This past weekend, we were at Callaway Gardens for Fantasy in Lights. Before it was time for the lights, we visted various locations around the gardens. One of my favorite places is the Ida Cason Chapel, which incidentally is where Taylor Hanson actually got married. It is one of the most beautiful places around.
This is one of my favorite pictures. It was taken in 2008.
Here it is again, taken this past weekend.
It’s amazing how fast we all grow up.
This morning, at the Reindeer Run 5K, there was a Santa walking around taking pictures. The Santa was actually my Sunday School teacher from when I was in the 7th grade!
Of course, I couldn’t say anything in front of the kids. But, when he finally realized it, he said “Oh, that’s you Jonathan!” and then asked about my sister, stepfather, etc. Let’s just say my kids were EXTREMELY impressed that Santa knows their dad!
And, since he knew me, he showed my kids lots of attention.
I ran a good race, too. Only about a minute off of my PR on a VERY challenging course!
Yesterday, not too long after arriving at work, my phone started ringing. I saw it was the kid’s school. It was just 30 minutes after we dropped them off, so I knew nobody was sick and I know Tristan learned his lesson about sticking things where they don’t belong. What could it be?
It was the school nurse. Apparently on the way to her class, Mackenzie got her finger slammed in the door. OK, I thought. Just put some ice on it. Nope. They wanted someone to come and take her to the urgent care center. I couldn’t reach my wife, so off I went.
After lots of waiting and paperwork, we finally went back. Let me just say that urgent care doctors are worthless. They are usually at the bottom of their profession, like public defenders are at the bottom of the legal profession or how the Geek Squad is at the bottom of the IT profession. Mackenzie had some x-rays and the doctor told us all was well and just to put ice on it. What a relief!
By that time, she had missed her normal lunch period at school so I took her out for a happy meal and some ice cream. For some reason, chemically enhanced food and high fructose corn syrup tends to make children happy. We were nearly back at the school (and 30 minutes from the urgent care center) when the doctor called and told us that the radiologist had just looked at her scans and to return immediately. I’m not sure why the radiologist would read scans of discharged patients, unless it is simply a way to bill us for more services.
When we returned, a nurse put a temporary splint on Mackenzie’s finger and informed us that we had an appointment the next morning with an orthopaedic hand specialist due to a crack in the bone.
This morning, we saw the doctor and were told that because of her age, she should get a cast. She was a little nervous, so I showed her a picture of her friend Savannah who recently got a cast and that eased her nervousness a bit. She was completely fine when she found out that she would be able to choose a color and she even started acting silly.
After deciding on pink, and then pink and purple, she finally went with a Christmas cast. It’s the most expensive Christmas decoration we’ve ever bought.
She will get it off a few days before Christmas, followed by more x-rays. Then we will go from there.
Never a dull moment in our house!
In six months, we are leaving on a Disney cruise. My good camera, however, is over 5 years old. Right now, I carry around the DSLR for still photos and a pocket-sized Canon for video (and running). I want a nice camera that does both. And since we are going on a cruise, I need some degree of waterproof capabilities. The small Canon that I use for video has been swimming in the Chattahoochee before (it survived, the iPhone did not).
I’ve been drooling over the Canon T3i, but by the time I add all of the accessories I want and the waterproof housing, it would be well over $1000. We currently have another financial goal so that is a little steep.
I arrived at 7:30pm on Thanksgiving in anticipation of the midnight opening. Several other adventurous shoppers confirmed that there were only 40 cameras available. I was number 9 in line when I got there and about 23 by the time the store opened (thanks to some very unethical people).
Now I don’t think many people actually shop for holiday gifts on Black Friday. People pretty much just buy things for themselves. I can’t blame them. I wouldn’t stand in a line like that for anyone else.
Here are my tips for other Black Friday shoppers:
I’m sure I could keep going, but you get the point.
Anyway, to make a long story short, I got the camera! And I got some mediocre deals on clothing. So look for some awesome water shots right here, next June!
First of all, we are NOT pageant people.
I have no problem telling people that we are frugly (pronounced FRUG-LEE). That stands for frugal-ugly. We would rather look plain and have a few extra dollars and more free time than visit fancy salons and spas and wear clothes that cost more than we make in a week.
