Anniversary Date Night

Sunday October 23rd was 6 years of marriage for us.  Since we were driving back from the beach and our supper consisted of Burger King drive-thru we took advantage of Jitterbugs PJ Party on Friday the 28th and made dinner reservations.  

Donald poured over about six different local menus but ultimately selected Paces & Vine. We had a room in this cute restaurant all to ourselves for the majority of our time there and it was fantastic.  It was quiet and private. A place where we could just talk and be. When we go somewhere new with a lot of appetizer or small plate options we like to get 4-6 things to share to get a good taste of what's offered. We dined on a Cesar salad, fried calamari (which was super light and crispy), charred artichokes (absolutely amazing & that dipping sauce? I wanted to dip everything in it!), black lentils with the grilled octopus (the lentils could turn me into a vegetarian for a week or so) & a bowl of Autumn veggies. I had two caipiranhas which were very strong but also equally refreshing. Donald had an old fashioned and then a ginger margarita.

I wore a new (to me) dress that was orange, beige, mustard yellow, white and navy blue.  I paired it with my nude wedges. I thought my outfit was very Fall looking; however, Donald said it looked very 70's to him. I guess we were both right. It was cut just above my knee, but had long sleeves and a plunging neckline. Only problem? I forgot to spray myself with static guard. It was a tad clingy around my booty at times. 

After supper, we had roughly an hour to kill before we had to get Stella so we drove up to Belmont at Windy Hill and Atlanta road to Creatwood Tavern. They have a rooftop bar and Donald had noticed it several times on the way home from work.  He had a Creature Comforts Athena and I tried ordering a drink, but left my ID in the car and they carded me and then would not serve me so instead I had nothing. The bar had a huge Connect 4 game which we played for bit, then we got asked to play a game of corn hole.  I've played about twice in my life so we decided to do a little practice and I threw first. Of course, the first throw of the bag and it lands in the hole. Like a perfect shot, barely scraped the sides.  We didn't do a great job of keeping up with the score, but I did pretty good actually. 

I drove to pick up Stella. I was given very specific instructions from Stella that morning where I was not allowed to go inside to pick her up since Daddy was the only one who picked her up last time. She got all upset that morning when I mentioned picking her up. So we compromised and told her I would wait in the car.  When I pulled in the parking lot she was waiting on the couch looking out the window for us when I pulled up. Donald ducked down low and walked over to the door.  I knew she had snuck over to the inside of the door. He crouched down low, turned the knob and pulled the door open to surprise Stella. When he opened it she was a mess, just in tears.  Oh my goodness the tears.  And her heartbroken face.  She'd wanted to open the door and surprise Donald but Miss Ashley pulled her back away from the door and wouldn't let her open it and Stella lost it. Full on meltdown. We had to explain that Miss Ashley was doing her job and didn't know how smart and how much of a good listener Stella was and that she didn't know that Stella wouldn't run out into the parking lot. We had to explain this several times.  Stella didn't seem to care to hear it but eventually the waterworks lessened. Needless to say, it didn't take her long to go to sleep that night.

This year hasn't been the easiest year for me and Donald. In fact, I'd say this has been our most difficult year.  I am proud to say that we made it over 14 years before we had an issue such as ours. We spent a lot of time apart this Summer with me and Stella being at the beach. Also, Donald has been very busy and at times, stressed out over work. Other factors came into play which are obviously normal for a couple who's been together as long as we have. We aired our grievances a month or two back and have agreed to check in with each other regularly to make sure we are meeting each other's needs and not taking each other for granted.  Looking forward to many more years together....happily.

Goodbye to The Ted

Whew! Lots of emotions over here about this post.  So here goes.....

This was a our last ride up the escalator. Stella's on my back partly because it's easier and safer for us to get in and out when she's attached to me, but partly because we forgot to buy her a ticket (she's a big 3 year old now who required one..oops!) and knew she'd come off as "younger looking" enjoying the ride on me.  No one said anything. We'll buy that ticket for Opening Day next year. Promise!

