Atlanta - There & Back

Chip's birthday is tomorrow and I planned a mini-surprise of a two day, one night trip to Atlanta with the kids. Our plan was on Friday to drive down mid-day, go to the new-ish Georgia Aquarium then to dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe (nice and loud so our kids don't disturb anyone!). Our hotel is across the street from the Aquarium and has an indoor pool. For Saturday, the plan was to eat breakfast, swim some more while it warmed up outside and then head to the Atlanta Zoo on a day it was supposed to be in the 50's.

So, we left. Midday, as planned. We went to the aquarium, as planned. We began walking to the Hard Rock Cafe, as planned. And that is where our weekend plans changed! It was so windy that we couldn't make it the several blocks walking like we planned. So we turned around and ate at the Johnny Rockets in our hotel. It was great, casual, just like we prefer! Plus, Chip and I love Johnny Rockets b/c it reminds us of Memphis, where they are on every corner. We went back to our room and changed and we were able to swim for a long time before bed last night. It took the kids about an hour and a half to finally settle down long enough to get to sleep, but eventually it happened around 9:30 or 10. Around 11PM, Kendall woke up screaming and coughing. I was convinced she had the fastest onset of the Croup I had ever seen. Her cough was awful. She never did fully wake up and I don't know how Cooper never woke up as he was laying right beside her. It was difficult to calm her down and so it wasn't until about 2AM that she finally fell into a good sleep.

When we all woke around 7:30 this morning (to Cooper telling us that it WAS sunny outside even though we had the drapes closed as tight as can be). However, Kendall had a temperature of over 101 (why did I even pack a thermometer? For this very reason I guess). So, we took our time getting packed and listening to Cooper cry all morning about going home and not to the zoo. It was heartbreaking! They both did great on the way home and it was a good trip even without the second day! Kendall took a great nap today and hopefully will be feeling better soon!

This was the entrance to the aquarium. We stayed there for a long time and we hadn't even gotten in yet!

The tunnel. I must say, the Gatlinburg tunnel is much better. This was our least favorite part of the GA Aquarium.

Showing off our smiley faces at Johnny Rockets!

The children were nestled all snug in their bed...but not for long! We were singing more like "no more monkies jumping on the bed!"

Swim Lessons!

Most would think that a blog about swim lessons would be short and easy. Not so for this blog and for this swim lesson. There is story that leads to this somewhat productive day.

Last summer, at any pool, Kendall hung out on the steps mostly, but loved to jump off the side and to be carried thru the water, on her belly, kicking like a dolphin. Cooper, on the other hand, swam like a fish. However, all of this "swimming" was done with a life jacket on. I knew before I even purchased the jacket that it was a bad idea. I know the cons to this scenerio. However, our dear friends and neighbors had just finished their pool. Chip was often at work while we were there so I had to come up with a way to survive the summer. I knew I would enroll Coop in swim lessons this winter in hopes to shed the jacket for the '09 summer season.

Kendall is a different story. Some of you may know she has recently begun having bath "issues." We've seen the doctor a few times, talked at great length with our pediatrician/good friend about the what's, where's, how's and why's of this issue she has started having. Kendall hates the bath. Won't get in without a diaper on. It's weird. And been going on for well over a month now. So, I was not confident that 2009 would be the year Kendall started swimming lessons.

We have cancelled swim lessons twice before this week for various reasons. Cooper even stayed home from school today. I think he's a little over-tired and needed to rest. So we rested. Cooper took the first nap in about 3 weeks this afternoon and we were looking forward to the swim lesson today at 5. Cooper awoke from his nap proclaiming "I want to swim Mommy!" I was SO excited.

Then. It happened. He asked for his life jacket. Something else happened. I told him we didn't have it anymore (a lie). This turned Mr. Happy into Mr. Screaming Mad in about .3 seconds. Mimi came to get me after getting Kendall from school for me and something made me grab a swim diaper for Kendall before we left the house even though she refuses to wear them at home anymore. Cooper was still crying when we arrived at the pool.

