Happy Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving.

So much to be thankful for on this day - and every day.

Most of all, I'm thankful for my sweet, little family
and all the love, laughter, smiles, snuggles, cries, and craziness that comes with my three boys.

In the Garden.

We've found a new place to go when our backyard is too small, all our usual go-to-places don't seem exciting enough, and we are all up for a little trip in to the city for an afternoon.

I didn't think the Botanical Gardens would have much to offer for a toddler and a babe, but I was wrong. It might just be the perfect place to take my outdoor loving boys. There's plenty of space to run. Lots of nature to be discovered. A playground made just for little hands and feet. Most of all, so much beauty for mama to take in.






We met up with our bestie on a perfect Fall day and let the kids play for hours. What's different about the Gardens than the Zoo? Well, for one, you can actually play (and eat some of) the items on display.

Andrea and Lane were quite proud of the purple pansies they picked.



All three of the kids enjoyed playing with the giant leaves we found lying around.


Before we left, Lane had one thing on his mind. Giant bullfrogs. Well, once he saw his bestfriend and all that room to play, bullfrogs became second best. (Good thing, too. Bullfrogs must hibernate in the Fall. We didn't see a single frog in a pond.)








We did find a sweet little edible garden area where the kids could climb on farm animals and go in and out of a barn door. Big hit.


Even better - the children's garden: complete with a slide, tunnels for running and cool instruments for drumming.


However, the winner for the day had to be the train on display for the holidays. When Lane saw the train, his eyes grew three times their normal size and he became mesmerized.

My boy stood in one spot and stared in amazement at the little city - complete with ice skaters, a little general store, bridges, multiple trains and so much more.

I couldn't pull him away. I made a promise that after we ate our lunch and completed our tour of the grounds, we could return.


He held me to that promise. On our way out, we watched the trains again.



When little brother grew bored with the tracks, he found a puddle to play in and some other guests to smile at and flirt with. He's easily entertained.




Saying good bye to the Gardens wasn't easy. That's why we asked Papa for a season pass. Now, the boys and I can go whenever we want. And we can get some guests in with us!

Any time any one wants to take a trip in to the city, let us know. We would love to have you take advantage of the pass we purchased - and enjoy an afternoon with us.

Seasonal Leaf Toss.

We ditched all our usual Monday activities - morning at the gym, grocery shopping, and laundry.

(the laundry. don't get me started on the laundry, which of course is the problem. i just can't seem to get started on the massive laundry piles taking over my room.)

And met Paola and Andrea at the park. I figured it was a great day to go to the park. The weather just right. The need to play outside after a day spent inside on Sunday.

We pretty much had the place to ourselves - except for a few families who found their way in, played on the swings a bit, then found their way out.

We took advantage of the opportunity for close to two hours and let the kids play and eat a lunch of Old McDonald's.



When our attention turned away from the slides and on to a game of toss, I distracted Lane, who was not having a turn with the ball, by encouraging him to take a roll down a little hill into a nice big pile of leaves.

Of course, as any good old leaf pile will do, Andrea's attention quickly turned away from the ball and on to Lane's new activity.

Then, a good old leaf fight ensued.


We threw leaves at each other. Buried each other in under them. Ran in them. Kicked them.









And laughed. A lot.


Those big, brown crunchy leaves provided so much fun for our kiddos.

I have to admit - for me and Paola too.


We got in on the throwing and laughing as well.

Soon, we were exhausted. Covered in leaf dirt and ready to head home.

Then, I couldn't help but ask Paola what we're going to do once these babes of ours head off to school.



Be bored, she answered. Very bored.

I think that's the truth.

Name of this post provided by Siri. She's like the new girl in our group who has all the coolest, newest things. We go to her for all the answers. When we asked her if we were having a leaf fight or playing in a leaves pile, she answered in such an eloquent way. What we were partaking in, she said, was a seasonal leaf toss. I like it.

35.

I turned 35 on Saturday. I had an awesome party - at a playground with a Rapunzel cake and balloons.

Just kidding.

I did go to a party at a playground and there was a Rapunzel cake. The party wasn't for me. It was for Lane's best friend Andrea. I was more than happy to share my day with her though.

In return, she shared her cake with me and Paola let me blow out one candle - almost - 35 times.

Each year, my dad calls on my birthday and asks if I feel my age. Never, ever have I felt as old as I really am. Except for this year. It has hit. I feel 35.

That isn't really bad. And, I don't have too much to say about being 35.

