Time to eat the doughnuts

So the plan for the morning was to go to the library for the last story time for a month or so. BUT, I saw on a SAHP facebook group where a few moms were meeting at Krispy Kreme for BOGO dozen doughnuts. So naturally, Tiffany and I (and our sweet tooths) joined in. This was my first time at this new location and it smelled amazing. I don't frequent KK much and if I do, it's typically a drive-thru purchase. To walk in here, inhale deeply and breathe in the deliciousness for half an hour was heavenly. 

We got to watch the doughnuts fry and flip over and get glazed. Our doughnuts were, of course, HOT & FRESH!

Again, the plan was to have a quick doughnut snack and then go to story time, but it never happened. By the time we finished chatting, snacking and cleaning the icing off the kids, it was 10:40. Even though the library was about a mile away, we still had to load up the kids, drive, unload so we would have walked in about the time it was ending. So we just went straight to Oakdale Park.

As you may have guessed, Stella wanted to snuggle with Baby Huddy so she held him at the park on the bench. She did really good and held him for a while without getting figedity. 

After Stella's nap, we headed outside for a bit. Stella found the first strawberry of the season in the patch. 

I love the following sequence of photos of her eating her little gem.

She then wanted to go for a walk. We've been walking in our neighborhood, but today Stella wanted to ride on her push-tricycle thingy and walk behind our house. So we did. Over to Sarah's. The kids jumped around on the trampoline-a real one. Not one with a net around it. This one did have spring covers which is nice. Stella loved it. It was her second (I think) time jumping on a big one and she enjoyed every second of it. 

Lazy Monday

Monday was just wonderful. I'd wanted a day to just lay around in my pj's, not go anywhere and not do much of anything. I finally got that. I was hoping to get this day when Donald was gone to the beach but it just didn't happen. So it was welcomed at the start of the week.

The sun was out when we woke up around 8:30-both were lovely (the sleeping in and sunshine.)

Donald called around 9:30 to say he wasn't far away. Finally, Daddy would be home after being at the beach house since Thursday. We only got to see him for about 45 minutes as he had to get to work. But what a great surprise. I didn't expect him until after work.

We sorted and washed a few loads of clothes, then shared a lunch of salad with fresh greens from the garden and some frozen SeaPak tempura shrimp. I didn't have my hopes set too high on the shrimp, but they were so incredibly good. Like, they tasted as though someone had just freshly fried them. It probably helps that I finally got around to buying a decent toaster oven. We've needed a new one for a while because we use it almost daily.

Apparently bad weather was supposed to hit. I posted this on facebook that afternoon:

"Well, I'm gonna go ahead & say goodbye to everyone. This is the end. I have received 4 alerts from the news, 4 alerts from TWC, 2 texts from family & 3 phone calls, along with 2 voicemails from KSU (not sure how I got on that call list) in less than 2 hours in regards to the severe/bad/intense/end-of-days weather that is apparently headed directly & certainly for my house. Currently looking at a mix of blue skies & clouds out my window btw."

It ended up thundering once. Once!

While Stella napped I prepped for dinner. Caramelized onions, braised short ribs, rice, roasted lemon broccoli and garlic cheddar biscuits. 

When Stella woke up she asked to go for a walk. I had mentioned walking earlier in the morning, but Donald called to say he wasn't far away so we held off. Guess she really wanted to go.

Yeah, I have no idea what this stance is.

So on our walk we each had a Popsicle and walked hand in hand. It was the best. Stella collected sweet gum balls, leaves and a few rocks and sticks. She chased leaves blowing in the wind. We talked about ditches and how the water flows through them when she saw all of the red clay in the ditch and yelled "Bad Ants!" Stella felt it was her civic duty to stomp on all the ants she saw in the street. Then I saw her stomping on something bigger-a caterpillar. We talked about him and moved him out of the street with our leftover Popsicle stick. Stella kept trying to re-move him and pick him up with a stick. It took about ten minutes to say goodbye and start walking back towards the house.  The sun was shining, the breeze was blowing, it was just perfect. We picked flowers too. The best part is she asked to go on the walk and decided where we went. We walked up our street, across Pine and down Morris  which is something I haven't done in a very, very long time. It was pretty much impossible to do with her or Bandit when the crazy neighbors and their dogs were living up the street. The dogs were scary and it just wasn't pleasant. I really hope it's something we can do a few times a week. 

When we got back I cleaned off the back porch and table while Stella sat in the swing. Daddy got home and the two of them played outside in the yard. I looked outside and at one point she was rolling down the hill. I just adore watching them play.

Busy "Spring Break" Week

The week of April 6-10 was busy. Let's re-cap. It was Spring Break for all? of Metro Atlanta.

Tuesday :

We met Tiffany, Landon and Baby Huddy (as Stella calls him) at Oakdale Park in Smyrna for some playtime. We were supposed to join them at the library for storytime prior to the playground, but Stella was nearly in tears saying "No storytime." Not sure what that was about since she has always enjoyed it in the past, but I didn't force the issue. 

It was overcast and felt nice out, but after being there for a while, the clouds parted and the sun appeared which meant the mugginess became ridiculous. 

