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We had a two day family vacation to Atlanta this past weekend. Went over Friday morning, stopped in Social Circle to eat at a Southern Living recommended place (quite good food) The Blue Willow Inn then headed to the hotel. James went into Midtown and did some work for a few hours then my mother came and watched the girls while we went to Braves game with James' dad and Anna. The next day we did the aquarium in the morning and then headed to Ashley's wedding (a cousin of mine). After the wedding we took the long way home by way of La Grange to say hi to Grandy in the hospital and got home at midnight Saturday night. On Sunday we had a short visit from Sonal and Harris two old friends from FSU that live in Houston now. Last time we got to see them was at our wedding so it's been a while. Overall it was a great weekend though I think all of us could use a day of sleep to help rest up. Blogger doesn't seem to want to laod pictures so I'll load them as soon as it is working.

It's been a while since we have gotten pictures up here so it is time that we show you what we have been up to. The girls are getting into everything lately they are running faster and faster everyday and it seems that the favorite game has become chase. Kate loves it all the time and Emma loves it when you are trying to gather them up for diaper changes or nap time. In terms of the rest of us... James works with someone who must have a very large garden every week he brings home tons of tomatoes, squash zucchini and a few cucumbers. I have tried to be the good wife and have learned how to blanch and freeze squash and this past weekend when Anna was here we both took a Housewife 101 crash course in canning (which I feel should really be called jarring). We put up 8 pints of tomatoes to which James promptly came home on Monday with another crate of tomatoes. I think he must feel that I don't do enough around here. My goal is to can those today sometime before we leave for Atlanta and Ashley's wedding. James has to do some work on a router that work has there so we are excited that they will paying for gas there and back.

In case anyone ever needs a tip on canning... we did learn this weekend that if you don't have a canning rack and all the gadgets they say you need that's okay. A dish towel in the bottom of pot under the jars works perfectly and a good pair of tongs is all you need. The frugal way to do it is always best!!



This is Emma and her Daddy's home smile. James came home one night with the camera ready.









We are attempting to learn to eat by ourselves. You can see by the way that Kate is holding the spoon and the end she eating off of that we have a way to go before we figure it out. That and everytime we try it has to be followed by bath time because they have food all over them.






On our trip to Tally we got to see Jenny's Dad's family. This is Kate getting a tutorial in the TV remote from her Great Uncle Bubba (not many people in the world have one of those!!). It's hard to tell if she is concentrating or sleeping...

I actually picked up the camera this weekend. That means pictures for you, soon. We had a pretty good weekend. It probably ranked up at the top of any of the weekends of the last couple of months of study. Anna came to see us. Friday I tried to finish up my dad's new computer so I could send it with Anna. I've actually started getting things done around the house.

Last night, as I was coming home from work, it looked like it was about to storm. We have had a leak in the roof since we moved in. And we probably weren't the first owners of the house to have the leak. A few weeks ago, it rained really hard and I noticed that the light in the laundry room had started buzzing very slightly. The next morning it was off. The light fixture was warm though. I ended up taking the globe off of the light to find that not only was it filled with water, but the light bulb was too.

I went out on the roof with a caulk gun and sealed the corner of the house where we thought rain was coming through. I think I sealed it fairly well, but not perfectly. Only drips were making it through during the thunderstorm we had last night.

So, to Jenny's utter glee, I finished studying for my CCNA certification and took the test. I passed and earned a very desired certification in the networking world. I thought about it on the way home from the test and I would put this whole deal as being about a 4-5 hour class at a major university in terms of what I learned. So, its not huge, but I did it at the same time I was working so it was a little more demanding than a college class for a full time college student.

So, my boss had a great idea to encourage us to do good work by rewarding us for 3-4 completed projects with a day on the lake. Yesterday was the day. We left work at 11 and went to a state park like area (although not a state park). We had hamburgers and other grilled goodies and then went out on his pontoon boat. When I say pontoon boat, that may give you the impression that we put-putted around the lake. But the thing had a 115 horsepower outboard on it so it has a little get up and go.

I rode both the jetskis he brought, too. I think a good time was had by all... one of my coworkers even tried out his scuba dry-suit. Can't wait to finish up some more projects!!

Had a weight check at the doctors this morning. Kate has gained 1.5 pounds in the last month... Emma has gained 6 ounces. He seemed okay with it at this point and we are scheduled to go back next month to weigh in and get 15 month shots. If anything the good news for Emma is that she is now back on the chart technically and out of the name and info box. They are both still far under the first line on a growth chart which is the 3% line. For height and head circumference they are around the 50% range though so at least we are normal in something.

Here is a link to a growth chart if you don't know what I am talking about. Emma has been sitting in the Mother/Father Stature area and has now gotten back on the chart itself. Yeah Emma!!

We are back from Florida. It really feels like home here now and even more so after a long trip. The trip was uneventful, the girls started voicing their dislike of road trips about an hour and a half out of Columbia but they did well overall. It's amazing what you find yourself doing just to keep your kids happy, an example being driving down the interstate and making motor boat sounds (also known as raspberries) for miles on end. Everyone got to bed a little late, the girls got to see their first fireworks courtesy of our across the street neighbor who spent more than we could ever imagine on a nice fireworks show (fireworks of all kinds are legal here). Now we get to pick up all the pieces of it in our front yard. I guess its the price you pay for a free show. I was half wondering the whole time he was shooting them off if one of us should be in the front yard armed with a water hose just in case. Everything is still standing today though with no signs of damage. Now begins the laundry and cleaning to get back into the routine of being home, that and a big trip to Wally world to restock the fridge.