I had my fingers crossed for the sweet 3rd (ish) row seats behind the Braves dugout that JAMCO has, but sadly, they were taken. Booooooooooo!  So instead, we are up in nose bleed in far left field. But it doesn't matter. We are here.  And when you get up early to leave Sylvester to drive to a game the kid isn't going to sit in the seat anyways. She normally does pretty good in the seats, we can make it at least halfway, but not today. She wasn't having it after being in the car for 3 hours and then being asked to sit again. Can't say I blame her.

Our photographer for the next few pictures is Stella.

Mommy took the reins on this one though.  Daddy gazed off towards the game. Oops.

So we took a few photos and then Stella had enough sitting. So Donald stayed for a bit and Stella and I got up to walk around, run the bases, etc.

She insisted on lying down on the seats for some reason. Looks like she just slid home.

So huge news guys: Two-Bit had won the Home Depot tool race. This is big! I'm sure he's won before (maybe not? Idk), but generally speaking, the other tools win. Two-Bit may come close, but he'll get knocked down, tripped, pushed into the wall. Fans love it. But they let him win for the very last game.  And us? Oh we were in the bathroom. Just washing our hands. Ugh!!! I was so irritated by this.  We heard commotion, but just thought someone was getting on base or rounding 3rd to score. I'm also pretty sure they normally do the race later in the game because this seemed awful early for it. I really hate we missed this. Stella loves watching this. Me too.

So the winner came up top for a photo op and I see him and this goes down:

Me: "Ooh, look, it's Two Bit. Let's take a picture."

Stella: "Yeah, ok."

After picture......

Me: "Why do you look so terrified?!"

Stella: "Because I don't like Two Bit, I like hammer!" 

This is the one I posted to Instagram. Looks like I'm torturing her to stand here. I was completely unaware of this. The guy photographing us never said a word. Ha!  

We did our usual running of the bases up top. Stella did it with me once, a few times by herself, then when Daddy joined us, she did it with him. 

After the game was over we moved down to the lower seats to watch the closing ceremonies for Turner Field. 

Stella got some snuggles and kisses in with Daddy while the sun went down.

Then she wanted us to take pictures again. 

We watched them dig up Home Plate and hand it off to Hank Aaron who then got in a bus. As people gave speeches and they showed old footage, the bus was driving them to SunTrust Park to deliver home plate to its new home.  When they arrived, they had live footage on the big screen.

And yeah, I cried a little. So.Many.Good.Memories. Sundays in the Spring, nights after work, tailgates on the weekend, tailgating for hours before Opening Day, engagement pictures, painting my belly like a baseball for Opening Day when I was pregnant and taking photos with so many random strangers, Stella's first tailgate (1 week old), Stella's first game (3 weeks old), Stella's first Opening Day outside of my belly, Stella's first time running the bases, watching The Braves win and loose, staying until the very end for amazing comebacks, watching Chipper play, at one point knowing the entire line-up of Braves players and the list goes on. A little bit of my heart will always be here.

Last sunset at The Ted.

As we were walking out I saw a seat number on a row up that was crooked. Then I realized it was almost out. During the closing ceremonies I'd noticed some of the seat numbers missing but never put two and two together-people were stealing them! I reached up and popped it loose and stuck it in my pocket as a memento.  I wish I'd noticed this earlier so I could have gotten a few more. I would have really liked the "3" since both of our birthdays and our anniversary is on the 23rd.  I hate that we missed out on the little packages of dirt everyone was "supposed" to receive as they entered the stadium, but this is better because not everyone has this. 

Thursday Trainspotting

On the 6th, Stella and I took MARTA into the city. It was our second time in on the train and this time our trip to and from the station went smoother than our first time. 

It was a gorgeous, cool Fall morning and we got an early start. We were meeting one of Stella's friends, Bella who she used to be classmates with at MMO.

