I just have to say...

That Sydney read the entire book- all 62 pages- of Green Eggs and Ham... ON HER OWN. I am so proud of her!!!

Old stomping grounds

This evening, after work, I headed into Dunwoody/Sandy Springs to attend a bris for a good high school friend's new baby son.  They had bought a house a couple years back in our high school's district, so they live in the area now where we all grew up.  So, after the bris, (which, by the way, was so nice, their baby is absolutely adorable, and I got to catch up with some good guy friends from HS), I decided to take a spin of my old stomping grounds before I headed home. 

It is such an odd feeling- seeing sights that I used to see every day... roads I learned to drive on... memories that were made at every single turn.  Then, you go away from that area (especially me, since my parents moved away after I graduated) and coming back is foreign in some ways (I needed the GPS to help me find my way to Evan's house!) but also like I was just there yesterday.

So, here is a little picture-tour of my past.

My lovely high school entrance.  Only difference is that the word "Charter" is now included in the name.  Other than the new name/sign, all was the same!

A view of my high school.  Oh, the times that were spent in this school... football games, softball games, dance team, basketball games, band concerts... all my friends, all the people I knew from KG until Senior Year... Wonderful years of my life were spent here.

My beloved church.  I was baptized here.  I had so many fond memories of being in youth group, going on trips, lock-ins, VBS, singing in the youth choir, my sister got married here. 

Many-a-years were spent at this ballpark.  This probably gave me the biggest nudge in the gut, it brought back so many memories.  Also, isn't it funny how big things seem when you're little, and then they're not so big when you're big?  Although they have expanded this park some, the parking lots seem smaller, the fields seem smaller.  Good times.  I played softball here from 2nd-12th grade.

This is where I was a cheerleader in 6th grade.  It didn't last long.

My old neighborhood!  Wow, this brought a flood of memories back.  I drove by my two best childhood friends' houses- Amy and Allison. We were inseparable.  I love the greenery and the trees and the different styles of houses that you see.  I couldn't even begin to list out all the memories I had here. 

My old house!!  I lived here from birth to 19.  I loved my old house and have so many vivid memories of the whole thing... but, the new owners did SO many changes to the front.  I'm talking, they even moved the driveway!  No joke.  They removed this big, landscaping hill from the front, they moved the driveway/mailbox, they tore down all these trees I used to climb out front, they took out this huge garden my mom planted in the front, they planted a row of trees along the road.  They also built a not-so-obvious fence around the front.  So, as many memories as I have, they sadly didn't come flooding back since the house looks so different.

 

So, that's a tour of where many years of my life were spent.  It felt so good to be back.  There have been so many changes in this area- so many new stores, restaurants, buildings, neighborhoods.  But, it still has a lot of familiar sites.  What a good day!



Adios, spring break!

Man, the last break of the school year has come and gone.  It was a great break.  I was very productive and got everything on my little "to do" list done.  This list consisted of very detailed tasks that probably sound really silly, but are put on the backburner during the typical work week.  Things like updating Parker's baby book, and ordering pictures to include in each month; sorting the tupperware cabinet and matching up bottoms and lids (no, folks, I'm totally not kidding.  It drives me crazy!); reorganizing the medicine cabinet and throwing out any and all expired medicines; pulling out summer clothes/packing up winter clothes... you get the idea. 

I also got to hang out and relax.  I took the kids to daycare every day, for a shortened day, mainly so I could go to the gym.  I did work out every day, which was good for me.  I did some shopping.  I tried to do something special with each kid- Sydney and I got frozen yogurt one day together, Parker and I got his 6 month pictures done, and Taylor and Sydney and I went to Chuck E. Cheese's.  We braved going to Chili's by ourselves Friday night when Stephen was out of town.  The 4 of us also went up to see my mom and dad on Saturday while Stephen was flying home.  I got to spend a wonderful, kid-free day in Atlanta with my friend, Erica.  We had a yummy lunch and got pedicures.  The girls got to have a lot of together time, including a few sleepovers in each other's beds.  Those nights usually ended up with them not going to sleep, and me having to separate them, much against their wails of wanting to be together.  It's quite cute, I would think, as I would be carrying a wiggly, screaming child back to her bed.

But, all good things must come to an end.  I am cringing looking at my calendar for the next week- it is insane.  I have meeting after meeting after meeting, usually having to go to all 3 of my schools in the same day.  Sometimes having to leave a school only to come back to it later in the day.  7 MORE WEEKS!  I can do this!

DeeDad taking Sydney and Taylor to see the "big horsie".

Sydney proudly displaying the bird feeder that she and DeeDad made at Home Depot.

Consoling my girl as we go through the car wash.

Another big time event- Sydney got close to Chuck E. Cheese!!

 

BFFs.

Fun week at school- this day was face painting.

6 month stats

Parker had his 6 month check up on Monday!  His stats are:

Height: 27-3/4 inches (85-95th%)
Weight: 18 pounds, 15 ounces (75th%)
Head Circumference: 45-1/4 cm (90-95th%)

He got a good report!  The doctor seems to think his excema is being caused from excessive drooling.  He did have an ear infection, so I opted to postpone his shots for a couple of weeks.  THis is his 3rd ear infection... I'm hoping he isn't going to need tubes.  Taylor had them put in at 8 months of age. 

All 6 mo. milestones have been met, and I am very thankful for a healthy boy! 

Parker's 6 month shot

Easter Fun

This Easter season was a ton of fun.  The girls had several egg hunts that they got to go to, and we had a good time celebrating with family.

If you recall, we had egg hunt #1 a couple of weeks ago.

Egg hunt #2 took place at the girls' school on Friday.  I missed out on Sydney's picnic and egg hunt (it was at 11 AM and I had to be at this little place called work), but Taylor's was at 3 PM so I got to get there for most of it.  They had a little party and then got to hunt for eggs.  Big sis Sydney got to eat with them and help Taylor with the eggs.  It was a really nice day, weather-wise, so Parker and I got to hang out on the playground while the kiddos got their loot.

Saturday, Stephen and I took turns volunteering for setting up the egg hunt at our church (more info. below).  I had the 10-12 shift and he had the 2-4 one.  In the middle, we dyed easter eggs. 

Egg hunt #3 took place at our church.  Well, at the soccer fields next to our church, but our church hosted it.  It's their big event every year, and thousands of people from around town come to it.  It's a HUGE egg hunt (25,000 eggs), inflatables, face painting, games, food, and more.  The egg hunts are separated by age, so when it came time for the hunts, I went with Taylor and Stephen went with Sydney. 

I forgot their Easter baskets (duh), so we winged it... Taylor had an emptied-out diaper bag.

Eggs galore.

Sydney used my purse.

We were all listerally so exhausted that night.  The girls fell asleep watching the Lion King on the laptop, and Stephen and I weren't that far behind them.



Sunday, we woke up to see that the Easter Bunny had come to visit.  The girls were so excited!  (Parker, too...of course!)  After breakfast, we went to church and had a wonderful service. 

We then headed up to my sister's house for lunch!  There, we had egg hunt #4.  (I seriously was starting to feel like our household was being taken over by colorful, plastic eggs).  Lots of fun times.