WHAT WAS THAT??????

Just my opinion........but the girls were terrible tonight on A.I................................i'm just sayin'.
Now I'm gonna see who gets the boot on Big Brother.................lata!

Beautiful to Blah.....just like that!!

Huh??
Hike!.....(is that what they say?)........go long?.........touch down?...............goal?...........shove it?...

Slight traffic jam I'd say!
Whew! Glad to see we escaped the jam! ( the problem probably occured due to Ava not being in the front!..........)

Why am i not surprised that the princess was demanding a ride from another little girl her age? Poor Kailey......she must have been pedalling VERY hard!!!!! (and i guarantee Ava did NOT return the favor!)
WHOOPS! Looks like "the princess" was dropped on her batootie!! (probably on purpose!:-)

How cute are these girls playing jump rope? Especially with the doll in hand!!

We had a BEAUTIFUL day on Monday the kids played outside until 7 (which made dinner, bath and bedtime quite rushed). All of Lakeview Terrace came out to play......in our yard. I'm glad we have such great neighbors, our kids have totally enjoyed getting to know the other kids on our street. Our yard is kind of in the center of all the homes and is visible to all, so when others see that we are out, it doesn't take long for everyone else to come out as well!!

SO HOW IN THE WORLD CAN WE GO FROM THAT KIND OF WEATHER TO THE FRIGID TEMPERATURES OF TODAY????????? I THOUGHT WE LIVED IN THE SOUTH.......FOR A REASON!!!!!!!!!!!!...........................................HHHMMPPPHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

Just for fun............

Ok, now that I've figured out how to post videos to my blog....I will post this little video I made of Hollie's "prom bash" 30th birthday party back in December!!...........just cuz' it was funny!
So here's a little sumthin' sumthin' for your viewing pleasure! .............and make sure your speakers are on!

Aquarium visit and learning to be humans not animals!

Yesterday we took a family trip to the Georgia Aquarium.........(with the 1.3 million other people that decided to go as well!!)................The kids were totally siked and could barely contain themselves. We saw a ton of cool sea creatures and were even able to pet baby sharks and stingrays! (ok, i have to admit that was MY favorite part. The lady on the speaker kept saying...."if you have already had the chance to touch one of these creatures, please step aside so that others can get a chance"...........i'm pretty sure she was talking to me......but this was my favorite thing.....so i wasn't budging!! ha!ha!) Anyways, we really did have fun, except Pete was home sick with the flu/cold....(which i have today!.....ick!), so we missed not having him with us. I'm sure he would have had a few choice words for some of the exhibits!!

These are called "spider crabs"!!
Carters' favorite thing were the whale sharks!
We TRIED to get the kiddies to take a picture with nene and pap pap, but it really wasn't happening!

After the aquarium we were off to one of Atlanta's historical landmarks......Mary Macs tearoom!! This place is soo cool, and when you visit Atlanta, it is likely a place you will be taken to!...........BUT, faithful to protocol, our children had a slight problem behaving! We thought that if the table was CONNECTED to ours, this time maybe they would be able to sit by themselves....(apparently we are very SLOW learners, and do not learn by previous experiences!:-) Not long into the dining experience Nene/Nana was summoned to the "children's end" of the table. Upon arriving she had quite a situation to siege control of. Granted I was on the other end of the table (photographing the events as they happened of course), but I am pretty sure my mom just made things worse! I mean why are ALL the children STANDING on their chairs in the middle of a restaurant as if they were at a rock concert or something?.........and speaking of rock concert.....we were soon serenaded by the children with a song Nene/Nana had taught them entitled "we are humans not animals". (sung at the top of their lungs...........of course.) I think they prefer being animals!

Speaking of little animals.........
Ok, I HAD to snap a picture after Nene took the kids out....(or were asked and escorted out by staff??....i'm not sure). I only got one view as Hollie informed me that the table adjacent with ours did NOT find the humor in my taking pictures under the table!:-)............Whatever!

Hollie was CLEARLY rebelling against the humans vs. animals song............

