Thirty-One HOTlanta

Lessons I learned at the Thirty-One conference.

• Driving ten hours on three hours sleep is not a good idea.
• Arriving into Atlanta at rush hour isn't either.
• Make sure you know what is expected of you when sharing hotel rooms with others.
• Being by yourself is ok.
• Eating once a day and that food being crap is not advisable.
• Getting less than three hours of sleep a night is insane.
• All of the above might make you grouchy.
• If you have to go to the bathroom really bad, and have waited in line for 45 minutes, you can wait a little longer to NOT go in the stall with a wet floor and all kinds of nastiness on it.  Please trust me on this one.  The flip flops I had to throw away beg you to.
• Bring an extra pair of flip flops.
• Spanx is always a good idea.
• Purell can save your life.
• I am no longer a teenager.
• The ten hour drive back will not be better than the drive to.
• Charlotte, NC is a NICE place.
• GO THE SPEED LIMIT THE WHOLE TIME THROUGH SOUTH CAROLINA.  I did not get a ticket simply by the grace of God.  I'm sure that doesn't help the lady behind me that got it for going as fast as me.

Realizing I'm no longer a teenager is kind of depressing.  This whole getting old thing stinks.  Anyway, I'm back.  Did you miss me?  What would this whole post be without pictures?  Role call...

Mob scene

HOT-Lanta Bound

I meant to post last night, but my seester and her kids went back to my parents yesterday, and I had to pack!  It's Thirty-One conference time!  I'm about to drive to Atlanta with one of my team members.  I'll be back next week, and I'm not bringing a puter, so....I'll see you then.  Don't worry, my camera is PACKED!

Be safe.  XXXOOO

Happy Birthday, Nicole!!!

Today, Monday, is my niece Nikki's birthday.  Happy birthday, Nikki!  I first met Nikki when she was 3yo.  I can't tell you the story I remember first about her because that wouldn't be right.  It's potty humor.  At one point I tutored Nikki, but really we just read stories and talked.  I don't know if she remembers that, but I do.  That was when I figured out that she had everyone fooled about this needing tutoring and such.  She was very bright and just didn't want to do the work that was boring.  ;)  A kid after my own heart.  Here is Nikki's birthday acrostic.  I'm going to use Nikki instead of Nicole to shake things up a bit.

N- NATURE LOVER  Poor Nik has terrible allergies but loves to be outside.  Even though it's awful on her, she still smells the flowers.  Speaking of which, if flowers come to me to die, they go to Nikki to live.  She has the greenest thumb I've seen since my daddy.
I- IMPERMEABLE  Sometimes Nikki's life is like watching a comedy in spanish.  You don't know what's going on but it's funny.  I have seen and heard things happen to Nikki and the girl just keeps on rolling as if it doesn't bother her.  Kind of like when I get in a huge argument with Kaelyn and she's fine in five minutes.  Nikki's not exactly like that but has something of that characteristic.  I think it's that mixed with the fine Bucy trait of not "letting them see you sweat."  She definitely comes by that honestly.  ;)  
K- KAMIKAZE  Nikki is always up for anything whether it's good for her or not.  This could be something that fares well for her or not so much.  When I tell KJ's parents about things that Marley does that are dare devilish, they say it sounds just like Nikki.  I'm scared.
K-KWERKY/KLUTZY  I know how to spell quirky, but it works here just the same.  Nikki is always on except for when she's sick.  She's watering plants, playing with the littles, making crafts and ideas she finds from the internet.  She does a little bit of everything.  Sure she's still a kid and makes mistakes, but she is endearing with her...weirdness.  I added the KLUTZY because to this day, if she falls or trips and isn't in the same room as you, she'll yell out, "I'm ok!"  Marley has started doing this too.  :O
I-  INTENSE  While Nikki is all these things, she does them with great passion.  She's all in unless, again, you catch her at something she's not interested in.  Isn't that most kids this age?  She excels and is passionate about science...probably her best subject. She enjoys it and approaches it with a determination and intensity that you almost miss unless you're looking for it.  Nikki tries to play a lot of things off, but I watch her.  I watch her kindness and her love for others.  She's a special kid...even though she's crazy.  :P

Happy Birthday, Nikki!  I forgot and then remembered, but I remembered!  That's the important part!  Have a great day!

Some Things We've Been Up To

I was thinking about taking each activity moment by moment, but we have been doing A LOT.  So I'm going to post pics, see what I have, and explain along the way.  We have been pretty non-stop.  Get ready...here we go.

This is KJ by himself in the inflatable having fun.

Meanwhile, Logan was at a fishing derby...

Logan caught the biggest fish and the most fish.

