Labor Day - World of Coke

It was a long and fun Labor Day weekend, ending with a great day at the World of Coca Cola. Jimmy's parents came in town on Sunday evening, just in time for dinner at Muss and Turners. Macey had a late nap so she was ready to play and show off her singing and dancing skills.

We started today off at the World of Coca Cola. It's been many years since I've been and they moved to a new location, next to the GA Aquarium. So many things have changed but now that I have a small child, I can appreciate the extra interactive activities they have added to the "walk, look and don't touch" exhibits.

I think what also made this trip so fun is that Macey had a blast. She didn't ride in her stroller for even a minute, but spent all of her time dancing, jumping and walking around like she owned the place. I tried to grab her for a quick picture but she was way too busy dancing to sit with me.





I think Jimmy and his dad tasted one drink, while his mom and I tasted several from each country. I remembered the Beverly from Italy from my visit many years ago, but couldn't remember if it was really good or really bad... I thought I was going to throw up the minute it hit my mouth. It is absolutely the worst drink ever. Stay away from it when you visit!

Once I tasted the Beverly, I started thinking... why am I tasting all of these drinks from other countries? Just to see what people in China or Uganda or Italy are drinking? Why don't I just stick to the deliciousness known as a good old coke?!

Jimmy and I got to slip away and to share a coke moment in the taste test area. :) I had already tasted all of the drinks from other countries but just needed a good old fashion coke to top it all off. I love a real, sugary coke and would drink several a day if they weren't so packed full of sugar and, surprisingly, salt. And of course the caffeine right now...

One of the interactive exhibits. She just liked pressing the "button!" and frustrated the other children that took over during Macey's turn.

And the old coca cola machine was pretty cool. It kept Macey occupied for several minutes while everyone looked at all of the old Coke paraphernalia. Sometimes I wish we only bought old bottles of cokes instead of boring cans. :)

So we started our tour of the museum with a movie. It was a silly cartoon with singing and dancing... I'm not so sure of it's purpose but it was pretty entertaining. When we left the theater and were released to tour the museum on our own, this "big bear" was waiting to greet us. Macey fell in love. She had no fear of this 7 foot bear but walked straight up to him and showed him her baby doll.
 

Then we saw this crazy character from the movie... I think she was a cheerleader of some sort. Whatever she was, Macey loved her! Can you even believe this look of pure joy on her face?! If this crazy character gets this response, I can only imagine her excitement when she sees Minnie Mouse. Hopefully she is still in diapers when we take her to Disney World...

 

60 Year Anniversary Party

The entire Christian Family, as of September 3, 2011. My grandparents, Merline and Clarence, have five children, five children married into their family, ten grandchildren, four grandchildren married into their family and five great grandchildren. They have been married, through better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, for sixty years. For sixty years, they woke up every day and said yes to marriage. Having been married to my best friend for five years, I can attest that every day is not a googly eyed, romantic movie day. Some days you have to work for your marriage. All relationships worth having are work and I'm so thankful my grandparents chose to work and love each other for sixty years. What an amazing weekend it was to celebrate, laugh and just be with family.

I love these pictures and am so thankful to now have copies of my grandparents when they were my age. Well, actually, much younger than me!

My dear family. I'm so blessed to be unconditionally loved by my family. We aren't perfect, but I love every one of them.

Aunt Lynda made the cakes, which is still amazing to me. They were so intricately decorated, I didn't even ask how long it took her! Grandma was elated with how beautiful they were, and proud that her daughter made them for her.

She had so much fun running around with her cousins! Jimmy was great and kept up with her during the entire party so that I could talk, take pictures and just enjoy the day with my grandparents.

Doug was able to come with Kimberly, and I know everyone was glad to meet him!

 This is the one time Jenny put down her camera to smile at the camera. And it was with me. :)

After everyone was greeted and got something to eat, Aunt Lynda kicked off the event in her typical style... a rap/poem taking us through the life of Grandma and Grandpa. She is so creative and had everyone laughing and enjoying every minute of their story. Then Uncle Tim played a beautiful song on his alto saxophone that has me itching to make the time to play again. It was beautiful. Uncle Roger then sang one of Grandpa's favorite songs, which was, as always, perfect. When I hear him sing, it takes me back to our wedding day when he sang the Lord's Prayer during our ceremony. It still brings tears to my eyes.

