Princess Maddie

I had to post this picture, just because it's so fabulous.

Easter In the Mountains

This year we got to spend Easter in Pigeon Forge, TN. Why Pigeon Forge, you ask? Where else would I have learned that there are 1,001 ways to cook with Jello - and not just dessert, that my cousin is on her way to Laser Tag championship status, or that sometimes the hardest jellybeans to find are those right there in front of your face!?

Mom and Aunt Jon rented a cabin up in the Smokies - fully equiped with a hot tub and a pool table! We knew the Easter bunny wasn't skipping this house :) Aunt Jon brought Gram and Great-Grandma's recipes for some serious sorting and organization.

In between amazement at the number of Jello and Spam recipes, I learned a lot about my family. Stories that are priceless. It's intriguing to learn about the lineage from which you come.

Eater morning started with a run through the foothills, a breakfast

of pancake puffs (that make really great eyes and a nose for smiley faces) and an expert level jellybean hunt. Easter wouldn't be Easter without the jellybean hunt.

Then it was back to Atlanta to begin real life in the city all over again!

Kate Morrisey: Live

So, on Thursday I ended up going with my friend Natalie to see a friend of hers perform instead of Jazz Night. Her name is Kate Morrisey and she was playing at Karivna in Oakhurst. She was amazing! Her voice sounds just the same in person as it does on the link below. She did this cover of "Hallejulah" that I would LOVE to have a copy of. Anyhow, here's a link if you want to take a listen. Just click on the MySpace music player...

Kate Morrisey Music

It's April! That means it's time for Jazz Nights in Oakhurst again. We get free jazz performances on the lawn of the old Scottish Rite hospital. While I can't claim to be a big fan of Jazz, I am definitely Wine, cheese and fruit picnics. Mmmmm. Last year packing a picnic was a great excuse to hit up the Dekalb Farmer's Market each week :) It's supposed to be a bit cold this Thursday, so I'm hoping for a weather forecast turn around.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

This weekend was action packed with Mom's birthday activities. We started the celebration on Saturday with a visit to the BODIES exhibit at Atlantic Station. While I was a bit concerned about being able to handle it, it was actually really interesting. It was one of those things that I think I'll take away more from after the fact, as I keep going back to thinking about what things looks like as I'm working out different muscles at the gym. The things that they are able to display are pretty interesting.

Then it was off to Rosa Mexicana for dinner. Their homemade guacamole can't be beat! And after one of their just as amazing margaritas, I didn't much mind that the salmon I ordered looked like a muscle that I had just seen minutes before. (Ewwww.)

The next morning, the party continued, with a visit to the Palm Sunday service at Mt. Pisgah and Paul's BLT sandwiches for lunch.

Birthdays are so much fun! :)

I Believe...

On my way to work yesterday, NPR was featuring one of the essays from their "This I Believe" segment. This particular essay was written by Tarak McLain, just 6 years old. He wrote this piece as an assignment for his class, who were instructed to bring in "100 things". Some brought cans and other objects, but Tarak wrote a list of 100 "I Believe" statements. The list made me tear up. The innocence that children have to believe the beautful things that they belive is something of which I am so envious. Below is a link to the segment. SO worth a listen! Thanks NPR.

Thirty Things I Believe by Tarak McLain

For those without time to listen, here is a sneak peek. But i'd rather you listen!
I believe life is good.
I believe God is in everything.
I believe we're all equal.
I believe we can help people.
I believe everyone is weird in their own way.
I believe hate is a cause for love.
I believe that when I meditate I feel peaceful.
I believe we should be generous.
I believe brothers and sisters should be kind to each other.
I believe kids should respect their parents.
I believe I should not whine.
I believe people should wake up early.
I believe people should go outside more.
I believe in nature.
I believe people should use less trees.
I believe we should help the Arctic and rainforest animals.
I believe people shouldn't throw litter on the ground.
I believe people should not smoke.
I believe God is in good and bad.
I believe in magic.
I believe people should not give up.
I believe love is everywhere.
I believe that God helps us to have a good time.
I believe we live best in a community.
I believe we can protect people in danger.
I believe we should help the poor.
I believe it's OK to die but not to kill.
I believe war should not have started.
I believe war should stop.
I believe we can make peace.

Maddie & Tucker Turn 10!

We had a little birthday party to celebrate Maddie and Tucker's first decade last night. They LOVED their birthday hats! ;)