It's amazing how your greatest plans can change in an instant. Cooper refused to even look at Miss Cassie, the instructor. Kendall, long story short, ended up in a swim diaper, jumping off the side, swimming 'on' her belly, kicking like crazy and impressing Miss Cassie all the while. Cooper eventually swam with Miss Cassie a few times, kicking and screaming at first and then laughing on the ride back to the steps. All in all, it was a successful 30 minutes. Not exactly how I imagined it, but then again, nothing since 2005 really ever is anyway!

Cooper hung out on the steps mostly and dug around in the toy bucket. For his efforts he still received a piece of candy.

We were so thrilled to get the swim diaper on her, we didn't bother with the bathing suit!

Jumping off the side. Kendall definitely had the most fun today! What a pleasant surprise!

Thanks for hanging with me on what is more than likely my longest blog yet.

Please send prayers over to Thailand thru the weekend. Grandad (Terry/Chip's dad) is over there on a mission trip with a small group.

"Blizzard" of '09

That's what many of my friends are calling it, being funny, of course. We got about an inch that barely covered the grass, but it was enough to bring the neighborhood kids running to our "hill" with their sleds. Sleds they've had stored in their attic for years, I might add! Cooper loved it. It wasn't good snowball or snowman snow, but he tried anyway. He also loved sharing our neighbor Nate's sled for a few trips down the hill. Kendall was our little diva that day. She mostly stayed inside and certainly didn't want to get her hands wet or cold! I had to pretty much stand in the door, between Kendall watching cartoons and Cooper refusing to stop playing in the snow!

Kendall eventually came back outside and immediately asked for blankets while she watched the neighborhood kids sled. Cooper wisened up eventually and did the same.

Cooper getting a push from Nathan.

At the top of the "hill" ready to sled!

He really CAN move, it just doesn't look like it!

Playing Hookie

Kendall is doing fantastic, but still cannot play around other children for risk of further injury. We're hoping she'll get the OK to go back to school on Tuesday, but until then, we have had a bit of cabin fever. Since we couldn't go to church this morning, we loaded up and headed to Gatlinburg to visit the Aquarium of the Smokies. We figured it had to be safer for Kendall to do that than to stay home and play with Cooper...they like to wrestle, jump on the couch and chase each other around sharp corners and on slippery surfaces.

Cooper quickly started to make friends when we got to the Aquarium!

Cooper, Daddy and the GIANT CRAB!

Cooper, Mommy and the BIG FISH!

Kendall wasn't quite in the mood for running around (thankfully), so she fish-watched from the stroller mostly.

We were very fortunate to have little company at the Aquarium this morning. That also meant that we had the long tunnel to ourselves and got to really take our time going thru it!

Cooper was in the opposite mood of Kendall today. He ran around, hardly sat in the stroller and said "cheese" on command. Come to think of it, that's pretty much his mood everyday!

Whether you like it or not, this blog is to be continued. We have lots more pictures from the aquarium and lunch in Pigeon Forge.

Mommy and Me Gone Wrong

Cooper started a new daycare last week. He loves it, by the time I pick him up. It's full-time and Kendall doesn't get to go until August. That means, Kendall and I get two days a week just for us. This was our first week that we didn't have plans and so I decided to head to Knoxville to return a couple of things and do a little shopping. While at Kohl's (for those that know the store), our trip was coming to an end, I was almost finished. Kendall was in the stroller provided by the store, with a place for your loot in the back, but all-in-all, it's a regular stroller. She decided she wanted her jacket off, so she stood up and faced backwards for me to help her. Instead of making her sit down to do so, I started taking her jacket off. When her last arm was out, that meant I no longer had a hold of any part of her. She went straight backwards, landing on the floor beneath her. Her head hit first, quickly followed by her neck and back.

