Dan Wins

Guns. They have been an ongoing discussion between Dan and I. I, against. Dan, for. Do I really need to clarify? Several recent occurances have led me to allow one of these monstrosities into my home. I am still anti-gun, but I also can't deny that an intruder is most likely going to have one and we might as well even out the odds. With the nice warm weather, there has been a recent crime wave in our neighborhood, and everywhere apparently. We have heard gunshots nearby. The neighborhood association has started a crime watch patrol, hiring off-duty cops to patrol the neighborhood. The final blow was the break-in that occured at our friend's house Sunday night. They were held at gunpoint, in the middle of the night, while teenage boys ransacked their house! The bastards actually pointed their gun in the face of their 18 month old son! Thankfully, he didn't understand and will most likely never remember, but it is the most horrendous thing I can imagine happening to the parents. I'd rather a gun pointed at me than Halen. They lost alot of material stuff, a car, and worst, their feeling of being safe in their own home. They where selling that house anyway, so they have moved to her parents house until the house they are building is done. They're still shook up and will never forget the experience. I am so thankful they are still with us. I get so sick thinking about it.
So, Tuesday, Dan gets home from school carrying a long narrow box. Inside was "the Persuader," a shotgun. It's real intimidating! I hope we never have to use it and I hate seeing it up in my closet. But it's there if anyone threatens my family and it makes me feel a little safer knowing we have it. I'm still not sleeping well though. These assholes haven't been caught yet. I really wish the police where actually as good as they are in the tv shows. Every little crime is investigated to death until it's solved. These boys where teenagers! How sneaky and untraceable can they be? They where in a stolen car in the vicinity. Was anyone even looking for them?
well, gotta go.

Oink Oink

We went to Noah's Ark, a rescued animal sanctuary south of Atlanta. You could walk around with pigs, llamas, and deer. Behind fences, there where monkeys, lions, ostriches, emus, bison, and horses. Maybe more. Halen loved it. It was pretty cool and a little stinky too. Oh yeah, alligators!

Sandy Poop

This is Halen's new sand and water table, courtesy of Oma and Opa! He loves it! He loves it so much that he had sandy diarrhea all day. I don't think the eating of the sand is what gave him the runs. He had it before he started eating sand. I am going to take him to the doctor tomorrow, because it's still pretty bad after two solid (more like runny) days of upset tummy. Once again, parenting and talking too much about poop, go hand in hand. Sorry.


Look at the Umbrella!

I married a couch potato and I gave birth to a couch potato! I love 'em anyway!

Snazzy Man

We went to a clothing exchange the other night. Halen's favorite article was this gem of a jacket. He knew he was wearing something special for sure!

Salty Dog

Apparently, This is the most fun imaginable!

That's Not Candy

Now it's Crayons. YUMMY!

That's Not Chocolate

This is why we need some grass in our backyard.

Mississippi

We went to visit Mississippi for the weekend. We stayed with Halen's Oma and Opa, my aunt and uncle, and had a great time. Oma babysat while Dan and I got to go play some blackjack, see a movie, and cruise the beach in her convertible bmw roadster. 300 is good! I recommend it. We got to hang out with cousins, Kayla and Cullen, poppy, aunt Sue and uncle Scott! It was lots of fun. Halen had the most fun at the beach, even though he face planted into the cold water once!

Cousins!!!

Halen had a blast at the botanical gardens, hanging out with Grace, Caroline, and Sam. Poor Sam had pink eye, so we tried to keep them seperate. It was just too cute to seperate them when Sam came and gave Halen a minute long bear hug. After they both let go, Halen wanted more and did a running hug that ended up being a tackle. He and Sam then rolled in the grass, wrestling and laughing. It was very cute. Halen also managed not to get pink eye!

Spring Break

Dan is on his spring break from school. We couldn't afford for him to take off work, so we're doing fun things around Atlanta after he gets off work. Yesterday we did more hiking, this time at Arabia Mountain. It's a mini stone mountain and pretty cool. Halen had a blast. All that uneven rock was just right for him to practice his stepping up and down. Bruce had fun too.
Today we are going to the Botanical Gardens with his cousins!!! He's going to be ecstatic. He loves his cousins!!!

Yummy Smoothie

I'm a Purple People Eater

The Little Hiker

We went to Sweetwater Creek today and Halen had a blast!!! We tried to put him in the backpack, but he wasn't having it. He wanted to touch every tree and pick up every rock, stick, or whatever was on the path. He also wanted to step right into the raging freezing cold rapids. Against his wishes, we had to keep him in the backpack when we where right next to the water, or he would have darted right in. I had to stop at every tree to keep him happy, so he could pet the bark and say, "tree." He's going to be a botanist, I tell you! When we got to the harder climbing areas, he'd adamantly refuse to hold hands. He wanted to do it himself!!! And he did! He climbed up some stuff that I never thought he'd be able to climb up. Then on the loop back he all the sudden wanted to be picked up. He went from 100% independent climbing everything boy to asleep on your shoulder boy. Very cute. He slept all the way home. We've been home for about 3 hours now and he's still asleep! It was quite the adventure for the little guy.