I've got everything I could really want.

So, in honor of my big turn in to mid-life, I thought I would share with all of you 35 things about myself.

(Feel free to exit this blog now.)

1. For those of you who read, but don't know me "in real life" my name is Lana - the first a is a long a. So, it is pronounced like Donna but with an L.

2. One of my very best friends is named Lanna. The first a is a short a. So, it is pronounced like Anna but with an L.

3. I have been to all of the states in the United States of America - except for Alaska and Hawaii. Most states, I visited before the ripe old age of 5. And traveled there by vehicle.

4. My dad is a truck driver, which explains how I've been to all of those places.

5. I have also been to France (twice), England (once), Mexico (twice), The Dominican Republic (twice).

6. If I could live any where it would be Paris. My favorite city hands down.

7. Since Paris isn't really an option any more, I just daydream about living in one of the old cottage houses off the Marietta Square.

8. I am pretty much blind. Contacts during the day. Glasses at night.

9. I've never had any kind of surgery, or stitches, or a broken bone.

10. In fact, the only time I have ever been to - or even in - a hospital was when I gave birth to my boys.

11. My favorite food is my mom's homemade lasagna. So good.

12. I can't eat it any more because it hurts my belly too bad.

13. I have a gluten intolerance. (That's why I can't eat lasagna. The noodles are made of wheat, and I haven't found a gluten free noodle that fits the bill.)

14. My grandmother was my best friend. Next week, it will be nine years since she passed away. I still think of her every day.

15. I have lived in 4 apartments, 1 loft, 1 townhouse and 1 house.

16. Two of the apartments were in houses that were more than 100 years old. The loft was in an old school building that was more than 100 years old.

17. I am not scared of ghosts.

18. My mom once told me ghosts won't hurt you - only other humans can hurt you. Think about it. It is true.

19. I love to exercise - and go to the gym between 4 or 5 times on a good week.

20. I hate to run.

21. If I could have any job I wanted, I would work as an editor at Country Living Magazine.

22. I love gummy and sugar candies - gummy bears, Runts, jelly beans, sour patch kids, gummy peaches.

23. I can't sleep unless the closet door in my bedroom is closed.

24. I never had braces but do have fillings in more than half my teeth.

25. I secretly love my freckles.

26. I was this close to becoming a high school English teacher.

27. My first job was at a furniture store. I was 15.

28. My first job after college was at an antique auction house. You might have seen it on TV.

29. I didn't get my driver's license until a few months before my 17th birthday.

30. My first car was made before I was even born - a 1972 VW Bug.

31. I was once in a commercial for one of those quick cash places. (One of my old roommates worked at the local TV station, called me while I was taking a nap, said she needed help ASAP and I went down there not knowing what I was getting in to. I hadn't brushed my hair or even refreshed my make up.)

32. The book Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison changed made a huge impression on my life. I have read it at least five times.

33. I've never been camping.

34. My favorite nail polish color is Dragon by Chanel.

35. I have not one single regret. If it were not for each decision I have made in my life - the good and the bad and the really, really bad - I wouldn't be where I am now.

And I love my life right now.

I was rushing.

Rushing to feed the boys breakfast. Rushing to get myself and the boys dressed. Rushing to get out the door so I could have some time to clear my head at the gym.

In my rush, I took a few seconds to sneak into the bathroom. Alone.

Until Evan realized he couldn't see my face and started to whine and crawl his way into my secret hiding spot.

A few seconds later, Lane, who now had his pants, shoes and socks removed from his body, joined us.

As Evan pulled at my legs and tried to stick his little baby hands into the toilet - the same one I was trying to use - Lane enthusiastically told me about something very important: pumpkins.

Lane insisted I answer all his questions - even though I had no clue what he was talking about - and then decided to wash his hands. And his shirt. And my bathroom counters.

Frustrated, I pleaded with my children to just let me have a few moments alone to use the bathroom.


Finally, we headed out the door. I dropped the boys in the childcare room at the gym. Snuck into my class a few minutes late and found my place in the back of the room.

A few songs passed. My head cleared. I felt better.


At a break, the woman behind me tapped my arm.

"Oh, I remember when my boys used to do that to me," she said with a smile.

"Great," I thought to myself. "I've left the house with a George sticker on my bottom again." I made a quick swipe of my back side to feel for stickers.

Confused, she touched my arm, and replied, "The tattoos. My boys went through that phase. I would be covered in them."