Here's our tour guide, Landon pointing out the attractions. Adorable.

How cute is this little girl?!

And how cute is he?!

Thursday:

We headed to Zoo Atlanta with Tiffany, Landon, Baby Hudson, Melissa, Izzy and Ethan. It was Izzy's Spring Break and as it turns out, all of metro Atlanta's Spring Break. Good. Lord. Remind me to never visit any time of tourist attraction during Spring Break again. I thought it was crowded a month or so ago when it was the most perfect Spring Day. Wrong. Dead wrong. 
We basically skipped the zoo part of the Zoo and went straight to playing. We hit up the kid's playground, then rode the choo-choo, then the carousel. 

We 'chose' the otter to ride on. Not really. It was the only one left. But otters are one of Mommy's favorites so no objections. 

Ha, just noticed Mr. Panda Bear is creepin' on Stella's picture.

My goodness does she look grown here!! 

Stella wasn't too into the choo-choo for some reason even though Izzy was riding next to us. She basically sat in my lap with her head on my chest and sucked her thumb. I could tell she wasn't herself all day, but did good regardless.

They opened the splash pad but no one else was aware of this. Some of the kids had an extra outfit, but since they all didn't we skipped it since that wouldn't be fair. Next time we will be prepared.

We brought lunch and blankets and plopped down in a shady section for our picnic. Stella barely ate what I brought her. She was more focused on stealing Landon's food. 
And of course Izzy wanted to steal Stella's food. Ah, the circle of life. 

Then Izzy had to go potty so I volunteered to bring her because I had to go. So Stella put in to go again when I got back. Then Landon had to go. Shocker! Stella wanted to go again. So we did. I think that was the end of the line. Not entirely sure.

Stella is still really into hand holding so for part of the morning she held Landon's hand and then later on, she held Izzy's. 

We checked out the elephants and then said goodbye to The Green Family.  The rest of us walked up to see the giraffes, zebras and meerkats and then went our separate ways. 

Stella was getting sleepy so I tucked her into our new Nunamoochie 'Elephant Ears' ring sling. Fitting for a trip to the zoo. She loved it. 

Friday:

We really, really, really wanted to go to Braves Opening Day, but Mother Nature just wasn't on our side. There was a 90% chance of rain/storms so we decided to just pass and watch the game at home. It was weird being home since it's been quite a while since we've missed Opening Day. The weather forecast was supposed to be good Saturday so we planned for it instead. 

Stella decided the best way to watch the game was to lay on her floor sideways in just her pj pants wrapped up in her caterpillar and suck her thumb.

Saturday:

It was a little cool out this morning when we woke up. I fixed a ham, asparagus and goat cheese frittata and toasted some English muffins. After breakfast we drove the short drive to Nickajack Creek. Stella picked out her outfit and told me she wanted to wear baby. So I brought her carrier and she did. For the entire walk. 

This was one of our slowest walks yet. Donald said it didn't even qualify as a walk, just one long "Lolly Gag". 

We enjoyed leftovers for lunch, then Stella took a nap. Afterwards she wanted to dress up and go outside. So ya know, purple panties, necklaces, bracelets and rain boots make the perfect lets-go-outside outfit.

Then she picked some clovers.

Daddy got home from running a few errands and we headed down to The Ted for the 2nd Braves game of the season. We had THE best night. We were on the top deck, in view of the Chick-Fil-A cow, didn't have a lot of people around us, were right by the stairs for a quick potty exit and didn't have the sun in our eyes. We all had on Braves shirts too! Stella was sporting her Freeman shirt from last year. So glad I bought a 2T last year. Even happier it still covers her ever growing belly. Just barely. It's definitely a little snug.

Stella got a little antsy so we walked a short distance so she could run the base line up top. First she tried with Daddy, but didn't see me at the end and got distracted by the Home Depot tools from the tool race.

She really couldn't decide if she liked these guys or not. There's Bucket, Hank the Hammer, Too Bit, and B-Rush. Bucket really tried hard to get a hug or high five from her. He kept getting down on her level and waved at her. She ran and ran to see him but then just squatted before him and played hard-to-get. 

At one point they all were waiting to give hugs and high five. they just stood there for her, but she wasn't' having it. She did play peek-a-boo with one of them.

The tools hung around up top for a while and she would get so excited, but then chicken out. She kept saying "Hairbrush" instead of "B-Rush." The cutest. Maybe next time she'll warm up to them.

Afterwards, she finally ran with Daddy.

Daddy says, "She's a blur around the bases." 

And then we ran together a few times.

"Dis way."

This really was a fantastic night. The Braves won, Stella was in an excellent mood. We didn't really spend much money. We had cheap tickets, swung by Publix for subs, chips and a 6-pack for a little pregame in the gray lot.

When the game was over we headed back to the car and waited on the fireworks. We had the perfect view from the car and it wasn't too loud or scary for Stella. They usually do fireworks after Friday night games and on Opening Night, but due to bad weather and a rain delay, they had to postpone. Their loss was our gain. We cannot wait to do this again. Hoping for Bark at the Park the first weekend in May. She's gonna loose her mind!!