I should have done this over the weekend - or late last week since now my brain has forgotten half of the week.
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On the trip up, we stopped to meet Cara, L and D for lunch at Cracker Barrel. It was a nice way to break up our long drive and as always, so wonderful to spend a bit of time with a good friend. I wish that I had dug out my camera and taken some pictures of the kids, since V and L were glued to one another again. Those two really act like they spend each day together, little peas in a pod. Little A and D are always the "stepchildren" of the bunch, left out of the fun with the older girls. But, a delicious lunch was had by all and, of course, the visit was much too brief.
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We arrived about dinner time in Atlanta and got settled into our hotel suite. We had a quick trip out after A realized that he couldn't find his cell phone charger. So nice to be "home" on a business trip.
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Sunday, we had a lazy start, then church where A played drums with the old group. I'd had about an hour to while away before mass since he had to practice beforehand. I was blessed to get to visit with the nice girls in the nursery and see some of my friends that I knew from the mom's group there. During mass, as I watched A and one of my good friends playing music at the front of the church, I was overcome with tears as I realized just how much Atlanta had become home to me. How much my community and friends at church had come to mean to me in such a short time. And how much that is missing at our new church here - how I feel rather alone here, in spite of being an hour from our family and friends.
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After church, we ran to the grocery and a quick change of clothes at the hotel before heading to one of our favorite parks. My friend T came with her two and half children :) and we had a nice picnic lunch and wearing out the kids. I think we had room service that night for dinner. So nice.
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Monday, was spent with my dear sister Becca and her family. It was nice to finally meet her husband, but I have to tell you that I swear it wasn't like meeting at all. More like getting together again. And of course, little Rach was so adorable. We hung out at their place before heading out to grab lunch and drive to the Children's Place Outlet in North GA. We got some incredible deals and Becca even got a couple things for herself at one of the other stores before we headed back into town. Because of the time, I thought we'd stop and pick up A from his training instead of making him walk the mile to the metro and then taking the metro to the part of town where Becca lives. So, we got there and he was done about half hour later than expected. So, we spent the wait letting Rach drive the car and then we all got out for a little walk. You should have seen us all loaded into the car - three adults in the front seat and three kids in car seats in the back. It was seriously like a clown car. Thank goodness, the drive back to Becca's wasn't so bad. We had a casual dinner, packed around their little dining table, but the evening was nice. We were blessed to have the family come up to meet us for dinner Wednesday night as well and we enjoyed a rather nice meal at The Cheescake Factory. :) Always too brief.
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Tuesday, V had school and her big end-of-school-year evaluation. It was wonderful that B, the mexican woman in the nursery at V's school, was working in the morning and Little A was thrilled to see her. It was also nice to see the other parents that had become casual friends during the time V was in the school last fall. Little A and I had a lunch date with some friends which was so nice, another cause for me to shed a few tears - just missing the time I used to spend with these girls and their families. We returned to the school (by this time, I was so sick of driving and it was only Tuesday!) to find V with red clay dirt embedded in her scalp and covering her forehead and clothes. Apparently a new student was picking it up the dirt and throwing it on her head - and she just let him. Strange girl. It's a wonder they cleared her to proceed to first grade. ha! Smart little cookie - she's four and half!
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We met some friends for dinner at the mall Tuesday and rushed back to the hotel to watch American Idol. My girls are also addicts.
Wednesday, we met a friend (I'd left my camera behind at her house the day before) at a park before heading to another friend's empty house to spend the afternoon doing our laundry and just relaxing. It saved her a few bucks since the babysitter didn't have to come take care of the dog and it allowed me to get laundry done and have an afternoon kind of at home. This friend is one that I was/am so sad I didn't get to see while I was in Atlanta, but I know it meant a lot to her family and friends for her to be visiting them in Ohio. Especially since a good friend lost her grandmother last week.
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Thursday, we met a friend and her (high school age) daughter for a local theater show and then lunch. It was so nice to spend time with this friend. She and I forged a deep bond during the time I was in Atlanta and she was battling breast cancer. She is so special and such a strong testament to faith. I really enjoyed my brief time with her and to meet her dear daughter. What a sweet girl. After lunch, I went to spend a gift certificate at the School Box, then back to the hotel for naptime and then to the pharmacy (did I mention that Little A's asthma went crazy with all the pollen? and that since we hadn't had to give her any meds for the last couple months I didn't even pack the neb or inhaler!).
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Friday, I refused to take A to his training in the morning. I did not want to go out in rush hour traffic one more time. Besides, I will leave out the fact that every morning of the week, V got sick in the car - and she hadn't even had breakfast! The girls and I had a lazy morning of cartoons and movies in the hotel room before packing up. We left after lunchtime to make the drive back to the Sunshine State. It was a rough trip back, with lots of rain through middle GA and a late arrival at A's parents' house. Did I mention how wonderful they are that they even gave us the big Lincoln to take on our trip so we wouldn't be cramped into my little Nissan? So, instead of coming home from our week away, we went there.
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I'm debating on giving much details about my weekend, due to the personal nature of the information and the public aspect of this weblog. If it were only info about me, I'd be willing to share, but this is some really bad stuff about other people and I just don't want this place to be one of bashing other people, though I'd really like to right now. I told Kelly yesterday some of what happened and am willing to share via email some of what went on and the reasons I cancelled like a loser our dinner with Sandi and her husband. But, I warn you, it comes off as bi*ching and you can ask Becca - I am hopping mad over what is going on - mad to the point of having foul language in every sentence. I certainly don't have to be foul in an email, but the situation has definitely put a negative attitude into semi-permanent residence in my head.
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If you've made it this far into the post, I love you. You've been wonderful, praying for my family and missing me this past week. :) I've missed you, dears.
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And until next time, God Bless you.
