Sorry for not posting for so long. It has been a CRAZY month!

1. Mom Thomas has had a whirlwind few months. The Lord answered all our prayers and she was able to get into a great nursing home up near all of us. It is a nice place...doesn't smell and isn't dingy. Though, she currently shares a room with a whack job - Gippy. She provides the rest of us a bit of humor but I'm sure Mom doesn't find it funny having to live with her 24/7. But so thankful she is close by and we have been able to go see her so much. I love that! She will be 95 tomorrow and she is one of the most amazing, strong people I know. I am so blessed to have, not one, but two very smart, very loving grandmothers in my life - Both in their 90s and both close by.

2. New Job! My boss left the company for another at the beginning of September. And while I don't exactly want to manage people, I took over her job. So it is like I have 2 jobs now. I am currently the lead Data Analyst on all the lab studies (we have 5 going at once right now) at CDC. And on the other side of the fence, at Northrop I am a Task Manager. Should be 50% each job, right? Well, each side doesn't really care about that and I feel like I am 80% on each job...makes 160%, you ask? That's how I feel. I love working with all the people, on both sides. So that makes it nice but it is non-stop. I am logging in from home at night, logging on earlier in the mornings. Sigh. I am fortunate to have a job so I'm not complaining but it is a lot.

Couple that with Christian's opposite shift and we are running like chickens with our heads cut off. We have to spend about 30 minutes a week using Google Calendar to sync our work lives with their activies and any childcare needed. It is getting more stressful as they get older. We would love to find a way to have one person to stay home. It is stressful having to tell work (his and mine), I can't stay late today...have a sitter at home. Or I can't take that training cause my spouse is working that day. Sigh.

3. The Curse of a House - We have had a rough summer, year, with that house in Clarkston. We feel like we are being extorted for money as Christian's name is on it. But in the end, it is just money. We can't take it with us. We are just trying hard to get it cleaned up for the market. It took all summer of Christian going down whenever he could find an off day and I was at home with the kids, but he would go down and purge. Finally, we just figured it was worth the money to pay a junk removal place to come purge it for us. We had to charge it but who cares, right??? I feel bad for Christian as I know he's been very stressed with it. We feel a bit alone in trying to clean up the house and sell it. Not to mention, the added stress to our already hectic lives.

4. Good news? CASEY! We rescued a 3 year old female boxer, Casey! She is adorable, tiny, girly, delicate, and dainty. She has been a light of sun, a bit of happy in our lives. Lord knows, we needed something!


Now, fall weather is coming and I'm so glad for Fall. It is my favorite time of year - bring on the boots, sweaters, soup, pumpkins, holidays, and festivals. Not to mention, our good friend, Marissa, is having another baby girl, Bailey Anne. We can't wait to meet her...she's due on Oct 14.

As most of you know, we lost Bo on Saturday morning. :( My sweet boy put up a good fight but didn't have the strength to keep going. Friday and Friday night was really hard on him ... and me. We took him to the vet Saturday morning and his reaction to Bo was all the confirmation needed. We felt owed it to Bo to not let him suffer anymore and have some relief. So the weekend has been sad and strange. I have had Bo with me for 10 years. A lot has happened in those 10 years since Bo came to me at 6 weeks old. I started dating Christian (who also had a boxer), Dana passed away (who spoiled Bo as though she was his godmother. ha), I owned a convertible (quick year phase of my life before realizing Atlanta is too hot for those), bought my first place in Avondale Estates, played softball where Bo sort of became an unofficial mascot since he came to the game, married Christian, bought a house with a big yard for Bo, had Seth and Emmy who Bo doted on.... Yep, a lot has changed and yet he was my constant. So this week will be little clips and fun times with my sweet boy.

As you guys know, I am a fool for these discount deal a day things like Groupon, Half Off Depot, Living Social, Scoutmob, etc. There are a ton of them and they have such good deals. I have gotten some great deals from Groupon and Living Social this year. We had our yard aerated for $40, our carpets cleaned for $25, my car detailed (inside and out...best job to date) for $70, and I have gone to a day spa for a 3 hour deal for $100. But the best one yet was a 4-hour boat rental at Lake Lanier for $80. And the kicker was the rental marina was the same marina my parents had their houseboat growing up.