Oh yes, the tattoos. The Monster Jam tattoos Lane insisted he put on my upper arm, which was now bare in my workout shirt.

"I had forgotten all about that," she continued. "Such a sweet time. I miss those times when my boys were little."

And then the music started again.


I'd gone to the gym to have some time alone.

I'd come to clear my head.

I'd been reminded.

This time with my boys is fleeting.

There will come a cool Fall morning when I'll wake up with nothing but time. My boys will have grown up and moved on with families of their own. I'll have nothing but my house to keep me company.

I'll have nothing but the silence I sometimes long so much for at this time in my life.

And a longing for little boy hands to pull at my legs and toddler conversations about something so important. Like pumpkins.

Babies don't keep.

Thankfully, every once in a while, I'm reminded why I've decided to keep mine so close to me.

Partners in crime.

These days .....


When Lane's not getting in trouble for whacking on his brother, he is usually helping his brother get in to some kind of trouble.

Apple picking,

A few weeks ago, Paola and I took the kids to Ellijay for an apple picking adventure. Stephanie and I went last year and had so much fun, I wanted to go again. Unfortunately, we just couldn't get a day for that worked for the Rader boys and the Ward boys to get together, so with just two days left until my Groupon expired, Paola and Andrea got the glory of picking apples with us!

I'm just kidding - although, I do have so say it was one of the best days we've had with our best friends in quite a while.

We laughed a lot. Starting with the drive there. I used MapQuest, which sent me the very scenic route. Yes, it was a beautiful way to spend a late Fall morning. However, it was also a very long, slow way to spend a Fall morning.



Once we finally arrived, there was so much to do, we couldn't decide where to start. All I could think about were apple cider donuts. Lane and Andrea wanted to run. Evan was up for anything. Paola decided we should start at the apple gun.


I finally got to see what it looks like when the big guy hangs out on my back.

After waiting in line forever, we finally got our turn at the gun. We had two tickets for the apple gun and on our way in a couple gave us two more tickets. That meant we had four baskets - or 40 apples to shoot.







We all took turns shooting the apples out as far as we could get them to go. No method to our madness like some of the other folks. We just liked to push the button and watch them fly.

I would love to know what people think when we are out and about. We crack ourselves up. I'm sure other people probably think we are like a pack of wild banshees.

Who cares? We have fun.


Oh, and this kid is cute.

The farm we went to was the perfect place for photos. So, we took a bunch of them.




Then, we made our way to the petting zoo. There, we asked the Hispanic man working the gate what kind of animals they had.

"Goats and little dogs," he told us.

Elizabeth, you should like this.

My reply was, "Goats and little dogs? I can drive to my brother's house to see goats and little dogs. And, I can hang out there for free!"


Lucky for us, he was wrong. There were a lot of goats - and some turkeys hanging around outside. But, there was a barn filled with animals: little dogs, a little cow, some baby pigs, a few chickens and some kind of bird that was a mix between a duck and a chicken. I kept calling it a Chuck - but I don't think that is it's scientific name!

Eventually, we found our way to the store, where we bought way too many goodies and a few pumpkins.

Then, we took advantage of the last part of the Groupon offer: a hayride. Really, this was a for real hayride.

A tractor full of hay literally drove us around a big field for 20 minutes.

At the end of the day, we were all tired, cold and ready to go home - but I think we've decided we will be doing this for as long as we can convince the kids to go. Maybe even longer.




Oh, and I took the short way home!

Boo at the Zoo.

The week before Halloween we took the kids to our annual October visit to the zoo. This is my favorite time to go because of weather and the decorations. There is an actual Boo at the Zoo weekend event, where the kids can go trick or treating and visit with all kinds of characters, but our kids don't know that yet so we haven't taken them!


We stopped by all our usual spots, including a visit to Willie B, where I got my picture taken with my boys and my honorary girl.


Evan was fascinated by Willie B. Pretty sure he was trying to figure out how to grow that big.

Every few months, I like to have my picture taken with Lane in the same spot in front of the gorillas.

We always stop right here and snap a few to document how much my boy has grown - and unfortunately document all my different stages of postpartum, pregnant, nursing, trying to get back to my old self state.




Just to see how much he's grown, here's a few old ones.

Our first trip to the zoo. And earlier this year, after Baby Gooey was born.

I also found last year's trip to Boo at the Zoo. Wow, one year really makes a difference.

This time, we introduced the kids to a few new creatures.

The orangutans.


And the snakes in the reptile house. Kind of creepy.

Kind of fun.