Oh, the fun doesn't end just because we leave the restaurant! OH NO!..........As we walk to our cars, Carter...(who temporarily traded his identity with spider man i guess) decided he would scale a wall for the heck of it........recruiting some help along the way!!...........Where is this boys' mother anyways??..............(oh, and behind the blinds is a table of people trying to "dine"........)
Well, under complete control now and FINALLY almost to our car, we are on our way home.................as soon as we get through bumper to bumper traffic on a SATURDAY afternoon.....................................................................................only in the ATL baby!!

Our fun trip to the Georgia Aquarium!!

Make sure your speakers are on for this one!! Hope you enjoy!

Last day of winter break!!

Here are the kids (and our dog with the jacked up teeth) trying to wait patiently before it was time to go!
Carter has been on winter break this week, and unfortunately we haven't really done anything too exciting. To make matters worse, after last weekends beautiful weather, we have had nothing but cold rainy weather all week!!.......ughhh!
For some crazy reason though, both kids love going to the gym with me and going to the kids club there. ( personally i think Carter has a crush on the teacher!:-) So, that has been the only highlight each day.........going to the gym! ha!ha! (whatever floats their boat!.......again the simple things in life!!!)
Today we decided to go with our bff's to their club to work out. After Robin and I got done with a GRUELING work out (and a mean green smoothie......), we surprised the chillins' with an afternoon at the indoor pool in the club!
They had a ton of fun and I was happy to see that Carter has maintaned his swimming skills!


It took the princess a bit longer to venture in to the water........she wasn't sure about swimming indoors!!
But, alas......she took the plunge!

Crimp and Krump

I lost something under the table.........
WHAT was Paula drinking tonight anyways??
My sissy and her good friend Kellie!!
Oh to be tall...................

Last night we escaped for yet another girls night!!...........(I wonder when Craig is gonna lay the smack down on my numerous girls' nights??.......oh well, until then....it's still time to parTAY!! HA!) After eating at my new favorite restaurant California Dreaming with some of my gal pals.......we went to see the movie Step Up 2!!!
Of course I loved it..........but my sweet naive friend Robin was "slightly disturbed" to put it in her words................She didn't exactly know what "krumping" was, and couldn't figure out why we were talking about it in context with the movie.............I later had to explain that CRIMPING your hair has NOTHING to do with the dance style called krUmping!!! Upon hearing this she decided she needed a visit with her chiropractor due to the immense strain she then felt in her neck and head............oh Robin, I want to live in your world for just a day!!!!
Oh, and did I mention that the male main character in the movie was F-I-N-E fine!!!!
(not as fine as MY husband OF COURSE........!??......but......oh my.......!:-)

It's only my opinion...again.....

I almost turned A.I. off during the first half, thinking how did these people make it this far? (since I couldn't carry a tune in a bucket, I figure that pretty much makes me a great judge.......?? well, whatever!:-)
BUT, the second half of the girls actually brought it.......redeeming my faith in A.I.!!
Either way the girls totally BLEW the boys out in round one!


Oh, and about almost turning it off........HA! Fat chance! I have a major addiction problem to A.I..............if they ever go off the air, I will have to go to rehab for sure!!!

It's only my opinion.........

All I have to say is that I sure hope that the girls are better than the boys were tonight on American Idol!!??

Paco and Pedro 'get er dun'!!

Our Great friend Paco..(ok, ok, his real name is Robby...but tonight he was Paco) came over tonight to lend a helping hand to dishboy Pedro. I should have tape recorded the dialogue between these two, it was quite funny...........let's just say that after several minutes of "discussing the different possibilities" and still nothing... I casually asked Pedro if the electrical switch in the garage had been turned back on.............yep, you can guess the answer to that one!...................................................SO, after we now had electricity (????!!:-) we were getting somewhere.
Paco found another problem within the dishwasher and using his expertise and a little scotch tape, he "fixed it". I am happy to report that the dishwasher has just finished its first load and I am nervously hoping for many more happy loads with this machine..........how long does scotch tape hold up anyways?
Well, I have to add that Paco was not very happy about the photo session that was going on during this very turbulant time.....in fact I kind of feared for my life!! I'm pretty sure he tried to punch me in the face........but then I mentioned his wifes name and I think I saw tears in his eyes!!???............Obviously she has warned him about being nice to others before!! What was his big problem with the camera anyways?.........Is his visa expired or what?? GEEZ!! I was only trying to keep my promise to Dana and get him featured in the ZT.........hmmmph!