So we had a walk down memory lane. We invited my parents to come along since they love boating, too. Not to mention dad was going to have his hip replaced at the end of July and we figured it would be a last hoorah day for him. ha! The marina looked great...they have done a lot of revamping. Yet, our old dock looks the same, some of the same boats are still there, too. As well as some of the same boat furniture and boat decorations - talk about time for an update...get rid of the '70s curtains.

Christian and I needed a break away for quick weekend. We decided to do a quick run to Callaway Gardens. It is only 2 hours from here and they were running a great summer special. We were able to see a Wild Animal Safari, the butterfly center, and the beach. We learned there aren't many restaurants or places to eat down there but luckily we hit 2 good grub spots. :)

So we got into town around 2pm Friday...blazing hot afternoon with temperatures hanging around a smoltey 100 degrees. So what would you do? Why rent a safari van with no A/C and spend an hour driving 5 miles an hour through a wild animal safari. Yep, sounds fun! The kids were cracking us up but they seemed to love it. Here are some pics from that and a video.






That night we drove around looking for the restaurant, Crickets, and low and behold it is right next door to Pine Mountain Chalet Club. My grandmother used to own a Chalet in here and we would go every summer for vacation. It is awesome. It is a community of chalets on a lake. I had to drive by for memory sake and it looks the exact same! Though, they have filled in the pool that was right next door. :( But my basketball courts were there...I loved those courts.



The next day we hit the Callaway Beach. I loved it. I thought it was such a nice, quaint beach. Very well organized with lots of pavillion space and water playgrounds (which we kept missing out on the times), a fountain, a train (which we missed also), an outdoor circus. You can bring in your own cooler of picnic stuff and drinks. The kids had a ball!!!





Saturday night we ate out at the Country Store Restaurant! We had great southern cooking food. And of course, picture time after that then a visit to the Gardens.

Trying to learn about Seth's day is like pulling teeth. Obviously, a 5 year old isn't the most profound story teller but any vague details would be nice. I am playing detective and asking questions hoping to stumble on a piece of the day.

"Did you have story time?"
"How many teachers do you have?"
"Do you play any games?" "Which games?" "Do you like them?"
"What is your favorite part of the day?"
etc etc etc

And here are some of the facts I have found out...though not sure how true they really are.

1. The cafeteria has superhero Popsicle after lunch. He gets the Wolverine ones.
2. The playground has a fireman pole on it. He was scared at first but now jumps to reach it.
3. They play the pinch and run game. Seth gets pinched and he has to try to run but he laughs too hard. hmm, somehow I don't think this is organized but more of a playground made up game.
4. The bus ride home makes him cranky and sweaty. Sometimes he falls asleep on the bus.
5. My personal favorite: There is a kid in his class named Steven who has earrings..."just like the man that brings the pizza to our door". Lovely!

And education you ask...he's learning loads.

1. He has learned to unbuckle and buckle his belt to use the restroom.
2. He's learning to tie his shoes...work in progress.
3. He's learned he can choose chocolate milk for lunch and has even learned to mix it up and drink white milk on occassion "to make mommy happy."
   
4. He learned how to play and win Bingo.
5. My personal favorite: He has learned that he doesn't want mommy to pack his snack (like we are supposed to) "because if you forget your snack, you get animal crackers so forget my snack tomorrow so I can get animal crackers!"
   

Seth started Kindergarten yesterday! I can't believe he is already off to school. Where did those 5 years go? And when did he get big enough to carry a backpack? Or know his way around a school? Or get his own lunch in the cafeteria?

He was so excited all weekend about going to 'big boy' school and wearing his uniform. I am so happy he has a uniform school...it really takes away any bit of "What will he wear today?" Their uniforms have variety and can be one of a few shades of shorts and shirts and must have all white, all black, or all brown shoes. Since it is a public school, it isn't required but most parents I've seen are excited about it.

