Hillcrest orchards

We finally made it to apple picking!! It was well worth the wait. My mom and I packed up the kids and headed to the north GA mountains. The drive was beautiful. The leaves are changing a little bit but the mountains were breath taking. It took about and hour and a half to get there.
There was so much for the kids to do that was free!! They had numerous play playgrounds and animals to see. The kids got to ride a wagon pulled by two mules. There favorite thing was the apple picking. James must have read a book about apple picking at school because when I told him last night that we were going apple picking he told me a cute story. The story consisted of how to pick the apples and then we take them to Grandma's house. Wish I had video taped it.


















Only after the kids had gone down the slide at least 10 times did I realize there was a sign that said you must be six. Opps!!


















That chick can sense what is about to happen!!








I almost slipped the goat into my jacket. He was too cute!











When we finally reached the front of the line to milk the cow my kids wouldn't dare touch her. So grandma stepped in.



James and I did have a Jim Carey moment with the porta potty. He needed to use the bathroom so we trotted off to the porta John. Now keep in mind I have only taken little girls to these potties before. I didn't want James to sit because I thought it would be easier to pee in the urinal. Well the pee went up to the ceiling, down in his pants and everywhere in between. I even tried to point it in the right direction and that was not a good choice. By the time we left the porta potty we were both wet and traumatized. The potty didn't look much better. I rarely take a change of clothes for the kids because they never have accidents. Luckily, I had a couple of Ansley's old clothes in the car to give away. So my poor boy was in flowers on the way home.
We had a great time and I am thankful that my mom got to spend the day with us. The kids had fun and we got some great apples.

Caramel apples

Since we didn't get to go apple picking on Saturday due to Ansley being sick we went to Krogers and got some good old gala apples!!



Yes that is a fondu stick. It is really hard to find the caramel apple sticks so we made do with what we had.













Christine

A week in review

This week started off with a doctors appointment and ended with one. I had my glucose test Monday which I managed to fail. Awesome way to begin my week. So now I am going to have to be in a sugar comma in a couple weeks to prove that my body can handle sugar. Otherwise the baby is doing well. He still likes to play around with the doctor so they have to search for his heartbeat. For some reason they don't understand that he hangs low. He prefers to be right on my bladder like James use to.
Ansley had a great week at school. She had her first after school playdate with a friend from her class!! She had a wonderful time. She even managed to tell Kathryn's mom that her cousin lives in a crack house. Lovely!! Did I have some explaining to do when I picked her up.
James had a good week too. He loves being at school. I think it is because most of his class is boys. Bless his teachers. His teacher told me this week that he is a rule follower. Whenever someone is doing something wrong he is the first one to step in and tell them the rules. His new favorite thing to do is to help daddy do things. He will help Bob get dressed for work in the morning by helping him put his shoes and belt on. The they make the bed together. Too cute!!!
The week ended on a good note for James because he finally pooped in the potty and got his monster truck. A bad note for Ansley because she has strep throat. Tomorrow is a stay at home day to clean out more closets and rooms!!!
Christine

Oh dear!!!

When this potty training experience started I figured James is a boy and it is going to take a while. He has mastered peeing in the potty. We don't have to remind him to go anymore. He has decided that he can do the process by himself. So far so good. He even wakes up in the morning dry. Can we say rock star. However, we have yet to not have a traumatic experience doing number 2 on the potty. Most of the time he is running to the potty every 2 mins scared to do it in his pants and on the potty. What does this equal holding it until he blows. We have not been punishing him just trying to encourage him in a positive way. Well Sunday night while Bob was at church I was getting the kids ready for bed and my patience ended. I knew he needed to pee before bed. He ran down the hall to Ansley's room to get a book the next thing I hear is a scream and "mommy I pee pee on floor." at this point I was still calm that is easy to clean. Then I walk into the porta potty my son has made of the hallway floor. The smell was enough to make my eyes water. The poop was up and down the hallway. I took the opposite approach I had been taking. As James describes it "I screamed at him." This was the first time I had really been upset with him. Ansley described my reaction to her GranDonna as "mommy said words I am not allowed to say." Thank you Ansley for throwing me out there. James definitely understood I was upset and continues daily to explain to me where the poop goes. He now understands the difference from mommy being happy and mommy being mad. I think I was more scarred than he was!! The big monster truck is still in the closet waiting for a celebration!!

Christine

Ansley

This is one happy big girl. Last weekend was trade in at babies r us so we traded in Ansley's car seat for a booster seat. She had gotten too tall for her old seat so I decided to let her move up to a seat belt from a five point harness. She is so excited!!!





Ansley is loving school and really relaxing and enjoying being at Sweet Apple. She now goes up to many of my co workers and gives them a hug. Today she came in while I still had a student. She began talking to him and shared her treat with him. Melt my heart!!!
She has been rocking her popcorn words and even trying to sound out new words.
Here is a work sample from the week.



This was a lesson on debugging. She had to draw a picture on what bugs her. The green bug would be her brother!
Since we spend so much time together these days she was in another one of her deep conversations today after school. She made sure I knew that she can't wait for her baby to arrive and that she is willing to change his stinky diapers. I give that one diaper and then she will change her mind.

Go Jackets

I am of course playing blog catch up again. Last weekend we took both kids to the Georgia Tech game. They made it through all the pre game stuff and the first quarter then that was it.









James loved watching the game.





Can't get enough of cousin Logan!!





The kids and I headed to the car and went out for some shopping at Atlantic Station. Well that was squashed when James fell asleep within the first minute of driving. So we parked in Peachtree Christians parking lot and took at good 45 minute nap.

Let the Festival season begin!

I am not sure why but I make it my mission to make it to as many fall festivals around this area! Last week we went to Johns Creek art festival. That one was good for art lovers. The kids stuff was just ok. Today we went to Newtown Park for their festival. This is my favorite so far. They had the farmers market going. The festival was geared toward families! Tickets were sold for the booths which included fishing, bounce houses, face painting, arts and crafts, and many other games.
This was James watching the fire truck extend it's ladder.



He spent his time on the bounce house while Ansley and I explored the other booths. By the time we left the man at the bounce house said you know the drill.. Tickets there and go on in.
Making a sand bracelet.


Then onto face painting.


Finally the playground.


After free hot dogs and slushies it was time to head home!!!