, Dressing Rooms, Power Room, Sub-Basement areas including the Boiler Room, and the Stage Freight Elevator. Another fun fact that inspired the name “Ghost Light Tours” has to do with the superstitious tradition that ghost lights provide opportunities for ghosts to perform onstage, thus appeasing and preventing them from cursing the theater or sabotaging the set or production.

To sweeten the cauldron, the Fox Theatre has partnered with The Melting Pot in Midtown for a special “Dinner and a Tour” promotion to coincide with the Ghost Light Tours. The exclusive dinner package will include three delicious fondue courses, all for $29. For reservations, call The Melting Pot at 404-389-0099 and mention “Fox Theatre Ghost Light Tours,” and for more information visit www.meltingpot.com/mid-town-atlanta/specials.

To inquire about booking a private tour or a group of 20 or more, please contact the theatre at (404) 881-2100. For more information on the tours, visit www.FoxTheatre.org.

Four

My handsome little monster,

I know I say it every year but I just can not believe you are four years old. You are no longer a toddler but a preschool aged kid now. To say that the last four years have flown by would be the understatement of the century. It seems like last week we were awaiting your arrival and getting nervous that you would make your appearance on your brother's birthday. I was filled with excitement on meeting your little self and nervousness of being a mother of two.

Your little personality was clear right from the start. You are the boss. You came out and we all immediately started dancing to your, sometimes offbeat, tune. Truth be told though, we love it. You keep everyone in their place and make sure we stay on task.

You are also a big lover. You are and in your face kind of love monster that will not be ignored. You will climb up in my lap and get right in my face with your eyes all wide and kiss me right in the mouth before exclaiming your love for me over and over. You're like that with a lot of people really but you are still a mama's boy through and through. Mama is your favorite and you don't care who knows it.

You and your brother have gotten into the sibling rivalry big time this year. Whatever D has or does, you are right there behind him. Its been hard for you for D to have started Kindergarten this year. You miss your idol. You've done really good about being patient and entertaining yourself and me while he was at school though. You are going to be such a class clown.

I'm proud of you baby. I try to say it often but I want you to know and remember just how proud of you I am. Always will be really. You are strong willed and handsome and goofy and lovey and you are my son. How did I ever get so very lucky?

Love, Mama

Rain, Rain, Go Away

The rain in Atlanta this year has been absolutely unreal. Its almost gotten to the point where I may have forgotten what it is like to not have it rain for 24 hours. Completely ridiculous. It does this constantly.


If that did give you and idea here is a more blatant case in point:

• The usual rainfall in Atlanta for the month of June over the last 5 years: 2.5 inches.
• The rainfall recorded for Atlanta in June 2013 alone: 9.6 inches.

It's coming a flood! That's almost 4 times the rain average. I feel like we are floating away and July, so far, has seemed worse than June as far as rainfall. 

Of course that also means two things for us. The mosquitoes are ridiculously large and are coming in ridiculous quantities. I have seem more mosquito swarms this year than  I can ever remember. You can't step outside and not get bitten all over. Usually the mosquitoes don't even bother me, but this year they are out for what ever they can get. My poor, sweet tasting Monster is getting eaten alive this year.  It really surprised me to hear the other day that we are just now having our first West Nile virus case in Georgia with in the last week. Those little buggers are angry this year. 

All the rain also means we have had really great air quality this year too though. We haven't had a smog alert in 2013 at all yet and that is almost unheard of. I'd love to say that we could tell a difference in the air quality but between the rain and the mosquitoes we are never outside long enough to actually breathe very much. Sad but true. We also moved a mattress

I am hoping that all this cooler weather and rain will mean we will actually have a cold winter this year though. Maybe some good snow? Too much to ask from you Georgia? Probably. Last year we totally got jipped on the Winter front. It was warm til Christmas and we only really had a few days where we needed a coat of any kind. 

Its okay though. We have had some awesome sunny beach days and we have learned to just make the best of the rainy days. This weekend we went to White Water. In the rain. Where we got wet on top of our wet. No harm, no foul. This time.

Peet's #GiveACup Wants Your Opinion!

If you have ever had the pleasure of tasting Peet’s coffees, you know how uncompromising they are when it comes to flavor. The single cup is no compromise! When they started working on their Single Cup, they insisted on getting the ratio just right and you can definitely taste the difference.

