Time to catch up

We have been SO busy lately and the blog has been neglected. Here are some pictures to give you an idea of what we've been up to - in no particular order. Our business boom isn't shown well in pictures but I can tell you we have certainly seen our share of business, especially with all the recent rain and flooding in middle Georgia. We are very thankful that we have a great team at Rainbow International and the increase in business has allowed us the chance to do the "fun stuff" too.

Brian is "living a dream". We bought a '78 Camero that he has been working on, night after night. He raced for the first time this past Saturday and, for a novice, did pretty well placing 7th and winning $25! At least he made back his entry fee... Here he is getting a few tips from his crew chief.

So, if you think this primer grey is pretty, scroll down and look at the "before" picture.



2009 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure

Lindsey and I with our awesome Kids for the Cure volunteers!

Brian and I at a tradeshow.


Our first camping trip without the boys. Shhhh! Don't tell them. They'd be devestated, but it sure was nice to get away and experience the relaxtion part of camping.

Below is the view from our camper. We had a wonderful campsite!

I took the boys to see Disney Playhouse LIVE!

The #33 car - BEFORE!

A girls trip to Birmingham to celebrate Elizabeth's (far left) upcoming marriage.

When I grow up...

Yesterday, out of the clear blue, Sam said...

"Mommy, when I grow up I want to play football for Alabama, be a rockstar and make deposits at the bank."

For the life of me I can't figure out the Alabama football facination. Rockstar? I get that. Making deposits? Bless his little heart, he has no idea just how hard you have to work to be able to make those deposits but he had just heard me say we were going to make a deposit at the bank then get a haircut. My guess is that it's all about getting a sucker...

Brice

Brice got his hair cut and has learned about putting his hands in his pockets.


No, this is not a tribute to Michael Jackson. He's just always loved to put socks on his hands. Go figure!

Whitley's Funniest Home Videos

For all you Yo Gabba Gabba fans...

Any of you who have witnessed Brian's "moves" can appreciate this one...

Cloudland Canyon State Park

Here are the hi-lights from our Labor Day weekend trip to NW Georgia where we visited Cloudland Canyon State Park, had our first (and probably last) experience at a KOA campground, and spent some time in Chattanooga at the Tennessee Aquarium and the Children's Discovery Museum.



Hiking down to the pond for the Catfish Rodeo.


Sam did this all on his own. I'm just glad I captured it!


Notice the lumps in his socks. Since he didn't have pockets, I suggested Brice put the nuts he found in his socks. He liked that idea!


Sam would NOT climb into the cave.

The jumping pillow at the campgrounds. It's exactly what it sounds like and lots of fun.

Brice loved it and had NO fear!

The Tennessee Aquarium.

I took this from the ground with my big zoom lens. I think it's about 14,000 feet up. Click on the photo to make it larger. You can see the hang glider running off the edge!

Sam was lucky to get a job helping pick up hang gliders. Thanks Peyton!

After we observed it from the ground, we just had to go see what it was like up on the mountain. Pretty breath-taking and actually quite scary.

At Chattanooga's Children's Discovery Museum.

We are big Curious George fans in this house!

After a visit from the Whitley boys, the park rangers decided it should be renamed "Loudland" Canyon!

Have you thanked a fire fighter today?

Today we made a spur-of-the-moment visit to fire station No. 11 on Riverside Drive. Little did I know, when I was just trying to think of something to kill time, that we’d end up having the most awesome, world-class tour and fire station experience. We got the entire experience from riding in the fire engine & the aerial truck, to honking the horns & turning on the lights, to seeing the bunk room & the radio control room, to having our wonderful guide, “Private Archie”, get them to ring the bell, to even having a REAL fire call go out and watching the aerial truck take off! The guys did exactly what they had just told us they would…hopped into their gear, jumped in the truck and took off – in less than two minutes! It was unbelievable! When we rode in the trucks Archie let the boys talk into the CB, which was just the loud speaker that they use to make announcements to passers-by or cars not getting out of the way. Well, ol’ Sam picked it up and said, “Oh yeah, we gone get our drink on!”…to anyone in ear shot on Riverside Drive! It gets better… When we got into the aerial truck he picked up the CB again, but this time (unbeknownst to me or Archie) it was the CB that calls to ALL of the fire stations in Macon in addition to the main dispatch. On that occasion he just said, "breaker one nine". The dispatcher called back and asked, "Engine 30, do you have traffic?" I was dying!!! Archie just responded “negative”. Thank God we didn’t get in trouble. When we left I couldn’t thank them enough. I’m sure the boys don’t realize just what an amazing and unique experience they had. When we got home we made brownies and chocolate chip cookies and took them back to the station. We made some pictures and Archie gave the boys their own fire hats. I can’t wait to go back!

Camping trip #2 - FDR State Park

View from the park's Visitor's Center

The whole crew

Our campsite

Our 2nd "sign" picture...a silly one this time

After we left the park we drove into Warm Springs for lunch, a stroll along "mainstreet", ice cream then a stop at the Fish Hatchery