We didn’t even own an iron until a couple of years ago when I needed to make t-shirts (and honestly compels me to disclaim that we haven’t used it since).
A hair dryer? We don’t own one. My wife doesn’t have a hairdresser. She doesn’t even know any. The only time she gets haircuts are when they are free because she gets enough cut off for locks-of-love.
To us, appearance just isn’t the most important thing. Yet, apparently during a moment of weakness, we decided to enter Mackenzie into Macon’s Little Miss Cherry Blossom Pageant.
The pageant isn’t your average Toddlers-and-Tiaras-type pageant. Only “Sunday” dresses are allowed. The kids are suppose to look like kids, not miniature adults. No excessive make-up, hair-dos, etc. Sounds like the perfect pageant for a frugly family like mine!
So first, we had to find a pink dress — in November. If you walk into any store, you quickly realize that red and magenta are the colors of the season. Finding anything pink was a huge challenge. By the way, I got the $60 dress for less than $20. Score 1 for the fruglies!
Next, it was time for shoes. We wanted white dress shoes, but again, those are impossible to find outside of the Easter season. After visiting at least 25 stores, we finally found a pair (and at a reasonable price). Score 2 for the fruglies!
Now, what to do about the hair? Mackenzie is cute in braids, pigtails, or pretty much any other quick hair style, but this warranted something special. We found a curling iron for $5.00 (Score 3 for the fruglies!). After pleading for help on Facebook, and nearly choking from laughing so hard when a Facebook friend suggested that we call my wife’s (non-existent) hairdresser, Kimberlie’s co-worker and friend volunteered to help with the task. This same person also trades Saturday shifts with Kimberlie and made a few wonderful pink bows for us.
Finally, there were logistical matters. We had a 5K scheduled in Milledgeville (and hour away) just 4 hours before we had to be at the theater. (It’s the end of the year and we are chasing points.) That gave us (all four of us) less than an hour at the house to shower, change, eat lunch, and prep my little princess. But, somehow, we pulled it off.
Mackenzie didn’t win the title, but we weren’t “in it to win it”. She did a wonderful job, however.
I think it all turned out pretty well. What do you think?
We spent this past weekend in Chattanooga, Tennessee. On Friday, we visited Lookout Mountain and rode the Incline Railway and visited Rock City and Ruby Falls.
On Saturday morning, I ran the Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. Actually, I ran the first half and survived the other half. (I really need to stop skipping my distance runs!)
That evening, we explored downtown Chattanooga and ate at Cheeburger Cheeburger, which was awesome. The kids enjoyed Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, even though it was about 40 degrees outside.
On Sunday, we took Tristan to the Tennessee Aquarium to celebrate his 8th birthday. I can’t believe I have an 8 year old!
Chattanooga is a wonderful city. Although I’ve driven through there a few times, I had never really stopped for a visit. Priceline gave us an awesome deal on a nearly 100 year old historic hotel called the Reed House. Several presidents as well as Al Capone stayed there in the past. And, as icing on the cake, it had an indoor pool, which gave the kids something to do while I recovered from the marathon.
I hope we can go back and spend more time in Chattanooga in the future. Until then, enjoy the pictures:
- Register for the marathon only because you plan to train with your running buddies — all of who end up injured.
- Register for a marathon and then proceed to gain 10lbs before race day.
- Decrease your mileage in the months leading up to the race.
- Visit every tourist attraction in the town hosting the marathon the day before the race.
- Swear off caffeine the week before race day.
I did ALL of the above . . . and PRed by 27 minutes.
4 Halloween events yesterday, 1 today, 3 tomorrow. Exhausted.
Sometimes, you have to go back to work to recuperate.
I’m such a sorry blogger. I take hundreds of photos and tons of video and I rarely get them off of the camera. It was so much different when the kids were younger. I guess I need some motivation.
The weather was perfect again this weekend! Last weekend, we let Tristan spend the night in his playhouse outside. This weekend, we saw The Lion King in 3D, and then spent lots of time outside — running, playing soccer, visiting the local park, etc. Here are a few photos:
We try to get to Turner Field about once a year to see the Braves play. Just like last year, we went on an August Sunday again. On Sunday, kids get to go down on the field and run the bases after the game. Enjoy the photos and video below:
My Latest Run