Just for the record.....we LOVE the Matiaks! Thank you Robby! You rock!

Just plain Crazy!!!

Apparently I missed the memo about crazy face day.........
Yikes! Drew looks like he's been on a four day bender....................
Ok, I seriously can't look at this one very long..........good gosh!
If you can't beat 'em....join 'em!!
Hmmm.......things look a little fishy here.....what exactly did I walk in on?

All is well that ends well I suppose. Although I am slightly curious as to why there is a gun holding a few ponies hostage?? I guess I will have to wait till morning to find out.....these two are out COLD!!

It's 70 degrees!!!!

It is an unbelievable beautiful day today! The sun is shining, and it's warm enough for shorts....as you can see with Craig. We decided to go to our favorite place in the neighborhood.........THE LAKE!!! The kids LOVE riding their bikes or just walking here and playing. Of course today is the first time Carter has ever ridden without training wheels.......i think he had the BEST time of us all!

We have three different lakes in our neighborhood, but the kids love this one because of the swan paddle boats they get to ride.

Unfortunately the battery died in my camera right after taking this picture, so this is the only one I got of the kids and Craig in the boat. But, that was ok, because they turned around, picked me up and we all went for a spin on the lake! If anybody ever wants to bring their kids over to ride the "swans", just let me know! It really is fun........and the views are SOOO beautiful!! (even more so in the spring, summer, and fall)

Well, I think I am going to go snooze with the rest of the fam.......I'm pretty sure I am the only one awake right now! What a great sunny lazy Saturday!!

Carter rides and we roll!!

Carter learned how to ride a bike yesterday, and he was perfecting it today!! He is so proud of himself, and we are proud of him too. I guess I know what we'll be doing this weekend!
So Craig and I had our "Valentine" date tonight (actually last night since it's after midnight now!), and we had a great time! Neither of us put much stock in the whole Valentines Day hoopla, but our children were so excited not just about their valentine surprises, but about the fact that mommy and daddy were going on a "valentine date"! Ava wanted to know what we were doing and where we were going, and upon finding out, her reply was......"awww, that's a nice daddy, mommy. You "cited'?" Seriously one of the cutest things she has ever said!!

I've been thinking lately that Craig wouldn't know what to order me to drink at a restaurant because he doesn't seem to pay attention to the little things..........well, I was wrong!
Yesterday when I came downstairs there was a valentines card and a jumbo box of milkduds waiting for me on the counter. Milkduds are my all time favorite candy!........See? he knew that I would throw a fancy box of chocolates in the garbage...............I guess he DOES pay attention after all!
(I got him some "naughty" candy.......ha!ha!hee!hee!.......)

Anyways, we went to the movie Definitely Maybe which was quite good I must say (not as good as Juno, but a worthwhile flick),and then we ate at California Dreaming. I've wanted to try that restaurant since it opened a few months ago. It was awesome! Very fun and funky restaurant, perfect for two fun and funky people!! ha!ha!....................(well, I'm fun and Craig is fun with an extra n and a y on the end! ha!)
Seriously, it was so great just being the two of us. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our life and our children's lives, we neglect to take time for the two of us together. Just taking a night to go out and spend time with eachother is like great medicine for the soul!
It was alltogether a great night!

Ok, time for bed....................dishboy says he's tired! (yes, he is retaining the name dishboy.........due to the fact that the "part" to the dishwasher that was going to "fix everything" arrived today........yet the funniest most UNEXPECTED thing happened when it was "installed"...................STILL NOT WORKING!!....................hmmm, I'm thinking that I MIGHT of, COULD have, most likely DID tell him NOT to go "ordering parts", because he had NO idea what to do with them when they got here anyways..............but alas.........................................sigh...............................remember the milkduds Heidi.................................well, I might have to get a milkduds poster to tape to my dishwasher............................