Drama, Art and Music Camp

Gabriel enjoyed his Drama, Art and Music camp this week. It was help at Redeemer OPC off Chamblee-Tucker by Miss Jennifer Taylor. The theme was "Children's Literature" and they studied Winnie the Pooh.

Here he is on the very first day - you can see the aura of excitement... :)


He met a friend named Gabriel there and came home excited every day.


Jim and I were a little surprised when our very expressive, loud, non-stop singing child seemed to be very motion-less, quiet and not singing in the final performance.

May have been a case of stage fright or didn't know the words, but he tells me he was singing. When I asked the teacher afterward she said she didn't notice, but wanted to tell me that he was one of the most well behaved kids out of the entire group during the week. I was very happy to hear this so we took Gabriel out for dinner and allowed him to pick his own dessert as a special treat.

Our Staycation

We had such a great staycation - a whole week off from work to spend some quality time with the kids doing fun things around Atlanta while Jimmy works on our front porch railings. I'm determined to have Gabriel learn to swim by the end of summer so we hit the pool as often as we could.

Gabriel's last day of school was Friday, May 27th and I had him do some CRCT tests. The next day we took him to the Decatur Arts Festival because he wanted to go to Zucca pizza for his celebratory meal and then we went to Assia's pool and the next day too with Jimmy. Giselle was timid of the water and Gabriel is trying really hard with his freestyle front stroke, but just looks like a spaz in the water and doesn't actually do anywhere. For Memorial Day, we went to Thrasher Park with the Morrey's and Crofford's and then did a cookout at our place with tons of food. It was so hot and we let the kids play in the sprinkler afterward. We went to Mountain Park Aquatic Center as a family the next day. I took Gabriel to the World of Coca-Cola where he enjoyed the history of how the company came together, how they bottle their product and tasting 60 different flavors from around the world. He's been wanting to do putt-putt and they happened to have one outside the museum. It's been so hot - around 95° – so we got some ice cream to cool off.


The following day we went strawberry picking with our friends at Southern Belle farm in McDonough. Later, I took Gabriel to Bethesda indoor pool for more fun and practice.

Friday we went to Krsipy Kreme for National doughnut day and then we made jam out of our strawberries. Saturday Gabriel participated in Home Depot's "Kids Workshop", then we went to PDK's air show and then the pool again. This time Gabriel was swimming a little better, but Giselle has made huge leaps with jumping into my arms from the side of the pool over and over again. They both had a blast. We ended our vacation by pretending to be Van Gogh with some afternoon art and hot dogs with friends at a new coney island place Jim found.


Giselle really started talking this week. She repeats almost anything. While putting her in her car seat she'll say "I do it!" Followed by her clicking and "Mama, I did it!" So cute!!!

We kept busy and cool in the pool, but some of my favorite moments was when we weren't doing anything but cuddling on the couch, laughing and playing. My kids are getting big at 6 and 2 – just trying to soak in all these wonderful moments because everyone tells me it goes by so fast.

My sweet little girl and thoughtful young boy

My children make me so happy – insane some days – but so incredibly happy. I'm on vacation right now and getting to spend some much needed quality time with them. I've enjoyed singing ABC's and The Wheels on the Bus, playing nosies, peek-a-boo and exchanging sweet, slobbery kisses and hugs with Giselle. We've gone to the pool twice so far, the playground once and have run here and there including The World of Coca-Cola and strawberry picking, but the greatest times are the simplest where we're on the couch snuggling, laughing and playing.

Giselle is still very independent and climbs up the tallest slides and without fear, joyfully slides down them. She talking more now and says as we try to get her buckled into her car seat, "Mama, I do it" followed by a click and raised hands singing, "Mama, I did it!" You can have real conversations with her now. Granted, it's mostly asking her something and her telling you "no" but she understands and she is able to communicate more. The other day Jimmy was doing something goofy to make them laugh and she says pointing at him, "Mama, Daddy funny."

Gabriel made me so proud at the playground when a bossy little boy was blocking the slide telling kids they couldn't slide down. When Giselle approached, Gabriel stood up to him and said "No, that's my baby sister, she's allowed to come down." He said it with such authority that the kid replied, "oh, okay". We've been talking to him about being considerate of others, and this was proof that those talks must have landed on fertile ears.

Gabriel is still hyperactive and chatters non-stop, Giselle is demanding and whiny when she doesn't get what she wants at the very second she wants it. No, they aren't perfect, and neither are we as parents, but we have such beautiful blessings from God and have so much to be thankful for. We just can't imagine loving them anymore than we do.