I just can't wait to be kiiiiiiing!

For the past few days I have had a couple of dreams/nightmares about going to see the Lion King. One dream was that the Fox allowed you to bring in dinner and after I got everything set up, portioned everyone's food and cut everything into bite sized pieces, just as I sat down to watch, it was over! The second nightmare took place at the beach. (Nightmare...yea, right). Anyhoo, Dawn, Lindara and I were at the beach but there was this one restaurant we wanted to eat at and the only time we could get in was 4pm. We sat down to eat (at 4) and realized the Lion King started at 6 and we were still a 6 hour drive! How I didn't notice a little thing like TIME...I guess that's part of the dream. 

 Last night, we were graciously treated to the best show (in my humble opinion) on Broadway via the Fox Theater. We almost didn't make it on time because some of the traffic lights at the exit were out! Ugh! Dream/nightmare turned reality!!  Jammy and Grandy met us at the doors just in time for the show to start! No photography was allowed otherwise, I would have taken dozens of pictures! The costumes, sets, adaptation of the story line, characters, and setting were all magnificent! They had people coming up and down the isles dressed at elephants, hyenas, and giraffes and loads of twirling birds were overhead. Too fun! So sad it's over but I'm grateful to have gotten to witness it firsthand after all the raving reviews I've heard and read. Lindara and Anna were several rows ahead of us and even through the modern technology of text, I still never saw them. 

Reed and Nolan's favorite part of the play  was when Pumba stood on his front legs with his hind quarters in the air and he tooted in a hyena's face. Of course that was their favorite part! My favorite was Rafiki, the babboon. The man/woman/Zulu tribe member that played him was funny and elaborate and caught the audience's attention every time he was on stage. Overall awesome. 

Twilight Athens 2014

Every year, Athens hosts one of the most fun, exciting, heart-pounding bike races of the season. (I say that like I know when the bike racing season begins and ends...I don't, but for print purposes, it sounded good!) 

After the boys soccer game that morning, we had the car all packed up and ready to hit the road. Thankfully, we found an excellent parking spot downtown and started off in the direction of the kids zone. We stopped first at the BMX bikers to watch them doing tricks  and jumps on the half pipes. The boys were completely enthralled! I asked Nolan if he thought he could ride his bike up the ramp and he said, "no, remember, I can't rebrake my arm!!" Oh! So sorry!! 

We then found the kids zone and a restaurant called Fuzzy's where we could sit outside all day and the boys had the run of the inflatables. It's here that we camped out for about 9 hours, met up with Jammy, Grandy, Bob, Mika, Jackson, Puma, Hillary, Sullivan, Paul, Cora, and countless other Athenians, ordered food at least 3-4 times, and sipped on many ah-refreshing cocktails. We did get to see one of the bikers wipe out on the course and came up with some serious road rash on his hind quarters...ouch! We LOVE this time of year in Athens!

Naked snack and boys on attack!

So, the other night when the boys came home from soccer, they wanted a snack. Too bad for us, they stripped down out of their soccer clothes and wanted to eat unrestricted. This has become a common theme in our house...nakedness amongst the youngins!

Nolan had a little play-date with Parker and Reed claimed Ryan yesterday afterschool. No, they weren't really in need, but apparently band aids make for funny pictures. Weirdos!

Happy spring

It's spring time all around. The flowers are blooming, birds are chirping and the springster bunny delivered the goods. From egg hunts to egg races, and bunny cakes to booze, it was a complete family affair!

Horses and hooligans

Yesterday, even though it started out as a nasty, rainy morning, it turned out to be a really fun day! For the past 3 years, Nana and I have taken the boys to Steeplechase in Rome, the horse races. There's tons of room to run, fun stuff to do, and horses running by every hour or so. This year, it was a quick trip but we managed to pack the boys and Ryan in the car with us as well as a whole trunk of stuff. I think they had more fun running around the field playing soccer and with the frisbee than anything else!

We had to hurry home because the Perry's and Harris' were on their way over with all their kiddos for all types of shenanigans. We had an egg hunt in the yard and all the crazy kids were running around having fun.  We love our fun nights with this crew!

Check, check, check!

Today was a day of checks. First, Nolan had a post-op check for his 2nd set of tubes and adenoidectomy. The nurse practitioner said everything looked great and the audiologist said he can hear perfectly! Yay one for the ears! Check!

Next it was time to get rid of his cast! 4 weeks, 2 casts, 20 baths, 40 plastic bags later, Nolan has his old arm back. He is still kind of nursing it and he actually almost passed out after his X-rays, but he'll be as good as new in just a few weeks! Check!

Lastly, Nolan and I had a lunch date and snuggle time on the couch until Reed got home. Now, they are having a play date and are running around the house on this yucky rainy day. Wish I could get my snuggle buddy back!

Make me a bicycle, clown!

Since soccer practice was cancelled Tuesday night due to high winds and wet fields, Todd took the boys to Canyons restaurant for Arnold Mill spirit night. They got to eat burgers, mingle with their friends from class, have balloon animals/things made, and watch a magician in action. They came home all crazy and excited that they got to do something out of the ordinary on a school night. Go Mustangs!

Big Shanty Fest

Yesterday, after the boys were all hot and sweaty following a riveting soccer game, I took them and their buddy, Ryan, to the Big Shanty festival in Kennesaw. So, I've been known for seeing things on flyers, emails, circulars, etc and trying them our without much research. Sometimes it works in my favor, sometimes not (not a word, Pete!). Anyhoo, this worked out great! They closed off all of downtown Kennesaw (which is quite cute being my first time there) and put up all sorts of vendors, sellers, foods, games, and anything else you could think of. The boys really racked up on tons of freebees from spinning prize wheels, bean bag tosses, and just asking for some of the free crap on people's tables! We then watched tethered hot air balloon rides and ate snow cones to round out a lovely afternoon at the Big Shanty. 

Springtime for puppies

My friend, Darlene, volunteers at the Canine Assistance program in Alpharetta. Her foster dog had a litter of puppies around the same time another foster dog had hers. They had to wait several weeks before people were allowed to see them but the other day I took Dawn and all 4 twins there for a peek. Oh...my....dogness!!! They were soooo adorable! The twins had so much fun loving on them, holding them and letting them bite their hair, shoes, faces or whatever the pups could get a hold of. 

And here are just a few pictures of spring in my yard that make me happy...