Atlanta visit

We just got back from a whirlwind trip to Atlanta to visit friends.  Zoey did better on the ride than many others.

We made better time than we suspected, so after the long ride we were able to drop by my parents neighbors, Mr. Reggie.  He was delighted to see Sammy and Zoey.

Since Zoey had not gotten a nap in the car, we tried an early bed time (7) in the sofa bed for both.  Zoey ended up wired and kept popping up or bothering Sam.  We eventually blew up our toddler air mattress and both were finally asleep about 8:30.  Sam has been allowed to read if she wakes up and it is daylight.  She work up at 2 and saw lights from outside, I told her to go back to bed, but she was up having to use the bathroom, feeling scared, etc until about 4:30.  I never got back to sleep either.  And then Zoey was up and ready to go at 6:10.

But even after all that, we were ready to tackle the zoo with my good friend Patty, who was a godsend on my masters project.  Unfortunately, I did not charge my camera before the trip, so some of the pictures are cell phone ones and we did not take as many as I would have wanted.

We bought Sam a visor and Nick modeled it.

We rode the carousel.

Brushed some goats.

Walked around.

Posed by statues.

Here Sam has on the visor.

Saw the pandas.

And rode the train.

That night we went to have dinner with the Stolovitz's, the family I babysat for in college and grad school.  We got to see 2 of their kids.

A group picture!

The next day we went to Ga Tech to visit staff still there.  Evidently no pictures.  After that we drove past our old Atlanta house, check out how big the Japanese cherry has grown.  And we took the girls to the 2 story Target.

Zoey thought socks should be on her hands.

We hung out in a park for a little bit.  Zoey had no fear of these high steps to a quick slide.

Sam almost mastered the rings.

Then to dinner with our good friends the Woods.  The guys and the littles.

Sally and me.

                                 

We ate at the Peachtree Mellow Mushroom in a train room.  Zoey loved the giant red button.

 All the kids.  I took about 5 shots and none were great.

On the ride home it was show time.

And after 3 days of no naps, our normally always awake in the car kid gave in and had s hort nap in the car.

 Hope everyone is having great summer adventures.  We have more to come, but school will be here before I know it!

Happy 75th Nana!

Today is my mom's birthday.  Many of you may know this because I asked many of you to send me cards.  Thanks so much for helping make her day special.  

Zoey was so tired from no nap and beach day yesterday.  Camp wore Sam out.  So lunch was a bit crazy and involved some crying.  But the girls enjoyed loving on nana.

And eating her free elephant ear at red elephant.

I am so blessed to have such an amazing mother and incredible Nana for my girls.  We plan on celebrating her for many years to come!

More cake and of course blowing out candles is all hands on deck.

Opening presents.

Happy birthday to the best Nana ever!  We love you!

The 4th continued!

For the actual 4th of July, we did sparklers and small fireworks at home.  There was no rain, so I got to play with my dslr some.

Nick drew a heart.

Sam drew some shapes.

Nick drew Kelling.

I like how you can see Sam on this one.

And a couple of shots of the fountains.

We grabbed lunch recently at a cafe near Hollis gardens.  I wanted a picture in front of the roses.  Sam was happy to pose.

She also posed on the concrete ball.

Zoey was a bit more active.

But finally, all three of us!

We played with the underwater feature again recently.  Sam snapped one of me.

And I took a bunch of her swimming.

Zoey loves the rocking snail by Dr. Engle.  Thanks again!

We also made a couple of beach trips.  We met friends at Bradonten/Anna Maria.

The girls had a ball, playing in the sand and water.  Zoey did much better after some initial issues.

Posing with little Nick.

And Zoey and I went back with PALS while Sam was in Science camp.  There was a chilly rain, so Zoey borrowed a towel.

And had a snack.

Chillin' with Nick.

Hope everyone is having a great summer.  Cannot believe it is half over!

Happy 4th of July!

We stay so busy and I have neglected my blog.  We finished out our semester with a lot of issues. My students were not up to par and a 6 week online course was too much, so they were all shocked by their grades.  One even yelled at me for an hour and a half.  But grades are in!  And I am updating on some recent happenings.

For our bookclub, we read a novel about Frank Llyod Wright's life called Loving Frank.  It was a super sad book, he had a crazy life, but it was interesting and he designed most of Florida Southern, which is really close to us.  So it was nice to read.  He had the saying "Momento Vivere" in one of his houses and I love it.  It means "to live in the moment", so kind of like carpe diem.  So when I bought my 31 blanket, I had this phrase put on it.  I am trying to enjoy every moment with my kids while they are small, it goes by so fast.  Of course, I also believe the days are long, but the years are short.

We went to the fire station with PALS.

My mom got Sam a doll hair kit and she used the curler to curl her hair.  She said it looked like the boing boing curl in the Ramona series, which we have been reading.

She did these monkey bars by herself and wanted me to get a picture.  Such concentration!

We had a long day recently and she ended up asleep on the couch!

At the dock in our neighborhood a few weeks ago.

When gymboree was having their sale, I ordered both girls zebra sunglasses so they could be like mama.

Zoey and her best friend Nick.

We have been to legoland a few times now.  We went in June (and today actually, but no photos today) to catch a few rides and go to the waterpark.  Such fun!  Sam drove a car.

Zoey driving a boat.

Sam visiting her piece from in May that was in a display case.  It is in the back behind her, the purple and pink one.

The local triple A team had a free day.  We went with my parents.  A self portrait of us.

Sam loved the game.

Zoey loved the snacks!  She did baseball right; popcorm, peanuts and frozen pink lemonade.

After we stopped at McDonalds.  She was playing with her ketchup and said look at her art.  My mom said maybe I need to cut back on the playdates.  :)

Last night in Lakeland was the town's fireworks show.  The girls split a treat while waiting patiently.

Sam trying to get Nick to stay near us ended up with him on her lap.  Such a sweetheart to try and take care of the little ones.

It was threatening rain, so although I have been taking a photography class and really wanted to use my new knowledge to shoot the fireworks, I left my dslr at home.  Nick got a few good shots with my point and shoot Olympus underwater camera.  It has some great settings and I love it.

Happy 4th from the Southern Kellings!