Our Just Reward

Finally, finally!  Months of cold and clouds and cold and rain and we were graced with a cozy blanket of snow to bask in.  It lasted only a couple of days, but everyone in Alpharetta made the most of their precious snow days.  There were sleds everywhere.  I didn't even know people in Georgia owned sleds.  We weren't hip to the sledding business this year so we will be sure to pre order our sled for next year.  Palmer woke up and was out the door before he had even finished his breakfast on his very first day of snow.  

Little Tripper has had a case of the cooties for over 2 weeks now so he wasn't allowed any fun in the snow.  He does, however, have no shortage of fun in the bounce house...that lives in our dining room.  How else can you avoid another decorating project? Just throw a bounce house in any room you'd like to ignore for the time being.  Problem solved.

Thanks to Gra Gra, Pete and I escaped for a Friday night date night at Milton's Cuisine.  Their Garden Party is coming back this year and we are ready to repeat last year's performance.  Only in the summer this time.  If you live in North Fulton you have to go.  It's magical.  I might have typed that word about 500 times when I wrote about our first experience here. 

Ah, the crappy cell phone pic is all we will have to relive our glory days

And today, God blessed us with a 50 degree, sunny afternoon!  What, what!!  I never, EVER thought I would be excited about 50 degrees.  How has Georgia changed me so much already?!  As soon as family nap time was over I was Mission Get Doyle's Outdoors.  Naturally, we hit up Avalon in Alpharetta.  We will basically live here come spring.  Shopping, restaurants, corn hole, bocce ball, it's like the stay at home mom's dream destination.  Kid pooped all over his outfit during play time?  No worries, hit up Gymboree for a $5 onesie and the day is saved.  Toddler having a low blood sugar meltdown?  Just scoot on over to Pinkberry and sugar that kiddo up!  Don't want to play another game of hide and seek with your kids?  Order up a glass of wine at the wine bar and watch them run around with all the other kids stacking massive wooden blocks in the plaza.  Because no perfect destination doesn't include OPEN CONTAINERS, baby!  

Can You Feel The Love?

I love a reason to decorate.  Easy decorate.  Like some string garland and a few felt hearts to get us all in the Valentine's spirit.  Not the hours of making our home look "collected rather than decorated" stage that we are currently living in.  I need time which a 2 year old and 6 month old don't allow me to have.  Hours rummaging through antique stores, hitting estate sales, or scouring flea markets.  That time will come.  Until then, I will revel in my cheesy holiday decorations and resist the urge to brashly point and click my way to a generic abode.

Even the little powder room was not safe from Cupid's arrow

Aside from spreading love at home, we spread some down in Florida with a Winter Break Week back at Bay Hill.  It still feels like home, but it wasn't quite the punch-to-the-gut the first visit was.  I was more focused on getting in the sunshine and pouring glasses of wine with old friends.  

1 down....

2 down!  Properly timed airplane trips that go according to plans are priceless

Tripp got right into life back at the course.

Palmer didn't miss a meal on the patio @ the club...

...and Tripp got more formally acquainted with it.

Every meal was capped off with a round of course.
He really impressed diners when he almost sunk a 100' putt...with his 3 Wood.

Back at the house we had plenty of sand to get into while Tripp napped.
We decorated all our sand huts beautifully.

We spent our time wisely.  Basking in the sun enjoying friends and making memories.

We even snuck a trip to see Poppa for some guitar picking and chicken feeding. 

While we didn't get down to see the new baby lambs, Palmer did take a stroll through the greenhouses and feasted his eyes on the fruits of his Aunt and Uncle's labor.  This lettuce would blow your mind.  Lucky for them the rest of the veggies weren't ready.  I can hammer about 100 cherry tomatoes in one quick stroll through those greenhouses.  

 Before I forget, I  must congratulate this guy...

Aside from a pacifier crutch, this guy is finally giving momma and dada some sleep.
7p-6a?! Welcome back to reality, Heather, welcome back.