Atlanta Botanical Garden Field Trip

It was field trip day!

I got to ride the bus and help chaparone the trip to the beautiful flower garden.

My favorite part of the day was seeing this dog!

Layla was so kind to jump up there and get a photo with the pup.

It was such a fun day and I'm thankful for Layla's great classmates and teachers!

a little porch reading ~ wordless wednesday

Amicalola Falls and Stringer Mountain

We had a fun Sunday exploring Georgia with our buddies!

We met a fun couple who love the outdoors as much as we do.  They have  kids basically the same ages as our kids, and they have a Jeep!  

They knew we would love exploring Amicalola Falls and they also knew we'd love driving the Jeep up to Stringer Mountain.  Once we got to the top in the Jeeps we did some hiking and had a picnic lunch.

Love these kiddos.  They all had so much fun!

The sun was shining bright so we took the T-tops off the Jeeps and let the sun shine in.  It was a gorgeous day with abundant sun and a slight breeze.  At the top of the mountain though it was chilly.  The wind was really whipping.

The kiddos loved the tops off because they were sticking their heads out and talking to us one Jeep back!

Of course we had to stop for a second so I could get a picture of this lovely stream!

WooHooo!  Jeepin'!

All the kiddos were so nice to strike a pose for me every once in awhile.  They know I love taking pics while out exploring nature!

These boys are one year apart, but the are both equally full of energy!  The both love running and playing with any ball they can get their hands on.  They are both named Hayden too!  

The girls are soccer teammates, that is how we all met!  

We are so thankful for fun friends we have met here in Georgia and they are so nice to help us get to know our area.  I'm sure we will be doing tons more Jeepin' and exploring soon.  They love to camp just as much as we do.

I think it is going to be a fun summer for our family!  

I may be a Texas girl, but Georgia's beauty is really taking a place in my heart!  It's breathtaking to see all the tall trees, giant lakes and huge mountains. 

 I'm in love with my new state!  ;)

then and now

THEN

Remember when the kiddos would sit down for a picture?  

(see Layla posing with BeBe)

Orrrrr better they they'd look at me with a blank stare wondering why I'm putting the iphone in their face again?!?

(see blank stare across Hayden's face above)

And do they ever end up looking at the camera?  They always look away right when the flash pops.

Annnddddd.....NOW....

This is what I get when I ask for a picture before school.  It's like a cool cometition.  Why they stick their booties out I'll never know?  And the peace signs and wide open mouths.

So, to all you moms out there hoping for a good shot.  You can bribe them for awhile, it worked for me for a couple years. BUT then they turn on the cool and this is what you have to look forward to!  Oh my!

exercise and exploring

Yesterday my lovely Chef friend, Piper and I decided to go explore Kennesaw Mountain.  She has been multiple times, but I am still learning all about my surroundings in Georgia.  

I seriously discover a new restaurant or park every single day.  It's awesome here y'all!

  We hiked about a mile up a steep mountain and took in the gorgeous views all while getting in a good cardio workout. I was a little outta breath and my legs were feeling the burn!  

Part of the Civil War was fought in this area, so it's basically an outdoor museum.  Pretty cool huh?!

The weather was perfect and I loved being outside since it's been raining so much.   The park was busy and bustling; everyone was enjoying the sunshine.

After our 3 mile hike all together, we decicded to try a Colombian restaurant in Marietta square. 

I really enjoyed the tamale we split.  It had huge chunks of chicken and pork inside.  It wasn't shredded meat like you'd think and this tamale was totally different from any tamale I'd ever met.  It was steaming hot and the corn outer layer was absolutley mouthwatering---delish!  Sooooo then we needed to workout again.  hahahah! 

We had a fun day and I'm so thankful for my new friend!

top golf fun

Gary and I wanted to play golf today, but it's been so rainy and wet.  The courses would be so nasty!

Top Golf to the rescue!!  It was a new and fun experience for both of us.  It was so fun and it is dangerously about 20 miles from our house. We may wear out our welcome.  I was shocked by how much I enjoyed our date day!

It looks like virtual golf, but the tee-box is completely covered and the balls fly out into open air.  It's an awesome concept!  There are different holes labeled with different colors which make it easy for competition.  I loved it because there is a computer screen sorta like with bowling and when you hit the ball it displays how far you crush it.  We played several competitive games (who can get closest to the center of a particular color hole) and then we just hit the ball around.  Gary brought his own clubs, but I just used the free clubs they had there.  

All that swinging the club made is hungry and thirsty.  We had a very attentive waitress and she made sure we had plenty of food and drink.  We ordered this 'mushi' appetizer.  It was cute of course, but tasted fresh too.  We also indulged in a bloody Mary and it did not disappoint!

It was a fun day date and I can't wait to take the kiddos!  They were a little sad when they found out we went without them.  They love golf as much as we do!

rainy saturday

soccer was cancelled today due to the rain that is covering us.  it's been raining for days.  we missed almost an entire week of soccer, practices and games.  

the kiddos and I decided binge on popcorn and see the movie "Home"  

it was a cute movie and a fun activity for a rainy, gray day!

snappy ... our turtle for a day

Lily was pawing in the back corner of our yard yesterday before I picked the kids up from school.  She wouldn't come inside, so I wanted out to see her playing with a turtle.  Just Monday evening Layla mentione she'd love to have a turtle of her own, so I knew I had to catch this creature!

I scooped it up with a tupperware and  when the kids got home from school we created a habitat for what they called 'Snappy.'

Snappy is gigantic and we had hopes of keeping him/her, but dang what a boring life for a wild turtle.  We decided to let it go the next day.  It sure was a fun day having a turtle though.  The kids googled how to make a habitat.  They found out what turtles eat, and that they have to have an inch or so of water to potty in.  Anyway, how fun huh?!?  We're loving our wild kingdom backyard.  First birds and now a turtle.  I'm sure the turtle was making it's way down the creek bed to the lake.

Good bye Snappy, maybe we'll see you again soon!

all week, every week...

...our lives are consumed with soccer!

and we love it.

I'm so proud of these kids and their dedication.

We had soccer practice 3 days this week and games 2 days this week.  These munchkins are busy and they don't seem to mind.  I think they do sleep well at night!

Happy Easter and baby bird eggs

We had a fun Easter!

Since we just got back from Ohio and didn't want to go grocery shopping we decided to eat our Easter lunch at our favorite Mexican food restaurant.  

One of my favorite things as a child was eating fried fish on Easter Sunday.  We'd always have a fish fry with hush puppies and the works!  So, I felt I should have fish tacos for lunch.  They never disappoint and I love the flavor of the corn tortillas.

Layla ordered table side guacamole, and it was delicious!

We always switch who sits by who when we dine out.  Does your family fight over who sits by who like ours does?  

Silly little egg face!

The birds hatched!  They are starving!  We watched all day as the mom and daddy birds monitored the nest and fed the babies!  It's such a wonderful learning experience for the kiddos!!

Happy Easter!  I hope your day was great!!