Atlanta Trip

So I haven't posted about our last and final hurrah to Hotlanta. For an overview of my weekend check out my friend Megan's blog. She took all the pictures and wrote a great summary of our time so rather than do my own I am stealing hers!!

http://shropshireonthemove.blogspot.com/2008/06/last-weekend-was-8th-annual-math-girls.html

While I was shopping Mark took the kids to the Kirby's. Dan, Jane, Matt and Liz used to live next to Mark's family when they were growing up in Dothan and then moved to Atlanta. They are pretty much like family. Jane came and stayed with Mary Sue here in Charlotte after Maryn was born to help out. They are very kind, gracious friends. Mark's parents also came to stay at the Kirby's to see the kids and help Mark. I had a great time shopping with my friends but was just a tiny bit envious to be missing out on the fun they all had. Matt and his wife Laura live in Atlanta now with their son Jack (Matt actually works for Goldman Sachs with my uncle John. What a small world!!) and I know Mark enjoyed getting to visit with them.


Maryn, Jack and Parker


Maryn's first kiss. Boy, are we going to have our hands full!


Jane Kirby, Maryn, Terry aka Grandpops (obviously Mark's dad!!), Mark, Parker and Mary Sue aka Grandma at a art festival in Virginia Highlands.

Sunday afternoon before we left Atlanta we went to the Georgia Aquarium thanks to my friend Christen. I have been wanting to go for a long time now but its expensive for two adult tickets and one child's and... it's in Atlanta which is not too far from Charlotte but not close enough for a day trip with two kids. Christen had two free adult tickets that she let me have!! Thanks,
Christen!!!


Parker checking out the penguins. I could not get a picture without this annoying kid who kept banging on the glass at the poor penguin.


Mark and Parker in this special viewing place so you can see the penguins up close.


A shark! Parker's favorite part


The first place we went had a tank that made a tunnel with all kinds of fish, sharks, sting rays. It also had a moving sidewalk that went through really slowly but you weren't supposed to take strollers on it.


Beluga whale


Maryn checking out the sea lions.


This was the very first tank we saw that was ultimately part of the tunnel tank (I'm sure they have a better name for it!) and this window was probably two stories high.

What a great last trip before the baby comes! Only about two and a half weeks until my due date!! I went to the doctor yesterday and have made a tiny bit of progress. I'm starting to feel a little more uncomfortable which seemed to happen a lot sooner with Maryn. So hopefully in two weeks I will be ready- and getting over what denial I still have. Does that happen with every birth regardless of how close together they are or how many you have? My friend Arin and I were talking about her denial earlier today. I'm not sure if we have more because our kids are close together and we each will soon have three... or if it happens to everyone? Comments??

Happy Birthday Mark!!

It would've been great if I could've done this earlier this morning but let's say I've been a bit of a procrastinator. The kids and I went just this morning to get Mark's presents.... then we went to eat lunch with him. After their naps we ran to the store to get a cake mix. Not so prepared, huh? But I think he still had a good birthday anyway. Happy 34th, Mark!!!

Thomas!!!

Riding the airplanes. Maryn looks a little scared but she really enjoyed it.


Riding the little train



Parker and Sir Topham Hatt


The boys


The girls... Maryn was a little scared of the whistle.


A couple of weeks ago we ventured to Boone, NC to go to Tweetsie Railroad to A Day Out with Thomas. Last year we went on a Saturday along with everyone else with young children in the state of North Carolina and probably a few hundred from South Carolina thrown in too. And it was HOT. So this year we decided that with me being 8 months pregnant it might be better for Mark to take a day off work and go on a Wednesday. Since Thomas is only there for one week our days were limited but we managed to work it out.

The trip started off a little rough. We left the house around 8 and had a couple of stops to make on the way out of town, the last being Brueggers bagels. Maryn was in the back eating her bagel and started choking a little. After having Parker who has a very sensitive gag reflex I wasn't too worried but she ended up throwing up. Yuck. So then we had to make a stop at Target to buy her something to wear... we did make it to our scheduled time to ride Thomas, thankfully. We had a great time riding the rides and doing all of the Thomas related activities and the kids had a blast which is what it's all about!

Our Anniversary

Nine years ago today. NINE. That's a lot!! But they have been really great. I am sure everyone was a little nervous when I got married so young (21!!! barely even legal), but Mark and I are and were so happy. God has blessed me with a wonderful husband and father to my children. Mark has had to put up with a lot from me which all started when I forgot to look up front at him while I was walking down the aisle! Oops!! I was too busy looking to see who all had come. But there he was waiting for me at the end. Just like Mark, always there for me. I couldn't ask for anything more (ok, maybe a little more cleaning around the house... ) I love you, babe.

He sent me these beautiful flowers yesterday (yesterday because he knew I would get suspicious today and wonder if I would get something not because he forgot which day).