Trip To Georgia

Last weekend we visited Stone Mountain Park .

Tthe Snow Tube Runs as seen from on top of Stone Mountain.
We rode these after dark because our tickets for tubing were for 9-11pm.
It was so much fun !!

Cherub 2 coming from her first Snow Tube ride.

Cherub 5 building a snowman in the Snow Play Area.

Cherub 6 tried everything available -- snow shoveling, using buckets of snow to build multiple snow men, making snow angels, helping build an ingloo, and wearing snow shoes.

Cherub 1 after a snowball fight.

Cherub 1 (far left) helping construct an igloo.

Cherub 3 and Cherub 4 were Snow Tube Buddies.

Cherub 4 loved playing in the snow.

Cherub 6 eating a GRACELAND sandwich at the Bistro. This sandwich was toasted bread with peanut butter, banana slices, and chocolate chips. Yummy !! It is named the GRACELAND because supposedly it was Elvis's favorite sandwich ?!?!

The Atlanta Skyline as seen from the top of Stone Mountain.

DadToCherubs and the 6 Cherubs from the fence on Stone Mountain ... which was very high ... and a very steep walk down to the fence. Yikes !

Information about the Sky Tram that we rode to the top of Stone Mountain.

Six very excited Cherubs upon their arrival at Stone Mountain Park.

Six Cherubs waiting for Dad to get the park entrance tickets at Stone Mountain.

(Patience is not a family trait - ha !)

The actual Stone Mountain carving - of Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee, and Jefferson Davis.

Impatience

Our weather is beautiful considering it is only the beginning of February. Our days are in the mid to upper 60's. It is precisely this weather which makes me so impatient. I want to get outside in the garden and start planting; to feel the sun on my shoulders and the dirt on my hands again; to admire all of God's incredible creation.

But it is simply too early, so I am trying to to focus on perusing the garden seed catalogs and on planning. The "research" phase is not nearly as fun as the actual gardening, but it does seem to help bide the time. (HA !)

Yesterday during our lunchtime, the children were chattering about shorts and sandals; about working and playing in the garden; about swimming again. I just did not have the heart to tell them that this is a brief respite in our "winter", and that there are probably several cold snaps coming before it is truly spring again.

It seems our feelings for our gardens are not uncommon.

Nathaniel Hawthorne said, "I used to visit and revisit it a dozen times a day, and stand in deep contemplation over my vegetable progeny with a love that nobody could share or conceive of who had never taken part in the process of creation. It was one of the most bewitching sights in the world to observe a hill of beans thrusting aside the soil, or a rose of early peas just peeping forth sufficiently to trace a line of delicate green."

The Old Home

"Because of their importance, we must not neglect our homes in the rapid changes of the present day. For when tests of character come in later years, strength to the good will not come from the modern improvements or amusements few may have enjoyed but from the quiet moments and the 'still small voices' of the old home."

-- Laura Ingalls Wilder, 1923

Congress's War On Toys

Check Out This Article !

http://thephoenix.com/Boston/News/76302-Congresss-war-on-toys/

I cannot begin to imagine what the real impact

of this law is going to look like .... YIKES !

Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival

Today's Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival is up, and Jeanne at Peaceful Day has done a lovely job of putting it together, and even took the time to introduce herself to those who don't yet know her! Please stop by to say hi and to read all the great submissions HERE .
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Don't forget to submit your own article next time, which will be hosted at Beck's Bounty! Use this Submission Form .

They Say The Funniest Things

We awoke this morning to find that all of the snow was still on the ground. We checked the weather and learned that the predicted high temperature today is a bit of 32. Burrrr !! And so ......

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BACKGROUND: DadToCherubs said that he expected as much when we discussed the "situation" last night, while watching the children sled for "one more hour" between 9-10pm in the shining headlights. Quietly, we hatched our "Tuesday Plan" in whispers covered well by hoots, hollars, shrieks, and the swooooosh of toboggans sailing down the hill. (insert evil laugh here) The neighbors must think we are completely crazy ! HA !! Afterwards, everyone headed to bed quickly and quietly because "tomorrow is a school day".

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Early this morning, just as the children were getting out their school books this morning, I declared a SCHOOL DELAY (DadToCherubs secret "Tuesday Plan").

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The agreement is that when we have lunch today (around 12noon), we will begin our school work after we are finished eating.

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So, six Cherubs raced to get bundled up in the coats, snowpants, hats, and gloves, all the while singing my praises at the top of their lungs .... MOM IS WONDERFUL .... THE BEST MOM IN THE WHOLE WORLD .... WORLD'S GREATEST MOM .... FANTASTIC MOM ... but my favorite of all "praises" was from Cherub 6, who said THE BEST MOM I HAVE EVER HAD.