Then Grandpa got up to introduce his family, but of course, couldn't get started without crying. We laugh that emotional instability runs deep in our family and Saturday was no different. Dad helped Grandpa get back on track and he proudly asked each of his children and their families to stand as he talked about each one of us.

I know Grandma won't love this picture, but I couldn't help but post something that showed the raw emotion of happiness and gratitude that was felt this day.

Faith and Christian put together a beautiful slide show of pictures through the years of each of our families. The music was great and Macey could only last so long before she had to go dance. She lost her shoe in her excitement to get up front and start grooving but it didn't seem to mess up her signature moves.

This picture is just too sweet. I absolutely love it!!

A priceless picture. I love these people so much.

They don't come much cuter than these two.

Aunt Pam with Jimmy and Colby. She and Aunt Lynda spent hours and hours and hours planning every detail of the party and putting it together. It was perfect.

Ah, and last but not least, my favorite picture. The woman behind all of these pictures. I love this action shot! Jenny and Dad spent several hours the morning of the party setting up the lights and backdrop so that we could take professional pictures of each of the Christian families. Everyone was excited to have free professional pictures so Jenny didn't get much of a break.

Just a few things...

My baby girl is quickly becoming a chatty toddler... and I love it. A few things that I don't want to forget...

* Her two word sentences are quickly becoming three and four word sentences. She has started saying "Thank you, Mom" when I give her something she asks for... although I would prefer Mommy, I'll take it. ;)

* When it's time to get in her crib to nap or for the night, she asks for "one more book, please" to prolong the inevitable.

* When she wants more, she says "nother one, please." "More please."

*She is repeating everything. And I do mean everything. Our neighbor came to check on Bailey yesterday and on her way out said, "see ya!" to Macey... so Macey said, clear as if she said it every day, "see ya!"

Pepper doesn't really love Macey yet... Macey likes to say "eye" and tries to touch his eye ball...

* Her level of understanding and comprehension are amazing. One example... we were headed to the park to meet Ben and his mommy so I said, let's go play with Ben, do you remember Ben? And Macey said, "Yes, and Charlie." Ben and Charlie are her cousins and I had no idea that she remembered to associate the two together. Another example... I told Macey to get her swim suit so we could go to the pool today. She responded with, "Buddy Ben" since he was the last person we went to the pool with. One more thing I can remember... When we were going to the splash pad this week, I told Macey we were going to the water park to play with Nicholas. Before I could continue to list her group of friends that would be there, she quickly added, "Nichlas, Spencer, Miles" while shaking her head up and down. This one amazes me because I had only said "play group" once that morning and she associated both Spencer and Miles with play group.  

* Macey loves to sing. Her favorites are Twinkle Twinkle, ABC and Happy Birthday. Last night after dinner, Macey said "Happy Day, Sing." So we asked who she wanted to sing to and she said "Nichlas" (the "o" isn't there yet). So we started singing and she jumped in with "Boo Boo!" We were rolling as we finished singing Happy Birthday to Boo Boo. (Boo Boo is the pet name our friends gave their son, Nicholas. Macey picked up on it at dinner the other night and now loves to call him Boo Boo.)

This is what we do everyday... "Park! Swing! Slide! Playground!" :)

Older things I wrote down that I need to document to remember...

May 2011 :
* Pointing and saying "no no" to Sam when he has her toys in his mouth
* "no no dada" and "bye bye dada" ... Putting words together.
* Blows on hot food and says "hot hot"
* Gives hugs when you say "hug"
* If you mention breakfast or hungry etc, she says "eat eat"

May 23 2011 - 15 months
* Turns the music on on her Baby Einstein book and fridge toy, then dances.
* Claps and spins in a circle

16 and 17 months
* It is amazing to watch her level of comprehension grow. I say, "let's walk to the car" and she now adds what I used to say, "like big girl" as she heads for the door, shaking her head up and down of course.
* She recognizeds ABC and knows M A C, but not E Y yet.
*She says "head" when she is going under something and needs to watch her head. She also says "fingers" if she is near a cabinet and her fingers could get caught. All things she has heard us say for so long, that now she is telling us, here is where I can get hurt.
* Says "Doe row row" when she doesn't know what to say or what an object is