A Weekend Apart

Every once in a while I head to Clarksville, TN to visit my dear friend Lacey and leave David for a weekend of bachelorhood. Last weekend I headed up to join Lacey and her girlfriends on a scrapbooking retreat. We had gone last fall and had such a blast - I was so excited to join her and be able to participate again. Her friends are so much fun and I got to meet Troy, one of her nearest and dearest, who also joined us for the weekend. Here are just a few pictures of all the fun:

Me scrapbooking

Lacey scrapbooking

Kelly has an auction at the end of Saturday where you get to bid on various Creative Memories items. Here's the entire group with our raffle money - before the auction

I won a digital CM program that I was very excited about, but Kathy wanted to put all her money into buying tickets for the raffle. With more then 3 times the number of tickets as anyone else - she was hopeful, but alas she lost. =(

This was the view just outside of our conference room where we spend far too many fun-filled belly-laughing hours scrapbooking!! These are Lacey's close girlfriends whom I've got to know over the last 2 retreats... Kathy, Kelly (the fabulous retreat organizer & host!), Me & Troy and in front Nicki & Lacey.

While I was gone, David rented a Harley for the weekend. He, Paul & 2 of Paul's friends took off on a Ride through North GA, Tennessee & North Carolina. It was the perfect weekend to go, the leaves are changing and they got some fantastic pictures. David said it was really, really cold when they left at 7am, but it warmed up by about 10 and they enjoyed the rest of their Ride. Here are a few of the highlights:

David rented this Harley Soft Tail from a local dealership

All 4 bikes at the State Line - David takes some great pictures. =)

Beautiful!!

David got home just before I did and had time to shower before we headed over on the Bike to Paul & Bethany's for dinner. It was the first time I'd been on a bike since our honeymoon and I forgot how scary it is when you get up to 50+ mph...it was great fun though. I'll have to get Paul to take me out for a ride now and then to keep me used to it. Anyway, Bethany had made some fantastic soup that warmed the boys up and made the perfect ending to a great weekend.

Fall Adventures in North Georgia

On Sunday, we headed up to Ellijay with Paul & Bethany for a day of apple picking that turned into a day of Bethany & I taking about 1000 pictures between us and having a super fun time doing it! We have such wonderful husbands to sit and hang out while we ran around and took pictures of everything, even indulging us to stop wherever we wanted to take some more.

We had originally planned on heading into the Apple Festival, but it looked pretty lame, so we just kept on driving. We knew we'd run into an Apple Orchard eventually and about 10 miles later we did. We picked apples, took lots of pictures, and of course volunteered to take everyone else's pictures so they could have family portraits of their apple picking adventure. It was pretty funny, but everyone appreciated it. =) Afterwards, we headed into the store for a snack. Everyone but me had fried pies...Paul & Bethany had theirs with ice cream. I however, had the yummiest caramel apple I'd ever had - Calories be damned...it was sooo worth it.

The Orchard

My favorite photo of the day

Paul & Bethany in the Orchard

David & I in the Orchard

Bethany breaking the rules - we weren't supposed to eat the apples off the trees!! =)

Paul juggling apples

We did have the boys take some pictures of us!

David sitting among the apples

Next we headed up towards Amicalola Falls State Park and on the way, we ran into a HUGE Pumpkin Farm. Of course we wanted to stop so with only a 25 minute time limit (the boys wanted to make sure we made it to the falls before dark) we ran ahead and got in as many shots as we could (while still taking everyone else's pictures =) and Paul was thrilled to find a white pumpkin.

Paul & Bethany with their white pumpkin...there was promise of stew or something yummy made out of that pumpkin!

Our sweet husbands patiently hanging out while we ran around and took pictures

We finally got back on the road to the Falls and made it before Dark. The leaves were just starting to change and it was absolutely lovely! We decided we'd go back another day and hike to the bottom of the falls then into the lodge and stay the night.

What a beautiful view from the top of the falls!!
This picture is kinda dark, but it's too funny to not post. There were many a silly pictures taken of all kinds of things, but this one makes me laugh. Bethany & I constantly discover how much we are alike...it often frightens both us and our husbands. I guess we were destined to either love or hate each other. Thankfully its the former, she's such a good friend!

It started getting dark about 7:30, so we started towards home in search of dinner. We were in the foothills of the Appalachians and the sun was setting so beautiful. So of course, we had to stop one last time and get pictures of it. It was quite chilly by then, it couldn't have been over 50 degrees, so we took them quickly. I just kept thinking God's smiling at us. My friend Lacey did a scrapbook for her daughter's first year and the last page is the sunset on her 1st birthday and she titled the page "God Smiled". I think of that every time I see a gorgeous sunset and this was no exception.
Good friends and a fun relaxing day enjoying God's creation - who can ask for more?

My Craft Closet!

At long last, here are the pictures of my craft closet.  I am so excited about it, it's the perfect place for me to scrapbook & sew.  David put in a new light and ran electricity in the space as well so I can use my lamp and a small space heater for the winter months - since it's in the basement and it does get a little chilly down there!

It's kind of a strange angle, but you get the idea.  

Thanks to IKEA for all the super organizational tools!

The table folds out and rolls so I can move it into the main room if I'm sewing, but for scrapbooking I just need one side up and everything is easily within reach. It's the perfect space for me to be a creative mess. =0) 

Our New Addition

We are pleased to introduce our newest family member, Benjamin Scott. As is our custom, we named him after one of our all time favorite artists, this time a musician, Ben Folds. We will call him Scotty for short as we just can't call a cat Benji. He's 13 weeks old and is just a super sweetie. He's part Russian Blue, part Maine Coon, and possibly part something else, they weren't sure. He's solid gray and has the cutest black whiskers and brown nose. We had gone to the adoption agency with another kitten in mind, but we saw him being so calm and docile as his 4 cage-mates (some of whom were his siblings) acted crazy and climbed all over him. We thought that was a good sign since Marty is such a quiet little guy.

