The cute one

We discovered the beauty that is the Strawberry Milkshake Oreo this week.

Take me out to the Ballgame!

We got free tickets to the Brave's game on Saturday night. Four of them! And a parking pass! To a normal person, this is awesome. To a 5-year-old who'd been told she'd be going to see Kung Fu Panda that day, it is nothing less than the worst tragedy known to man. The tears, the lashing out, and the screaming brought me back to my elementary school days, watching helplessly as my younger sister bashed her head against the wall. How in the world did my mother handle that? (and how is it that my sister remains blissfully childless while I deal w/ her karma?) I can't do it. It's daddy's turn when the crazy comes out. It took about 10 minutes and her overhearing me call my mom to take her while we take Layla out to get her to calm the F down and listen to us. Then today she rationally tells my mom "Kung Fu Panda is there everyday. We can do that any other time" Where was that logic on Saturday?!
It was the first time we all went to a game as a family. I took the girls last summer to their first game. I couldn't even tell you who we played, it's a bit difficult trying to watch a ballgame with a crazy toddler and a 1-year-old. Who knew? This game wasn't much different. We stopped to eat beforehand to avoid paying $10 for a hotdog but God help me those damn vendors walk around just temping young children. "I want one of those blue things! No red thing! I want a red thing!" Doesn't even know what it is, but she wants one and she wants one NOW! I tell her at 8:00 she can have one, we just ate. Remember? That hotdog in the car? Yes, that was your dinner. No we're not eating here. No it's not 8:00 yet. See that clock? Over there on the wall. Next to the big yellow pole. The big yellow one! Ok, here's my watch. Tell me when it say eight zero zero. No that says seveN zero eight. It's not the same. You didn't miss it. No, that's 7:24. No, 7:32. Not yet, only 7:35. It IS fair that other kids have stuff and you don't, they probably didn't throw a temper tantrum at home. No, it's just 7:43. DO NOT TALK TO ME AGAIN UNTIL THE WATCH SAYS EIGHT ZERO ZERO! We were a constant form of entertainment for the lady in front of us who kept turning and laughing at this poor mom who was slowly losing her mind.
Chuck at one point asked why I would buy her something when she was obviously driving me crazy and using behavior he didn't want to reward. My logic here is that if she has a giant slushie, she has something in her mouth, making it difficult for her to ask me a question every 5 seconds. We did enjoy the game, despite the crazy. Layla for one, was very well behaved. Her favorite part was all the clapping and was sad whenever it stopped. Mia loved the Tomahawk Chop and the fireworks that happened on the one homerun (thank you Chipper!) we saw before we hightailed it out of there at the 7th inning. Since fireworks were part of the bargain of going to the game, I hate to think of the aftermath if Mia hadn't gotten to see them. I should send Mr. Jones a thank you note.

17th row baby right behind "my boy" Franceour

That was some nice scenery, let me tell you.

This is when I wonder why I bother

Me: I'm taking you & Layla to see Horton Hears a Who at The Fox Theatre this weekend - it's a fancy theatre

Mia: But I've already seen Horton Hears a Who already at a theater

Yeah but not at a fancy theatre where the ceiling changes color!

But I've seen it at a theater already! Papa took me!

I know but the ceiling looks just like the sky and goes from night to day. It's a really cool theatre.

BUT I'VE SEEN IT ALREADY IN A THEATER! I'VE SEEN IT ALREADY!

My mom: This is why her friends don't talk to her sometimes.

Watch out Amanda Beard, there's a new girl in town!

Mia had her 2nd ever swim meet today. Last week she cried because they were trying to make her swim. Imagine that. Coaches asking a member of the swim team to swim. The nerve! Mia refused to go into the deep end which is where they start each event. This week was an away meet. The lanes begin at the 5 ft. area which is still over her head. Did we forget to mention that to her? Oops. Well, we didn't lie - it wasn't the deep end! She cried again. This time it was because she didn't swim enough! Oh yeah, she got in there, took about 3 full minutes to get to the other side and miracles did not cease, she actually beat another swimmer! I thought for sure I would be the embarrassed parent, cheering my kid, alone in the pool, on while the entire audience waited to start the next event. I was happily wrong. My girl isn't the only doggy paddler who must. not. get. face. wet.And let's add some more amazement to the story; she did the entire length of that pool - 25 meters - with a smile on her face! I was near tears by the time she touched that wall. I pulled her out and pointed to the far lane and screamed, "LOOK!! YOU BEAT HER!" I'm not sure that mother will be inviting us over for a playdate anytime soon. For the rest of the evening, every 5 minutes, Mia would look at me and ask "How proud of me are you?!" I'm pretty damn sure I was the proudest parent at that pool.

Later, one of the team moms gave Mia a dollar. She said that her daughter had been given a dollar to swim her first event at that very pool about 10 years ago. It's a little more than awesome that that girl was the Flower Girl at our wedding.

Freedom!

This Saturday marked the passing of another soccer season. I've lost count of the number I've participated in either as a player, coach, or administrator. You'd think I'd get sick of the sport eventually but I remain a true fan. I think I'm done coaching. At least of Mia. It's hard enough to wrangle 12 kids ages 4-6 on a normal day. Throw in your own daughter hanging on you and complaining every two seconds and it's near impossible. But we survived and Mia says she has fun. I think next time she wants to play I'll sign her up in a different league, where I have no responsibilities at all. That sounds like heaven to me!
I really loved these kids, they were hilarious to watch. My favorite moment was when a butterfly flew down on a game and both teams just stopped and stood mezmorized by the pretty wings. The other coach and I just shook our heads and laughed.
Here are my darling Eagles in action!

Can you see the misery on Mia's face? This is what she looked like at every game and every practice. Her legs hurt, she was tired, she was thirsty, she was driving Mommy insane! But last season I decided not to sign her up because of all the above complaints and I heard everyday, "why can't I play soccer? I wanna be on Rose's team. I wanna be on Walker's team. I wanna play soccer!" Oh yeah, next season, it's someone else's turn.

Cupcakes for a Cure!!

Today I am officially a commercial baker! I make an innocent comment about how I put my leftover cinnamon cream cheese icing on cinnamon rolls and bam! I'm selling cupcakes at the new local coffee joint! Get Coffee will now feature cupcakes by Lovely Baker! And until October (much to the dismay of my husband), I am donating the money made from my mad baking skillz to my Avon Walk.

If you're in the Chamblee area this weekend, stop by our Taste of Chamblee event to sample my goodies at the Get Coffee tent! I will be featuring the very cinnamon cream cheese icing that got me into all this topping the famous Campbell banana bread recipe! This is a very secret recipe and will not be featured on this or any other blog. I was only able to procure it from my mom a couple years ago when I stole it out of her recipe box and copied it into a notebook! Can't make it to the Taste? Well stop by Get Coffee and get cupcakes!

Dancing Girls

My girls can only stay in one place for so long. So on Saturday, after a long day of shopping and then making them sit in a restaurant booth, they were ready to dance! The Mariachi music outside of the On The Border was just what they needed.