After several hysterical minutes (yes, from us both), we left. Long story short, we headed to Children's Hospital where we had to get a CT scan. I say "we" b/c I was pretty much inside the tube with her, trying to get her calm enough to get a good result. Unfortunately, the scan came back saying that Kendall has a small skull fracture. As far as they could tell, she is fine and was sent home with some pretty strict instructions which include waking up every 2 hours for a couple of days, "couch rest" which means no school, no rough play with brother (ha!!) and pretty much no fun for a week!

She has had a nap today and I woke her up after about an hour and 45 minutes b/c I couldn't wait any longer. She was fine. She's enjoying a movie and some pretzels and our DEAR friends Joy and Baby Drew came by with yummy slushies for us to enjoy. That made us feel LOTS better!!!

Please pray for Kendall and that when we see the doctor next week there will be no reason she can't continue with her regular play and activities! This will be a tough week for us all, especially Kendall!

I was really glad I had a paci with me. Today was not the day to try to give that up! Also, the worst part about hospital visits (Besides the obvious) for me is usually the gown. There is something mentally that I HATE about putting my babies in hospital gowns, so I was very grateful we didn't have to do that today! Don't judge me for taking pictures. We were bored!

Marnie and Me

Oh, what a weekend. My dear cousin Marnie came to visit all the way from Massachusetts. The title of our blog is a play on words...She and I went to see "Marley and Me" which is, quite easily, one of the top 5 saddest movies I have ever seen. Great, though, nonetheless. Anyway...Marnie is quite prego and baby Caitlyn is due to arrive in April, so Marnie had to hurry and make her last kid-free visit to Tennessee before she ran out of time. We had a terrific weekend, lots of food and even more laughs (as usual). Here are some photos from our weekend with Marnie.

Kendall was in quite a mood. That mood included smiling on que, anytime we asked.

I just happened to catch Kendall coming down from jumping. And jumping. And Jumping.

GG had cheetos. Not sure why, but the kids LOVED them. So...that was probably why. Last time I checked, Cheetos don't have much sugar, but maybe these did.

Ahhh! Rita (GG) finally makes the blog!

We ate breakfast at Cracker Barrell with Grammy, Grandy, Marnie, Laura, GG and Papa. Kendall ate almost 2 CB pancakes. She's not our picky eater.

Cooper was more worried about how cool he looked than he was about the menu items.

We miss you Marnie. Wicked bad.

;)

Guitar Hero

My sweet cousin Marnie is in town. We've enjoyed a couple of days so far of her company and I have some very nice pictures to show you from her visit. However, that will have to wait. I have even better pictures to show you from a Guitar Hero session in our basement tonight after dinner. For those of you unfamiliar with Guitar Hero, it's a video game...that requires a guitar. That's really all you need to know.

My only regret is my lack of a video camera. Enjoy.

Cooper waited patiently until everyone else was finished.

Lynne, the competitive one, was taking this very seriously!

Poor pregnant Marnie got "booed" off the stage. Better luck next time.

Randy was so cool, he could sit down and play

Yup. Finally posted a picture of myself. And, it's not flattering, so you may never see another one.

Marnie had a great idea...printing this photo and putting it above the mantle downstairs!

The highlight of the evening. I have no words other than we love you, Crazy Papa!

HAPPY 2009!!!

We had the most fun, low-key New Year's Eve I can remember last night and it was SO much fun. We had our dear friends the Carvers and Spauldings over for dinner and to let the kids run wild around the house (which they did). We had our New Year's celebration around 9:27PM (it's 12 o'clock somewhere, right?) and the kids were not even remotely tired. Or fussy, which was amazing given the hour.

Drew Spaulding, Drew Carver (that was fun, having two Drews in a group of just four kids!), Cooper and Kendall. I wonder what their New Year's Resolutions are???

Kendall and Drew, hugging once again. I swear their parents have nothing to do with this love affair. ;)

Cooper wishes everyone a Happy New Year!

All the Webb's wish all of you a very happy 2009 and hope that all your dreams and wishes come true this year!