His school starts on the early rotation for the county, so bell rings at 8:15am and ends at 2:45pm. Right now, daddy takes him in the morning and he rides the bus home. He absolutely loves the bus thing. Oh how things will change over the years. ha! His bus was late yesterday (given the first week of learning the routes, etc) so he wasn't home until 4pm! It was a long day for my little man. He was tired, sweaty, and whiney when he got home. But later told me how much fun he had!

And not sure if you can tell in the last picture or not, but we bought what we thought was a cute pirate-themed backpack. In reality, it is just blue, black, yellow with SKULLS all over it. Real nice! So glad I'm sending my Kindergartener into his first day with a ghetto backpack. hahaha! And of course, Uncle Mike noticed right away! Now my coworkers thought they were pandas. Really...no way would I send my 5 year old SON into school with a panda backpack. Where's the street cred? ha Just Kidding!

OK, so this isn't a timely post but have some mercy. This summer has been non-stop chaos and we have barely had time to breathe.

Emmy has been saying she was 3 years old for a good 6-8 months before her actual birthday. When we would try to correct her, she would say "No, I don't like two. I three!" Oh Lordie..what are we in store for? So the big day hit and she knew it was her day and her party. Here are some pictures!

As soon as I have time to sort through Emily's third birthday pictures, that will be my next post. However, it has been a holiday weekend of random events...which has been so much fun! We had the Scruggs kiddies over for a playdate Sat night and the Heidlers joined us for dinner as well. All 6 kids had so much fun together.


This morning I asked Seth if he could try to make his bed all by himself. He ran off to try it and did such a good job that we are posting it to the blog. This was his first attempt and pretty good...especially considering the bedrails are not easy.

We love minor league baseball. The games are so much more fun than the major league ones. Not to mention, it is a lot more easy to enjoy when you have two little ones in tow. Gwinnett Braves have the berm (aka Lawn) which is perfect when you have kids, bouncy moonwalks on the berm, free stuff, cheap parking, and everything is a close walk.

We had fun at the game yesterday with the Heidlers! I stole this picture off the Gwinnett Braves website which is offering to sell it but we all know I won't buy it... :)

Hell must have frozen over OR there are pigs flying high in the sky somewhere. By God, I have joined a gym! I have gained weight or just become flabby in the last 6 months thanks to a heavy work schedule that doesn't allow any time for the awesome gym at work....awesome FREE gym at work. I kept thinking that would lighten soon but never did, thus the flab. So, if I don't have time at work to hit the gym during lunch break, I need to take the time after work. Lucky for me, a gym near my house has a killer Kids Klub set up. So for $10 extra a month per kid...they can hang out and play. I thought that was good but then went for a tour and realized the Kids Klub is like a little camp where the college-aged girls do activities with them. The kids had a ball...and yet, turns out Seth and Emmy have friends in there from preschool. YEAH! So I have begun the working out phase...hopeful I can tone back up while summer is still around.

Emmy has said for the last 6 months that she is 3 years old, even though she wasn't even 2 1/2. When I would try to correct her, she would say "I don't like two. I three, mommy!" So it is only fitting that she has transformed in so many ways from a baby to a big girl. In the last few months, she has become potty-trained overnight (much to our EXTREME excitement), no longer needed the baby monitor (as she just comes out of her room when she is ready), and now...we have taken down the bedrails. I was ready to do this months ago but Christian wanted to wait. So we waited. Then Florida came and she slept in a twin beds that we pushed together with Seth in the other. No bed rails, tile floor...nervous. So we just positioned the pillows as mini-guards and Viola, she did fantastic! So two weeks ago, I spent two hours with Seth's helpfulness disassembling the "easy portable rails" and put them on the listserv at work. They were gone within a week. Emmy is out of baby gear now!

Seth has finally graduated Preschool! I can't believe time has flown this quickly. He has been at this preschool for 4 years since he was 18 months old.

Now, four years later, a happy confident boy is graduating. He was so proud of himself and so happy to see me, Christian, mom, and dad in the audience watching him!