When we walked up from the Philips Arena/CNN Center MARTA station we were instantly greeted by a whole bunch of folks. Then I noticed some were dressed in costumes, specifically Disney costumes. Then I remembered the commercial from the week before about Disney on Ice. The same commercial Stella commented on about "how she would LOVE to see that." We told her we couldn't go because we'd be out of town which was partially true. Technically it ran Thursday through Sunday and we would be gone Friday through Tuesday. The bigger thing was we couldn't tell her we weren't spending a few hundred bucks for Disney on Ice tickets since we are actually going to Disney World in less than two months. So I was gritting my teeth walking by all of these people thinking "Please don't figure this out" to myself and luckily she didn't. She just held my hand through the crowds of people and commented here and there about princess dresses and we just kept on walking and I just kept on changing the subject. I thought I'd made a huge mistake, but all was good.

We were shooting for a 10:30 meet-up at The Children's Museum and I was super proud of myself for walking up at this exact time. I didn't know what to expect with MARTA but it all worked out great. 

Stella and I walked in to find 1.2 million people (mostly children  and only approximately, of course) running through the museum. It was sheer madness. Overwhelming for me and definitely Stella. She said several times to me, "It's too much, Mommy." I'd have to hold her until her anxiety passed.  We met up with Bella, her mom Rachel and baby sister, Penelope about half an hour after we arrived. The girls played and explored and after being there for an hour or so we noticed the crowds dwindling. We checked out the Magic Tree House exhibit and both Stella and Bella played on the horse-drawn carriage and the coal-powered train but only briefly before the girls darted back out.  

I'd never heard of the Magic Tree House, but apparently it's a huge collection of books for elementary aged kids where a brother and sister are transported (by their imaginations, I think?) to different parts of the country and time period when they enter their tree house. I'm not sure, but I'm excited about reading these with Stella when she gets older. I think she'll love them.  

We headed out for lunch together, but Bella and family needed to leave.  So Stella and I got lunch to go from Baja Fresh and had a picnic at Centennial Park.  We sat on a park bench in the shade but were nearly carried away by flies. I'm only somewhat exaggerating. They were absolutely ridiculous!! I thought it was because we were close to a trash can so I moved across the courtyard to another bench that wasn't near the trash and that helped some. Let's just say I won't be dining in this spot again. 

After we finished swatting flies away from our food and mouths Stella played on the playground for a bit and then headed back to the museum. We'd gotten our hands stamped in case we wanted to come back. Usually when we leave, we leave for good, but that's because I always bring our lunch and we dine upstairs.

Stella went back to the Magic Tree House exhibit and hung out there for a while. She tried on a period costume and played in the First Thanksgiving section for a while. She liked the row boat and playing with the baby doll and cradle in the cabin.

Stella was big and brave and climbed all the way to the top of the world by herself. She'd never done this before today. She's only ever went up with me or Tiffany.

We stayed until closing, then started making our way back to the train. 

Stella commented on the ferris wheel (as she always does) and put in to ride. I asked her if we could come back with Daddy soon but she would not let it go. She'd been good that day so I decided to treat her.  She knows she's ridden before because I tell her each time we walk by that she rode when she was four months old for Mommy and Daddy's third anniversary, but she was looking at me all "whatever Mom, you know I don't remember that"!"

I'd considered lying about her age as kids under three are free and kids above three are $10, but I knew she'd never pass since most people think she's already four. So I told the truth when the ticket lady asked. You know what she said? "I'll let her in for free." Yay!! I thanked her and we headed to the big wheel in the sky.

She loved this. Loved!  I was so happy for her. She has no fear when it comes to this sort of thing which I love. 

 I learned that I, however, got that weird, butterflies-in-the-stomach-I-may-throw-up feeling every time she moved or got near the door. Ugh. I've never had that reaction before to someone else's actions. Major mom moment. Major. I guess just us being up that far and knowing what could happen was just too much.  But luckily I made it safely back down to the Earth without barfing everywhere so that was great.

We got to see progress on the new Falcons stadium as we walked back to the MARTA station. 

Then we got back on the train, the correct one the first time I'd like to add and headed back to our starting point.

Stella fell asleep on the ride from the car to our house which was not ideal with it being so late, but I knew she'd had a big, fun day. Me too.