Home price slide lingers in ATL

Last week we were blessed with an amazing opportunity to get our house sold.

In today’s paper, however, it states that metro Atlanta’s housing market is back to summer of 2002 levels. People in metro ATL are “worse off than residents in cities such as Miami, Phoenix and Las Vegas…”

“Atlanta ranks fifth worst in the nation behind only Detroit, Cleveland, San Fran, and Minneapolis.”

I SO want to be in FL by the time school starts in the fall. I said this same thing last year at this time!

Panama City Beach, Florida

What a wonderful “Winter Break” it has been!
A friend of a neighbor blessed us with her condo on Panama City Beach, FL for the week. We love it there. The weather was a little brisk, but we basically had the beach to ourselves. Our only friends in the heated pools and the hot tubs were lovely retired snow birds in FL for the winter.
Tony was able to join us and his mom, sister, and nephew were there for a couple of days, too. How nice to see them all!
LB was sick w/ a cold before we left for the beach and got sicker after a couple of days. We had to take her to Urgent Care… her pulse ox was 87 and only rose to 92 after being ‘nebbed.’ She had bi-lateral ear infections and a throat infection and is now back on her asthma inhalers along w/ her other meds!!!
How wonderful to relax and enjoy the water and each other! We hope we can go again soon!

I thought some of you were friends...

WHY did you never warn me about a seemingly harmless, even fun-sounding place known as CHUCK E. CHEESE???? Why??
I've been a mom now for over 13 years; why was I not informed of how hideous this place is on a Saturday afternoon? I will never be the same; I am scarred for life from yesterday's 3-hr birthday party.
Just by the look of the parking lot, I knew it was going to be bad. People fighting for parking spots, parking in the grass, etc. I'd take the Shrine Circus any and everyday over this place... The people, the kids, the crowds, the screaming, pushing, shoving, crying, and did I mention the screaming??? Okay, anyways, we survived (PTL for Tylenol & Coke Zero!) BTW, why don't they have a bar at CEC?

Other weekend happenings:

-A nice friend got my treadmill assembled yesterday - thanks!!!

-Xian is sick w/ a cold, cough, and sore throat:(:(-T is in NJ & NYC enjoying family and Lombardi's Pizza. YUMMY!!!!!

-LB taught herself to ride her bike w/o the training wheels. See the video & pic below:

VIDEO BELOW:

Edited to add these 2 weekend pix, too. LB & Mims enjoying their Sat. morn tradition, chocolate chip pancakes:

The Girl I Used To Be - author unknown

She came tonight as I sat alone

The Girl I used to be

And she gazed at me with her earnest eye

And questioned reproachfully:

Have you forgotten the many plans

And hopes I had for you:

The great career, the splendid fame,

All the wonderful things too

Where is the mansion of stately height

With all its gardens rare?

The silken robes that I dreamed for you

And the jewels in your hair?

And as she spoke, I was very sad

For I wanted her pleased with me…

This slender girl from the shadowy past

The girl that I used to be.

So gently rising, I took her hand

And guided her up the stairs

Where peacefully sleeping, my babies lay

Innocent, sweet, and fair.

And I told her that these are my only gems,

And precious they are to me;

That silken robes is my motherhood

Of costly simplicity.

And my mansion of stately height is love,

And the only career I know

Is serving each day in these sheltered walls

For the dear ones who come and go

And as I spoke to my shadowy guest,

She smiled through her tears at me.

And I saw the woman that I am now

Pleased the girl I used to be.

Weekend fun

Over the weekend, we introduced ourselves to a new park just a few miles from our house. This is our new favorite place. In addition to the new playground equipment, there are several miles of walking trails, lakes, fishing, hills, picnic tables, and disc golf.

Another highlight of the weekend was getting to meet our friends' 2 1/2 week old Yorki-Poo puppies. CUTE!!! NO, we're not getting one - I'll say it again to convince myself - NO, we're not getting one!!!

Oh, and it snowed over the weekend, too. In SD we'd call this a "dusting," but here in GA, it is SNOW!

This is my kind of art...

Lily made this lovely family tree at school the other day; isn't it wonderful!

Puzzle pieces as the bark of the trunk, green toothpicks as the branches, and alphabet pasta w/ all of our family - including Buddy!

(click on the pic to see it bigger)

PRECIOUS!!!!

Andrew Wyeth, Painter, dies at 91

One of my favorite artists has died....
Andrew Wyeth