We brought him home and the introduction exceeded our expectations. Marty was very excited and couldn't wait for us to open the door of the carrier and let him out. Marty immediately climbed into the crate and licked his new brother. They have done so well with each other, we can't believe it.

Scotty is definitely interested, but not overly so, in Marty and the feeling seems to be mutual. Marty has shown a few signs of aggression, but Scotty doesn't seem to mind. They mostly just stay near each other and show interest, but don't get too close. =)

David has made a strong effort to not let our new little one sleep on him, hasn't played with him when Marty is around, and more importantly has given Marty as much attention as possible to let him know that he is still Daddy's boy. Thankfully, Scotty was really attached to his foster mom, of the human variety, so he has bonded with me which is also good news since our Vinny Boy was definitely more my baby.

So far, he is very much a lap cat. If he is going to sleep, he wants to sleep in the arms of someone...so far he's not particular about who. =) Here he is sleeping with his new daddy:

Bethany came over today, since Paul is in AZ for his brother's wedding, and Scotty has spent a good chunk of time in her lap too. He's such a social little guy, we couldn't ask for anything more!

For those of you who are interested, we decided to get a new kitten now since Marty has shown so many signs of loneliness. Thursday I stayed home from work and I heard him chirping (he never makes noise, so this is rare) and went to check on him. He was standing at the window sill with his nose pressed against the glass, purring so loud I could hear him before I could see him (again, rare) and shaking. I just about lost it. There was a neighborhood kitty in the bushes and they were staring at each other...Martin has shown other signs, but this was kinda the final straw. I called David at work and told him what was going on. While I was on the line with him, the kitty ran away and Marty ran through the house looking through all the windows until he couldn't find him anymore and he looked so deflated and sad. We both decided that it was time to get him a new sibling. We had originally thought we'd wait until after Christmas before even thinking about getting another cat...but in the end, we want Marty to be happy and if a friend will make him happy, a friend it is.

Yup, we're 30...

Where does the time go? I can't believe that David and I turned 30 last month. To celebrate our birthdays, we asked Chris, Carol & the kids to come down for the weekend in between our birthdays. Friday night Carol & I just hung out and watched TV with Anne while Chris & David enjoyed cigars on the deck with our friend & Pastor Jim. I love low key nights with family. =)

Saturday morning, Carol, Mae & I headed out to a summer baby consignment sale where I hunted for a few goodies for Lacey and Carol looked for an Exersaucer for Anne. We hit the jackpot there and afterwards, they rode along as I run a few errands for work. I love this picture Carol took of Mae as we drove along. It was the first real windows-down day of the season!

We had decided just to have a simple small BBQ for lunch on Saturday and invited our friends Paul & Bethany join us. It was low key afternoon (well as low key as things can be with 4 kids 5 & under!) but we had a wonderful time and enjoyed lots of yummy food.

Here's Paul with Anne - he became an instant hit and the newest jungle gym.

Wilson, Anne & I...I love my kiddos!!

David & Paul...not sure how to explain this one...

Us with our friends Paul & Bethany

Afterwards, David & Chris headed to the IMAX to see the Dark Knight (yes for those of you counting, that's the 4th time for David!!) and Carol & I took the kids to the fair. My staff was working the fair, so I was able to get us in for free, but rides had to be paid for. It was definitely an interesting experience. I am glad I have all these nieces and nephews to love on and really grow as an Aunt - hopefully learning how deal with them will make me a better mom when I get there. I really struggle with the whining and the fair definitely brought forth some whining. I can't seem to remember that kids don't know how to appreciate things in the moment and more importantly that selfishness is at the root of all of us (and it's just more blatantly obvious with kids who speak their mind!) We did have a good time though and the kids got to enjoy a few rides before we ran out of money and headed home for dinner. After everyone was in bed, Carol & I lounged around with Anne & watched a movie - it was a really great night.

Mae on the Carousel - I wasn't sure if she liked it or not during the ride, but she did want to go again.

The boys on the rocket ride, Mae wasn't tall enough for this one...

Bennett, Wilson & Mae on the Boats. I love their expressions! Well worth the WAY too much money it costs to go to the fair.

Sunday we went to church and the message was fabulous. We are so grateful for Jim, our preacher. We have been so fortunate to be in churches where the pastors are real and they aren't afraid to admit it in their sermons. Afterwards, we ate lunch at our favorite little "family owned restaurant", the Italian Oven, before heading home to get the van packed up and the Clark's headed off. We so enjoy spending time with our family, it's the only reason we moved to Atlanta. We're grateful that they are so close by and that we can see them as much as we do.

For our actual birthdays, we just went out to dinner. Small simple celebrations, just the 2 of us. David decided that he wanted to get me a gift this year and he surprised me with the stand and pedal set for my keyboard.

I've been taking piano lessons since August and it was so sweet of him to think of that for me. I love the new stand, the keyboard actually fits on it and it's so much easier to play. Plus, I'm just about to start learning how to use the pedals, so it's nice to have some! =) We don't usually do gifts for each other - really no gifts for Christmas, Valentines, Anniversary, or Birthdays - we never have, but occasionally we do decide to do something special, and that was special. He's such a sweet husband, I'm a lucky lady.