Now, in the internet's first official social sampling experiment, Peet's coffee wants to know what you "Give a Cup" about! Say what? Peet's coffee is using your votes to determine where they host their sampling events each week. Give a Cup about kale? Maybe they’ll show up at a farmer’s market. Don’t give a cup about kale? See you at the chocolate store down the street. It’s up to you and America to decide where they go so vote, share, and participate in the social sampling experiment!









Today they are asking if you give a cup about zombies for their trip to Chicago. Personally, I give a big cup about zombies. All that walking dead, trying to eat my brains? So not cool. So of course, I voted that I most definitely give a cup about zombies. We will see where that leads the sampling truck!

Ready to participate in this social media coffee extravaganza?

1. Go to Peet's Give A Cup page
2. Vote on a topic weekly-they are silly and fun
3. Your vote determines where the next stop will be
4. See the schedule of tours 

Click, clack, done! The campaign runs from June 19th- July 25th and will most likely be coming to a city near you sometime soon, so join in the action and show what you and your city, gives a cup about!


*Disclosure: Images and value provided by our partner, Peet's. This is a sponsored post and I was compensated. All opinions on coffee and zombies share remain my own. Zombies are scary y'all.*

Our Beachy Weekend #WW

We picked the most beautiful day...

And headed to Acworth Beach for some fun in the sun.

The boys had fun splashing.

And playing.

Ze Bubbles! #WW

Dirty Girl Fun

I did it! I got my dirty girl on! Let me tell you, I definitely got dirty.

I started out clean.

I did not, however end it clean. 

Yep, there is Georgia red mud on me from head to toe. It was glorious! 

I'm in Organization Hades

Well, one of the things I set out to accomplish this year is kicking my rear. Getting organized is usually my thing. I like things to have a place. The problem is that since T left, our lives have been such a whirlwind of crazy that everything got all jumbled up and out of control. I mean, we moved twice within three months last year among all the other craziness. If that doesn't set your world askew, nothing will.

I have been trying to slowly chip away at the clutter and the mess though and get everything all sorted and into its place. Last week I tackled the garage and got it to where I can at least access everything. I may still have to search for it for awhile but I can at lest see where things are and what box they are in. Of course with that mess came the clearing out of the junk that was in the garage too. I took two full carloads to Goodwill and have a van packed full of items for a garage sale. Now I have to make time for the garage sale to actually happen.

Then, over the weekend, I tackled the papers. Oh, the papers. It seems like I have kept every paper, bill, or statement I have been given for the entirety of my life. I also found manuals for things I haven't had in years. I still had the owners manual for the Volvo I drove in high school! I haven't owned that car in twelve years.

Needless to say, there was quite a bit of paper trash that went into the shredder this week as well. I was careful to look up exactly what I needed to keep and what needed to get trashed so I wouldn't run into any problems in the future but good lord there was a lot that was totally unnecessary.

Next up is the mounds of clothes that seem to have accumulated over the years. I got rid of some stuff last year but there is still bags upon bags of tiny boy clothes that need to go somewhere. Especially since D and K are now wearing the same size clothes (?!?). Add to that the fact that a lot of my clothes don't fit because of my weight loss and we might could clothe an entire orphan family. So, time to clear out and organize what we have so we aren't searching through them anymore.

After that I will have to tackle the photos I have. I would love to be able to get some of the best ones printed and into an album by year but that may take a little longer than I would like. Digital pictures are great but sometimes its nice to just be able to sit and browse through the pictures and tell the stories associated with them. A lost art.

So, needless to say, I am still knee deep in organization issues. This doesn't even include the smaller projects like drawers and cabinet space. Those are slowly getting done though. Little by little I am spending more time trying to get it all in its place. Hopefully by the time we move again it will all be settled. Of course, I refuse to move again. Ever. No matter what my landlord says. Ok, maybe not ever but not for as long as I can manage.

Do you have any tips on getting organized? Posts you love with tips? Help!

I Am Officially a Dirty Girl

Its official. I have registered for my first 5K run for the year. Not just any 5K though, the Dirty Girl Mud Run 5k. So, this year, when the wildly popular Dirty Girl Mud run comes to Lake Lanier just North of Atlanta, I won't be just running, I'll be crawling, climbing, running, and sloshing my way through 5k mud puddles and awesome obstacle courses.

Dirty Girl is a 5k Mud run/obstacle course that celebrates and empowers women of all ages (14+) and fitness levels with a day of fun, discovery and laughter. With obstacle names like "H2 OMG" "Utopian Tubes," and "PMS (Pretty Muddy Stuff)," Dirty Girl is a female-centric event combining the fun of an obstacle run with unique touches for all participants in this one-of-a-kind, women-only event. Of course, if there isn't an obstacle you don't feel up to, you can always take the detour around it.

