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The lone surviving coffee mug going in the box. Will it survive the move?

Saying Goodbye...

Good byes feel a lot like there's been a death in the family. You'll be doing something ordinary like loading the dishwasher and a stupid coffee mug willake you start crying your eyes out. It wasn't just any coffee mug. It was the sole surviving coffee mug that I bought with my best friend from high school, Donna. I waited seven years to buy coffee mugs that match my kitchen. And just in late April of this year while I was out with Donna shopping that I would finally buy new mugs. I even joked that now that I finally was buying matching mugs we would probably end up moving. At the time I had no inclination at all that a huge move was lingering on the horizon. We laughed about it and finished checking out. Just a few short weeks later I had to call her and let her know that the coffee mug prophecy was, in fact, coming true. From that point we knew today would come. Our last simple spur of the moment, what are ya doing today kinda visit. Today wasn't goodbye it was merely see ya later and I know this because our friendship has endured decades of separation.

We met when she was in 8th grade and I was in 9th. She played trumpet and I played trombone in our high school band. I think our meeting probably involved eye rolling over some nonsense we were made to do because we were famous for our eye rolling back then. If it wasn't eye rolling then it was note passing. She was there for me through thick and thin. Through broken hearts and high school drama. We had our own little tiffs but nothing that ever separated us for long. Not until we went our separate ways for college. After that she moved to Montana and I got married. Had it not been for Facebook we might still have been wondering what ever happened to the other. Three years ago we found each other on Facebook and never looked back. It was as though nothing had changed. That's true friendship when you meet up after 15 years and things are like you never missed a day. Of course, things have changed a little now we just plot trouble and don't ever carry out the plans. Our most naughty thing to do is go shopping at the Christmas tree shop. Yes, that is what happens to you as you age. You plot mustard balloon atttacks and go shopping instead. We both have boys the same age and hope that they will remain life long friends as we have managed to do. Like that lone surviving coffee mug our friendship will last through every mismatched kitchen we own because with real friends it doesn't matter what the mug looks like it only matters who is drinking from it. Love ya girly!

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pirate golfing

Roughing It

The trip down yesterday went very well. When I say that I mean no flat tires, no over heating of the car and no dead children. I guess they are finally growing up because I didn't once have to use the dreaded "if I have to pull this car over...." line. We have one more trip with Bill driving us home that we will be all squished together then the rest of the trips will all the kids will be divided up between cars.

You're probably wondering why I called this post roughing it. No, we aren't camping. Are you insane? It is a oven outside and that oven evidently is heaven for snakes and bugs which has me totally creeped out. Bill was telling me that people at work were telling him about special gloves you can buy to do yard work so snakes and scorpions don't bite you. My response? "have fun with that yard work honey! Where have you moved us??". Thankfully, the yard work won't be too difficult because it's already mulched for the year. I have a hard time believing snakes are frequent visitors in developments. We'll see. You'll probably be able to hear me scream the whole way in PA! Yet another reason to get a new dog....instant snake alarm! Can you buy specially trained snake alerting dogs? Also, there is the minor detail of scorpions. Yes, you read that right and no, it wasn't some bizarre autocorrect! Supposedly, they aren't full sized and the bite won't sicken you. When Bill told me sometimes they get in the house you know the first thing I said? "Get a pest control company on speed dial and nail every window and door shut!" and then he said, "They're little just this big" and he holds his thumb and pointer finger about an inch and a half apart. Of course, my reply was that of any sane female. "I stop killing bugs by myself when they reach the pout that you need to use two fingers to measure them!!!" Is he insane?!?!

Anyway, the real reason I titled this post "Roughing It" was because there is nothing to do while staying in a hotel room. Evidently, long term business stay hotels don't come with pools! So, what do you do with five people in a hotel room? I'll give ya a hint the answer isnt go curl up, and enjoy the quiet by reading a book. The answer is you spend all your free time driving from place to place finding stuff to do. Sound like fun? Not after you just spent 14 hours in a car! The other reason it's called roughing it is because when someone's air mattress pops at 4:45 and you're the mom you just end up staying up posting a blog update!

Hopefully, today we'll actually get to North Point Community Church. Last time we were here we ended up driving around looking at houses on Sunday. If we do I'll try to post some pics. Anyone know how to easily get pictures from your iPhone camera to blogger? I haven't figured that one out yet.

Passing the Time Packing Boxes



Lake Allatoona



Yes, the water was deep enough!



The insanity continues!  Even Bill looks a little nervous about this stunt!  He was the one that steadied Zach on the top rail though!



My calmer one!



"It's really hot!  But I'm still too cool for the fountains at Centennial Olympic Park!"



Smiling now though!



The only child that would pose for the camera!





Visiting the World of Coke



Walking the red carpet.....

Cheers to a new life in Georgia!  These spoiled rotten little peaches are enjoying the icey cold Coke in a glass bottle!

We are preparing for our second trip to Georgia.  I am so dreading this trip.  It takes FOREVER!!!  We have to make the trip down to officially enroll the kids in schools and so Kirsten can attend softball camp at the high school.  So we will be gone for a week and then home for a weekend and then we are officially peaches on July 17th.  I think that is when the adventure will start to get fun.  I mean let's face it my funniest material came from staying in a hotel and drinking bad coffee.  I have solved the bad coffee problem issue by packing my own coffee pot.  I know, I know I have an addiction.  Better to just feed the addiction than to deal with the withdrawal, trust me you do not want to witness me without my coffee!!!  The kids are just finishing up a night swim at 11:15pm.  Yes, my neighbors won't miss this part of my parenting.  Oh well!  Better go chase down the wet towels and wet children.  Before I go I'm adding some pictures from our last trip to Georgia! Enjoy!