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Perhaps that whole 6th labor and delivery

was just a dream ?!?!?

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The Cherubs have been outside in the snow ever since ! Who would have thought just 1 1/2 " of snow could bring so much joy to a few Cherubs ?!?!

SNOW DAY !!

Isn't it beautiful ?

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I'll bet DadToCherub's Aunt (GranAnnie)

would say she is sick of looking at it.

She lives in Connecticut and has had lots of snow.

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But when it is so rare, as it is here,

a snow-covered landscape

is a SPECTACULAR VISION !

The Diva (Daisy), resting after romping in the snow.

When watching her romp,

it was hard to believe she is at least 16yo.

" Mom & Dad" created with love by 6 Cherubs.

Note the BIG smile and the closed eyes.

The snowflakes kept landing in Cherub 6's eyes

so he had to keep them closed tightly (so he explained).

Bella, our Great Pyrenees, had a GRAND time.

She romped and played, ran, dove into snow piles,

lapped up flakes, chomped down snowballs,

and had a grand time.

What a hoot she was to watch !

Another snowDAD.

With every conflict the question is asked ....

Who fired the first shot ??

Well, HERE is the official "starter" of the Snow War.

I have it on good authority from 6 "unbiased" Cherubs

that today was THE BEST SNOW DAY EVER.

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While just over an inch of snow fell today,

our Cherubs (and dogs) certainly made the best of it !!

Groundhog Day

ABOVE: General Beauregard Lee of Yellow Game River Ranch in Lilburn, Gerogia. http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2009/02/02/groundhog_spring_yellow_river.html
General Beau Lee saw his shadow and says there will be 6 more weeks of winter.
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BELOW: Punxsutawney Phil of Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,486491,00.html
Pux Phil indeed saw his shadow, and so predicts 6 more weeks of winter.

I guess it's official now ... 6 more weeks of winter. Hummmmm.

Super Bowl Sunday

An American Experience --

to watch the Super Bowl.

We began this tradition

last year.

(We are not usually tv-sports-watchers)

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We made lots of yummy snacks --

mozzarella sticks, potato skins,

buffalo wings, Chex Mix, veggies

with ranch dip, chicken strips with

dipping sauces, and seasone

potato wedges.A picnic in the family room just as the game began.

The Cherubs watching the game.
Because we are not Football fans,
we decided to root for the Cardinals simply
because they were the underdogs.
We watched the Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet
during inappropriate commericals and
while all of the "chatterboxes"
were sharing their game commentaries.
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The commercials were not
AS racy as in past years.
But, I would NEVER
use "go daddy". Their commericals
were just plain lewd - they should
be ashamed ! And I will commit to
not using companies that use
"go daddy". AWFUL !!
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The game is almost over now ....
they are awaiting the
"call" on that last touchdown ...
which was just called "in bounds".
So, it appears, with just 20 seconds left,
and a few debasted calls, that this Super Bowl
winner is the Pittsburg Steelers.
(but it was soooo close there at the end.)
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And now the Cherubs and I are off to bed ... late.
Tomorrow is a school day.

Nature Found Him !

Normally, we head out to find elements in Nature.

But today, Nature found a boy ...

Cherub 1 to be exact !

This guy grabbed onto Cherub 1's boot

while he was fishing this afternoon.

(the pen is to show size - this guy is HUGE !)

Needless to say, Cherub 1 was VERY

thankful he was wearing boots !

(The "finder" was caught in a bucket, photographed,

and then released back into the pond.)

Feeding The Babies

Each of the Cherubs had the privilege this week of helping the Dairyman feed the babies .... baby cows, that is .... calves. I was given a turn too. They are soooooo cute .... but more drooley that I remember any of MY babies being. HA !

The BABY BOTTLES are huge !!

Master Bedroom - FINISHED !

Oops ! They posted backwards again. Sorry.
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I spent the weekend prepping, priming, and painting our Master bedroom. And DadToCherubs "took over" the meals and running of the household while I was working. Isn't he sweet ?!?!?
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Our room looks so much better ! DadToCherubs and I just realized -- we have never "finished" our master bedroom, in 16 years together. We have always used whatever was left over, and our room has often become the dumping ground, nursery, and overflow storage.
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So this lovely restful organized space is quite a treat for us.
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AFTER PHOTOS

(on this nearly 60 degree Sunday, we even got to open the windows.

See the curtains blowing ?!??!)

BEFORE PHOTOS

(actually taken while prepping - I almost forgot to take before photos.)