It's been crazy and awesome.  Our time together ends Tuesday.  The kids are getting to that point where some time apart might be good for them, so I think our timing is right on.  Still...I want them to stay.

Quick Takes Friday

1. My seester is here, so things have been busy.  There are three more kids (boys) mixed with my kids.  It's interesting to say the least.  We're meshing well, and while there are little fights, they're not as bad as they used to be.  They pair up and play well now.
2. I love back to school time.  I get entranced with the sales and pretty markers and crayons.  I'm excited to partake in some actual supplies this year since the kids are going to homeschool school.  They're pretty excited too, and that always helps.
3. I've been on pain pills for the past four days.  I'm a better person on pain pills.  I have more patience and everything is lovely.  It's easy to see how all those stars have addiction problems.  The only problem I've seen so far is that when they start to wear off, I get a little grumpy.  It lasts about 20 minutes, but it seems like I'm super sensitive to all things that bug me.  After that I'm fine again.  It really is the only downside.
4. I leave for the Thirty-One conference in less than a week.  I am not prepared.  I probably won't be prepared until I've been there a day and don't have a choice.  :)  I'm definitely not excited about the heat in HOTlanta.  I don't like sweating.  

I don't have seven takes today because I'm tired.  Don't worry.  I have lots of stuff coming up.  I'm just beat and can't get to it right now, and my pain medicine is wearing off.  :o  Have a great weekend!

Almost Heaven...West Virginia

It has been about five or six years since I've been to West Virginia.  I last went to my cousin's wedding.  Logan was a baby.  When I was growing up, my family went to West Virginia ALL THE TIME.  It was the norm.  It was exciting every time.  My grandma would have her ginger cookies made, and they had a candy drawer in their fridge that my sisters and I would raid.  Every summer we would all get together for a weiner roast.  I have fond memories of this, and I realized that my kids have never been to a weiner roast.  Since my sister was coming into town, I mentioned it to my mom, and she planned the whole thing...along with my uncle.

The trip took a little over two hours.  It wasn't bad.  My mom put us up in a hotel.  My kids were so excited!  Anything difference is exciting, right?  We had adjoining rooms which just added to the fun.  I'm going to roll through pics and explain on the way.  It's easier that way.  Trust me.

When we got there, it was lunchtime.  The town we were in is very small, and there aren't a lot of choices to eat.  We saw a white building that said, "Restaurant" on it, and that's where we ended up.  It was shady and smelled like smoke, definitely a hole in the wall.  We sat down and my dad said, "You should take a picture for your blog."  Look at my dad thinking of you guys.  ;)

My mom joined us for lunch.  She had been over at my grandpa's getting food ready.  I told her I had to document her presence, and she didn't want her picture taken, so here's what we ended up with.  

This is the fun water play that my uncle had set up at his house.  I had told the kids to pack their bathing suits and Marley and Logan didn't.  Luckily my sister brought extra for her boys, and they fit my two.  

Their back yard was like an amusement park.  There was so much for a kid to do!

Let the roasting begin!

My dad.

I told my grandpa that I was trying to take a selfie of us.  Kaelyn saw it and dared me to put it on the blog because I'm looking a little...scary.  Here you go, Kaelyn!

My dad and grandpa talked for a while.

I love this pic.  I don't even remember why we were laughing.

I love this pic.  I'm a sucker for any pics where one of the parties hugging has his eyes closed.  Logan was so interested in great-grandpa.  

We'll definitely be going back soon.  When I was little we would go to the Buckwheat festival every September.  I'm putting it on the calendar!  Thanks to all those who made this great time possible.

Oh My Thursday!

I did not have it in me to post Thursday night.  We were entertaining late, and I couldn't swing it.  Logan shares a birthday month with one of his friends, and we normally do something together.  This year we went to Adventure Park.  Here's a quick run-down with pics.
-They went on the roller coaster first.

-The bumper boats second.  That was a mistake.  They were all soaked for the rest of the day.  The kids had other clothes to change in to.  The dads...not so much.

-Go-Karts were a big hit!

-There weren't many things for Marley to do with the older kids, so we were off a little by ourselves.

-One of these times we were in the arcade.  I got some credits for Marley to spend while the others were rock climbing and on the rope obstacle coarse.

-We went to one of those machines where you pull the lever and then push the button and try to stop it on the jackpot, but if you miss you get 10,6,4, etc. tickets.  I played it a couple times while everyone was in laser tag.  Then Marley and I played it.  The second time we did, WE HIT JACKPOT!  250 TICKETS!

-We came back to our place for dinner and birthday.  

It was a great time.  I was going to try and fit our West Virginia trip on this post too, but it'll have to wait.  Pure craziness!