Dairy Farm

This past weekend we took the kids to a local dairy farm.

What a great time we had! We only had to pay $5 for each of us (except Grace) to take the tour. We had to put on these great hats to go into the bottling room and see how they store, pasteurize and bottle the milk. We also got to see how they clean the glass bottles before they are filled up.

Then we went to see how the cows are milked. They are lined up 6 at a time. We found out that each cow produces 3-5 gallons of milk a day!

The final stop was in the barn where they keep the baby calves. You could pet, brush and let them suck on your fingers. My two vets in the future seem to be Carter and Grace. They loved being that close to the animals. Also in the barn we were allowed to try hand milking an adult cow. That was much easier than we all thought it would be.

We were also given samples of the different flavors of milk, cheese, butter and ice cream that they make there on the farm. We loved it so much that we bought some banana and strawberry flavored milk and some butter.

We can't wait for the finish of their new building as it will be better to conduct tours. We will definitely be going back as long as they keep their prices down. I loved that we got all that for only $5 and then could spend more on their product.

I have Celiac Disease

Today I found out that I have Celiac Disease.

I've decided to start a new blog about this part of my life. It will only be about my journey with diagnosing this disease and how I will be moving forward. There are going to be big changes, but I am ready to feel better and live a healthier life.

http://myceliacdiseasestory.blogspot.com

Day 5 Stone Mountain Park-Thursday (7-16-09)

We spent the morning around the house letting the kids play with Scott's old toys. He has some old school Star Wars and Fisher Price toys the kids love.

After lunch we were off to Stone Mountain Park. I thought the girls would sleep on the way, but they didn't. The weather was warm, but not unbearable and we made it before rush hour traffic kicked in.

We set our blankets down on the lawn to save our place for the laser show, then we went to look around the shops. The shops are set up like a little mining town and are all new since the last time Scott and I were there. That was my first trip to Atlanta when we were dating, in 1998.

We stopped in a glass blowing shop and watched a demonstration. I liked it so much I was going to buy a glass flower like the one they had just made. Scott's parents were kind enough to get it for me. Then we went on and found an outside storyteller. He had his own little theatre set up so he could act like a character in the old times. The kids liked his stories, but Grace and Carter almost fell asleep. After another shop, we found a stream meant for cooling your feet. Scott's mom and the kids took off their shoes and ran through it for a while. At the end of the street was a multi-leveled ropes course. They wouldn't let us walk around and just look, but we had already decided that there was enough to do at the park that next time we would buy the pass for all the activities. This will probably be around $150 for my family.

After the boys bought themselves toy guns, we were off to the lawn to wait for Scott and his dad to get dinner. The kids loved being able to run around on such a big piece of land! We checked out the pond that was close to the mountain and ended up playing some games we had brought along.

The lawn quickly filled with people, and then a couple of vendors set up shop right in front of us! They were selling to glow sticks and toys that light up. We asked if they would be moving before the show started, and they assured us that they would. But Scott wasn't so sure, so he moved the blankets to the side. Good thing he did, seeing how the pair was still there probably 10min into the show!

It was a pretty impressive show! Most of the lights were shown onto the side of the mountain, but some were shining on the trees around the lawn and over your heads. I would definitely go see it again. I hear that it is always changing.

All the kids, except Malea, fell asleep on the way home. I couldn't believe she didn't sleep! I think that was the longest she has ever been awake.

Day 7 Just Hanging Out With the Family-Saturday (7-18-09)

Today is the last full day in Atlanta. Tomorrow we head to the beach!

It is a cool day, so we decided to go back to the park. Scott's parents have bought a kite and some water rockets for the kids and they need an open space to play with them. If you haven't been to Atlanta, it is covered with pine trees. My in-laws have a small front yard, but the sides and entire back are packed with tall pines. So, there is not much room and that is why we went to the park to play.

There was a breeze, but it came and went. Scott tried for what seemed like forever to get that kite to fly, but it wasn't having it. It would go up a little then nose dive to the ground. I know he was frustrated since another guy had his kite up for a while, but he kept at it. Finally, he gave up and we all played at the playground.

After the park, we decided to hit the near-by Mickey D's (as Malea likes to call it) and have a late lunch. We ate out on the picnic tables since it was such a wonderful day. After, we let the kids play on the indoor playground. Malea made a friend and Grace even went up by herself.

We started for home when my father-in-law realized he'd lost the keys to the house. He could not find them at McDonald's. We went to the house hoping the neighbor was home that had an extra key. She was not. We went back to the park to look there. My father-in-law was dropping money for the boys to "find" earlier and we thought he may have accidentally dropped it there. Yes he did! Thankfully we found the key and could go to the house.