The two day event, April 20th and 21st, will offer women of all athletic and fitness abilities a chance to get out of their comfort zones and into their giggle zones. It will be perfect for me, just getting to the point of putting myself out there on a larger scale but also great for the old pros who do a million of these runs a year. A true something for everyone event!

Plus, Dirty Girl is truly a unique way for women to share a day of fun-filled laughter and bonding. A group of local Atlanta bloggers have joined in to form a team and it will be great to get out with some friends and keep each other motivated! 

The best part is that a portion of all proceeds from Dirty Girl registration fees are donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. In 2012, Dirty Girl provided the National Breast Cancer Foundation with over $250,000 in monetary and in-kind support. In 2013, our goal is to deliver over $500,000 in support to NBCF. In addition, Dirty Girl will continue providing cancer survivors free registration at each event.

Are you ready to get registered and get a little dirty under your nails? I have some good news for you! If you use the code: DGATLBLOGGUEST you will receive 20% off your registration fee*! So get registered and get ready for some good, unclean fun!!

*Good for the Atlanta location only!

Fun in the Sand #WW

Its Thursday. Again.

For some reason, Thursday is always a hard day for me. Its the day that the world just seems to fall apart around me.

Monday I am fresh from the weekend. The night before I have the boys bags packed for school and usually in their car seats along with whatever myriad of coats and accouterments they will require for the day at preschool.  I get up, have my coffee, I get things done, I have energy, I have a plan. A plan to get certain things done. A menu plan carefully listed and honed down to snacks and times for the whole week.

Tuesday I usually don't do anything but finish the tasks I had planned for Monday that I inevitably didn't get done. Still, I wake up, have my coffee, follow the meal plan, and do my motherly duties with out fail.

Wednesday I usually get a little burst of steam. The week is half over! Yay! Coffee, preschool, chores, errands, rinse, wash, repeat.

Then the Thursdays hit. I'm tired. I usually forget my coffee in a last second rush to leave the house to get the boys to school. We leave the house getting dressed on the way to the car. Someone is usually crying. Usually me. My hair looks like a rats nest, I'm in my jammies, my phone is ringing incessantly. You get the idea. Everything that could go wrong, goes wrong on Thursday. Every Thursday night, I crash into bed an hour before normal time and pass out like a sack of logs.

Maybe its just the stress from the rest of the week. Maybe its because I try to do too much myself during the week (not that I have much of a choice). Maybe its the impending weekend making me weak. I have never figured it out really but without fail, Thursday is always a mess.

By Friday morning though, I am up and back at it. One more day til the weekend. I assume an I can do this attitude and somehow, hold it together until the weekend comes to bear sweet relief to us all.

Help me figure out how to beat the Thursdays! Do you have a day of the week that is harder than the others?

Our Own Kind of Winter Wonderland

I have said over and over that Atlanta has the craziest weather patterns and this time of year is no exception. Every year it finally cools off a little in December and everyone rushes to pull out their winter coats and heavy sweaters, in theory preparing for the long harsh winter ahead. By January though, we are all back in t shirts and everyone is crying on Facebook about "where did winter go?".

Thing is, it happens every year. At least every year that I have been an Atlantan. Every year we get a crazy 70-80 degree week or two in the middle of January and every one freaks out and cries about how its going to be the hottest summer evar. They all rush to the store to start buying some new Spring clothes and flip flops and I have even heard a few people this year saying they are packing up their winter coats already.

Then, it hits us again. The 20s come sneaking back over night and smack us in the face yelling psych and every one looks a fool. Again. Every year.

This year has been no exception. It was 75 over last weekend and they are saying it will be somewhere close to 60 this coming weekend. Granted though, it does seem to be lasting a little longer than usual. This past weekend was actually the warmest on record for over a hundred years for this time of year. Which we took advantage of and spent the whole day playing outside and visiting as many parks as we could.

Still, soon we will wake up one morning and everything will be covered in frost and our car doors will be frozen shut from the lingering humidity. Who knows, maybe we will even get some snow this year. I would love for it snow a little so that I take the boys out to sled in the snow. K was rather disappointed when it didn't snow on Christmas this year like he thought it was going to. Not sure why he thought that considering its only snowed on Christmas once in the 14 years I've lived here and even that was just a dusting.

So now we wait I suppose. To see when actual winter will come and freeze us all in our tracks. Especially those crazies that are putting away their winter coats. I will wait with fingers crossed and dreams of snow.