Why Are Strangers So Much Nicer In the South?

I don't think I've ever met a restaurant hostess that was more chipper
than the one we encountered at an O'Charley's near Chattanooga, TN.
Now whenever I dine at said restaurant I won't blame the whole chain
for hiring morons (I've had really bad luck with them and figured it
had to have been a problem they have nationally). Apparantly I just
need to take a LONG roadtrip when I'm craving southern fried chicken
salad and hot sweet rolls.

Anyway, if you couldn't tell we are on our way home. Sadly we left
Georgia and all of our loved ones who live there (or near there)
behind this morning. It was a very sad goodbye and I miss all of them
desperately already. We are currently somewhere outside of Nashville,
TN and plan to stop for the day wherever the road has led us by around
7:30pm. The girls (and, let's face it, the parents) can't take much
more than that in the car so we'll spend the night in a hotel and head
home early tomorrow morning. We should be back in Chicagoland
sometime tomorrow!

I'm so sad it's all over, but we definitely had a blast seeing everyone!

Not Five Minutes From Aunt Rosie's

And Alice is already passed out cold. Hopefully she'll sleep most of
the way to GA!

Goodbye Lakehouse

Hello Aunt Rosie and Uncle John!

The family and I packed up our things and left the lakehouse this
morning. We're headed to Georgia to spend a day with my cousin
Jennifer and her new little one and I couldn't resist stopping by and
spending a few hours at Aunt Rosie's house before heading out of state.

It was nice to finally see the house and her yard that I know mom was
always so very fond of. And of course the company was good. Mike,
Rae, Kaylee, James, and Dad joined us a bit later for lunch and good
food was had by all.

Now we're off to Atlanta to see Jen, whom I haven't seen since 2004 (I
think)!

Milestones at the Lakehouse

Well I missed it because I was slaving over a hot stove making chicken
and dumplings, but apparently Izzy rolled from back to belly! She's
getting so big already!!

I Don't Have Many Photos on the Phone

So this will have to do for now.

We all arrived safely in NC from our respective parts of the world,
India included. So far we've enjoyed swimming in the lake, genuine
Carolina BBQ, and the company of many realtives.

Tonight it looks like more swimming, discussing plans for tomorrow,
and chicken and dumplings are all on the agenda.

At the moment, life is very good!

Somebody's Smiling

Izzy started smiling this week! She's also become enamoured with the
toy bar on her bouncy seat. She can sit in that thing for hours so
long as the music and lights are on. I can't wait until she starts
doing it all the time!

It Better Have Been the Best Day of Your Life

We threw a surprise graduation party for my BIL Freddy this past
weekend. Lots of fun was had by all, especially the kids. This pic
would have been a lot cooler had it been a video instead as you just
can't quite capture that moment without the squeeling and laughter.
Aunt Ann had a lot of fun teaching the kids to bop eachother with the
balloons. Always the instigator.

I Don't Know How Easy It Is To See

But this pic that Alice "painted" on probably one of the best gifts
ever (thanks Mike and Rae) marks the first time I ever saw her draw
something more than a scribble. If you look in the lower, left corner
you'll see a stick figure that is me, apparantly.

What'd You Say?

I Habe My Gwampa Eyes On

That's what she tells me anyway.

Once upon a time Alice swiped these safety glasses from the
Jacksonville house (hope you didn't need them). She hasn't played
with them in a while, in fact I forgot we had them, and today she
pulled them out and said that little gem. She's certainly always good
for a laugh.

Speaking of laughing, we got our new computer this week so we've been
Skyping fools having talked to James and a very giggly Kaylee (and
Mike and Rae too) yesterday. Now that we have a computer that can
handle video chat I have a feeling we'll be doing it more often.

Not much is going on here. If you don't know already I have to have
my gallbladder taken out. The last time I was down at Dad's I had an
attack and after a morning in the J'ville ER (fun, it's SO different
from the hospitals around here) I found out my gallbladder is full of
stones and sludge. A classic post partum presentation they tell me.

So on the 10th of July I go in to have it removed. Hopefully it's
pretty straight forward and there won't be any issues.

We're looking forward to seeing some of you VERY soon!!

My Girls Are So Different

Alice was always a bit behind when it came to physical milestones. Of
course it never worried me because she was advanced in other areas and
afterall someone has to be below average. Well my little not quite a
two month old Izzy just rolled over so she could get closer to her
stuffed doggie. With the way she moves during tummy time I have a
feeling this kid is going to be mobile MUCH earlier than Alice was!

Somebody Had a Long Day

What happens when you spend the whole day shopping (we went to the
Wilton's tent sale with Auntie Annie) and playing outside with your
friends?

You fall asleep during dinner with bratwurst on your face.

I'll be off to bed early too if Izzy lets me because I'm pooped! Not
before taking some painkillers though, I have a feeling I'm going to
need them.