We went back to the house and just hung out for the evening since it was our last night there for a few days and we wouldn't be staying long on the way back home.

Day 6 Atlanta Braves Baseball-Friday (7-17-09)

This morning we went back to the tennis courts and the neighborhood pool. Once again, we had the pool to ourselves. It really makes us wish we had our own in our backyard. I am sure we would get plenty of use out of it, especially with our kids.

The kids were worn out and took great naps. We went on to an early dinner before meeting Scott's brother and wife at the Atlanta Braves baseball game. We ate at Smokey Bones. I have really liked that place in the past and we don't have one back home. Unfortunately, it didn't settle well tonight.

We ran into traffic, of course, on the way to the game. We were following the GPS, but Scott decided to try a different route to save time. We ended up in the hood and unable to exit to the ball field where we wanted. So, we went on and found another way there. We found some parking lots about 5 blocks away, the ones where you pay the guy standing at the entrance. But the difference here was that he waved us on and let us park and then come back to pay. I wonder what happens to the cars where the people skip out on payment. We saw plenty of people that were looking over their shoulders as they were walking to the stadium.

After we park, Carter and Logan tell me they need to use the restroom. Logan says he can wait til we get to the stadium, but Carter cannot. I decide to let him go in an empty water bottle (easy for boys to do) and put it on the ground next to an empty beer bottle. When we returned it was missing! The beer bottle was still there. I am so hoping someone didn't think it was beer and try to drink it! Yuck!

Anyway, we went on to the game and met David and Stephanie. Of course, Scott's mom and his brother argue on which side of the stadium our seats are on and we follow David. He was wrong and we had to walk all the way around! It was a long journey with a 1 1/2 yr. old. We sat in the middle section out in left field. They were pretty good seats. I should also say, that my seat, of course, had dried pop on it and I sat down on it. It then stained my backside and I couldn't get it all out.

The Braves won 11-0! It was Friday night fireworks and we were excited to see them. Unfortunately, our seats were directly under where they were going to be setting them off. The ushers had us move, so we decided to go out of the stadium and sit on the grass across the street. We couldn't believe how many people were leaving the stadium! They just kept coming out. Finally, after about a 1/2 hour, the fireworks began! What a great show! It really was good.

Day 4 Misunderstood Plans-Wednesday (7-15-09)

This morning we went to the neighborhood tennis courts. Scott and I used to play tennis all the time when we lived in apartments, back in the day. But now, I could hardly get one in bounds! Then I hurt my shoulder (the one I hurt on the tubing trip the day before) and it was getting really hot. So we went next door and jumped in the pool. The boys swam the length of the pool and raced the width. Logan only won by one stroke! Malea played with her Ariel while Grace swam around in her ring.

The plan was to wear the kids out in the morning so they would all take good naps then off to Stone Mountain to sight see, shop and watch the night laser light show. Problem was the stupid Atlanta traffic! The kids didn't go down for naps til 2 and I didn't know we needed to leave at 3. It would have been fine for the boys, but the girls need a longer nap. So we decided to go the next night when we could plan better.

We waited for the kids to get up, then we went to mini golf. Wow! Another expensive venture, but we all had fun. Grace played around and didn't get bored til the 17th hole. Malea played with us the first half then just shot the first stroke on the rest of the holes. Carter is my good golfer and beat Logan. Scott and I tied! I never play as good as I did tonight!

We went back to the house and Scott grilled hot dogs, burgers and brats fro dinner. I don't know if I was super hungry or it just tasted wonderful, but it was a great meal!

Day 3 Helen, GA-Tuesday (7/14/09)

Woke up to promising weather! Everyone got ready then we were off to Helen. Helen is a little German town in the northern hills of Georgia. A great place for Oktober Fest.

Our first stop were the Anna Ruby Falls. You have to hike to them, but the trail is paved and is only about 1/2 mile. Grace made it, no problem. Scott and I hadn't been there since we were dating, so it was nice to go back again with the kids. Thankfully, we didn't see any snakes, just a millipede which we all inspected.

Next, we went back to town to go tubing down the Chattahoochee river (more of a stream in this location). Tubing really is a fun activity. We went on the long run which last about 2 hours. We tied our tubes together and made more of a raft. The 6 of us were probably the largest group going down the river! Thankfully, my in-laws knew to bring the walking sticks as there are many rocks to get hung up on. Logan loved it so much, that after 2 hours he still wanted to go down again!

We did a little shopping in the tourist town. I was sad to find out that our shop that made specialized hand-dipped candles went out of business. We bought our wedding candles there.