The boys 1st UGA football game - Ark Vs GA

So much fun...we took the boys to their first UGA football game. Dave and Lisa have been planning to come to Atlanta for this game since the spring. Uncle Dave has been getting the kids psyched up about this game for months now. They arrived on Thursday late afternoon and rode home with Derek who was on route home from yet another trip away for work. The kids had an absolute blast catching up.

Uncle Dave was so excited the night before the game - he couldn't sleep. So when the big day came - he was up early and packing the car. Hatcher was just as excited - he got up and got dressed all by himself in his new UGA jersey and was ready to go - Aidan was right behind him. Packed - car decorated with more Razorback magnets and flags than UGA - we were set. Off to get breakfast on the road - we had our first foreshadowing of the day - we lost one of our new UGA window flags. At 55 mph - off the thing went. The window attachment was still on the window, but the flag was long gone - married somewhere to the asphalt on PIB north. LOL. But it didn't slow us down - down one flag - but not in spirit. The drive was fun and the kids were excited about Uncle Dave's choice dance mix music. I think both Lisa and I could have waited another hour or so for the beats to rock the car...but the kids had fun!



We arrived in Athens with temps above normal for game day - I mean...let me just tell you - it was so freaking hot - probably near 100 if not hotter where we were sitting. But first we were off to meet Dave's co-worker. And how lucky - along the way we passed Russ (our official mascot) and Hairy Dog. We quickly snapped photos with both!






Then a quick hike up several flights of stairs to our seats. The boys made it through all 4 quarters. Aidan was done after the 1st - but we pushed through and by the half time he was into the game once again. The boys also met up with a 9-year old who was willing to entertain them between plays - so all was well.








Even though Arkansas won - we all had good fun. It was a great game - minus the heat. The boys had fun - and I think the adults had just as much fun. The season is not looking to good for GA - so...go Razorbacks...Pig Sooey! (Don't worry Dave - Aidan still yells it from time to time...and Hatcher insists on drinking from the ARK game cups!)

Visit from the Arlen Family

The Arlen family came to Atlanta for a recent visit. The boys were so excited to see their cousin Ashton. They had so much fun playing together the whole weekend. Ashton slept with Aidan every night which was great...they both loved it! We went shopping on Friday and stopped by Grandma Marilyn's for dinner. Ben came by the house for a quick hello before he headed to SC for his last beach vacation. It was nice to have everyone together.
But - the biggest reason the Arlens came to town...the Arkansas vs. Georgia football game! The Hogs vs. the Dawgs - as Uncle Dave would often remind us. But - those pictures will be in a separate blog entry - that day was full of fun.
So for now - here are my other favs from the visit:

Hatcher takes to tennis and loves it!

Hatcher has been asking about playing tennis since the spring. Not sure what sparked the interest...but he kept asking. So I thought I had found the best solution - a class over the summer that would host both boys. But - turned out the pro at the club was leaving and so they cancelled the classes. So...on Labor Day, I noticed a sign about fall registration for Hatcher's age. I called, and secured Hatcher a spot. He loves it! He has really taken to it in these past 4 weeks - and he even asked to continue. So...we shall see. Last week each of the five boys were tossed 10 balls total - Hatcher hit 9 of them over the net! Way to go Hatcher. Here are a few pics. Aidan and I toss the ball on another court while Hatcher practices - so got some cute ones of him too!

Labor Day - back from beach and off to pool...and off the Diving Board!

We enjoyed one last day at the pool on Labor Day. This year Derek and I opted to join the nearby Country Club pool for the summer with the lake being so low and muddy. It was a great opportunity for us to really get the kids swimming. Both of them were officially without ear tubes and could be completely under water without the use of plugs - which they both HATE. So, we joined and got the boys swimming this year. It all kind of started with a visit to Marma's house this spring. She had bought both boys their own inflatable rings. It seemed that was much less "life-vest" like and more a floaty. So off they went. Once they had their rings on - they felt they could go anywhere - do anything in the pool. It was good and bad - we are definitely more aware of their actions, but also super proud that they can get in and swim around. So fast forward to Labor Day...and both boys were ready to jump in. After we enjoyed the cookout - poolside - we decided to get in the water for a while and see if the boys were ready to try "diving and jumping in the water" again.

The obsession for jumping came after a pool visit with Grandma and Grandpa Tom - where they kept jumping into the pool in the shallow end to "swim to" Tom. And so the jump-fest began. But to jump from the big diving board at the club...a huge feat. Hatcher had seen Madison do it several times - The Rileys were members at the club last year too - so Maddie had a bit more time to prepare. But - Labor Day was the day...he did it, and did it and did it until Derek was super tired from treading water. Aidan "walked the plank" several times - but always turned around. Although he would jump from the side of the pool just fine. Congrats Hatcher - we are super proud of our brave diver, swimmer and big boy!

Trip to Watercolor...this time with friends!

We made our annual trip to Watercolor this year...oh how I love this trip. It is always such a great time. So this year, we decided to try it with our oldest and dearest friends...the Estes and the Bayers. The Egan family was also present - although in there own place. It took some time to get the kids to "settle in" to their new digs...but almost instantly they took ownership of the rental house. They called it our new home at the beach. I could only wish! The house was fabulous as usual - this time a 5 bedroom, 4 bath house that sat in the Lake District. We knew we needed to be off the beaten path so the boys could ride their bikes at their own pace. They rode those bikes all around town and had a BLAST doing it! We hit the Frog pool a good bit this year, the beach nearly every day, and the playground. The boys flew kites, made sand castles, caught sand crabs and even went to the Saturday night bonfire to roast marshmallows and cook s'mores. This year we even made the trek to Seaside for the Friday movie on the lawn - to see "Disney's Up." And never was a meal skipped, we had group dinners most nights, ribs, steaks, and even a low country boil - which Hatcher LOVED and really took to eating the shrimp! A first! As always - I took WAY too many photos - I think a record at just over 800 for the week. So - I am creating a montage. But - for now - here are some of my favorites.

Aidan takes gymnastics and the kids play dress up

Ever since Hatcher and Haley started gymnastics last year, both Tomy and Aidan have been itching to join them. So, this year they both did. This fall marked the second year for Hatcher and the first year for Aidan. He has been so excited and talks about it all the time. Of course they both love jumping into the foam pit. Aidan is really getting better at somersaults and Hatcher is just doing so great at improving all the basic skills.


We often get together with the folks from the "Goddard Gang" - minus only recently the MacMahon family as they are adjusting to having the twins home. Give them a few more months and they will join right back in - I am sure of it. But the last time we all got together at the Smith house and the kids had a blast diving into the dress up trunk. They were all changing outfits and showing us their cool costumes. I didn't have my camera - but Derek got these photos from his iPhone. Too cute.

Happy 60th Birthday Marma!

Nearly a month ago today (August 13th) Marma celebrated her 60th birthday. We put together a party for her at Cathy and Chad's new house. Cathy made an amazing cake and we all brought food over for dinner. All of us kids gathered many photos and created a photo book together for Marma to celebrate her life and remind her of all the wonderful milestones she has been blessed with to date. We took all those photos and put them on the TV in rotation while we sat around and mingled and enjoyed dinner. Marma's good friend Bunny and her husband T came up from Florida to be part of the big day. We all had a great time. Happy Birthday Marma. We love you!

Happy 1st Birthday Sophie

Happy first birthday Sophie. Hard to believe you are already hitting such a big milestone!




Ramona hired a face painter for the kids. They all had so much fun. Aidan started the show off with a shark...of course Hatcher got the same thing. But later - Hatcher went back and got one more...the turtle.