Charley’s 1st Tater Day Festivities

We have yet to be in town for the actual Tater Day Parade, but we were in town this year for some of the weekend festivities.  Granddaddy Charlie, Granddad Mike and Daddy took Charley down to the co-op to see the chickens and ducks.  They walked around a little bit, but it was pretty chilly and rainy and didn’t last too long.  The only “junk” they came home with was a pink ball, and since it wasn’t “living” I was ok with that.

Charley’s 1st (and last for a while) Braves Game

Craig has dreamed of the day he could take Charley to her first Brave’s game, so when the Artley’s asked us to go to opening day, it seemed like the perfect time.  As soon as we got home from Easter, we washed clothes and re-packed for an early start the next morning for our quick trip to Atlanta.  For the most part, the kids were great on the trip, but wiped out after the long drive, lunch and trip to Ikea.  Unfortunately, they finally fell asleep on the way to the game, and Miss Priss really didn’t get her nap out.  We dressed her and were prepared to buy a Brave’s t-shirt, but she refused to get one.  She kept saying, “no shirt, no shirt!”  Before we found our seats, we did get a few cute pictures, but all in all, here is my take away from the game experience:

1. Pay the extra money for better seats, because the nose bleed section is not for small children.  Not only did we have to carry her up and down the stairs 10 times to change her diaper, but she dropped her juice down the aisle, and it ping-ponged all the way down forcing lots of stares in our direction.  And don’t even get me started on the “spring-break” crowd that we were around.

2. Make sure she weighs enough to hold the seat down.  She refused to sit with us, but someone had to have their hand or foot on her seat at all times.

3. Do NOT take her to the gift shop!  We couldn’t leave without the ugliest, bug-eyed pig and HUGE, red sucker, just like Sam!  :)  I paid with Craig’s bank card!

Sam was great at the game, and you could tell that he loved it!!!  Charley did start to get excited for the "tomahawk chop” and loved the planes that flew over during the national anthem.  Craig and Josh were like two little kids when Chipper Jones threw out the first pitch, since he retired last year.  And my nachos and diet coke were pretty great.

Before we came home, we went took the kids to the aquarium.  I am so glad that Sam loved it, because Charley wasn’t really interested.  Her main focus was pushing buttons on the information computers, not for the information but for the button pushing.  She also really like asking for Sam’s snacks and her juice!  We spent most of our time looking at the beluga whales, sea otters and at the dolphin show.  The aquarium was so big and interesting, so we will have to try that one again when Charley’s attention span is a little larger!

Despite Charley’s lack of interest, we had a great time on our quick trip.  Charley LOVES Josh, Rachel and Sam, and it doesn’t matter what we do with them, we always have a great time.

Easter in Kentucky

We spent Easter, like we do every year, in Kentucky.  A few days after Charley’s birthday, Granny Martha spent a week in the hospital with pneumonia.  She is much better now, but it took her a few weeks to regain her strength, and she really wasn’t at full capacity on Easter, so Amma and I really stepped in and made sure we had a yummy feast.  Even though Granny Martha isn’t really “go-with-the-flow” and in her mind “her way” is the only way to do things, she enjoyed everything and even complemented my green beans without hogs jaw!  We went to church, spent most of the afternoon at Granny Martha and Granddad Charlie’s house since Granddad Mike was working nights and needed to sleep, then had dinner and an Easter egg hunt at Granny Katherine and Papa’s house.  I forgot the camera charger, so I didn’t end up with pictures of the egg hunt....Charley really started to catch on to the egg hunt idea and would shake her eggs to see if they had any “monies” in them!

Charley got two Easter baskets this year.  Amma and Granddad had her a cute Minnie Mouse basket with a play outfit, candy and super cute binoculars (like Granddad’s) that she loves.  They also got her some “Chooze” shoes, but they didn’t fit in her Easter basket.  The Easter bunny filled Charley’s basket with a cute Nike outfit, a princess book, a potty book, eggs filled with candy, a princess crown and dress up doll game.  Granny Martha and Granddaddy Charlie gave her a “numa-nums” (M&M’s) egg and gum, Mamy and Pops gave her a cute Easter purse, Mimi and Grandy sent her some Easter money, and Granny Katherine and Papa gave her a money egg that we put in her piggy bank.  

Two unrelated topics:

1. The entire time, plus a few weeks after, Granny Martha’s hospital stay Charley would say, “Amma’s in Kentucky, Granny Martha’s sick.” It was so sweet and such a mouthful for her!

2.  This is the last picture of the jeep :(  Granddad Mike traded it for a truck and I am not very happy about that!  Maybe there is another jeep in our future, hopefully!!!  But I am pretty sure a jeep hood has never looked so adorable!