Home Park rules! I love my neighborhood!

I have recently been re-smitten with my neighborhood. I have always loved it, but as with any long-term relationship, we had gotten into a rut and needed to add some spice. My neighbors have always been fantastic. For instance, they let me use their washer when mine breaks yet again (thanks Julie and Clark!) and let us jump on their trampolene (thanks Megan!). I have always enjoyed its central location and that I could get to most places within 10 minutes (in my car). But I was getting tired of waiting for promises to be fulfilled and my eyes were beginning to wander.

And then it finally happened! Atlantic Station has opened! Now I can walk to the grocery store. I can walk to shopping, restaurants, and eventually Target. I already walk all over the place--to Emma's school, the library, the park--and this just makes my life so much better! If they get a YMCA, I might never have to get in my car again!

Of course, you might be worried that you will never see me again. I will be a hermit within a 10 block area. But alas, have no fear. You too can visit Atlantic Station and understand why it is much better for you to come to me!

Proud to be a Homey!

Geez, I finally get around to doing this blog and all I get is lip from everyone. There's not enough information, where are the pictures, you have to post everyday. . . Come on people, give me a break!

So to satisfy all those who will never be satisfied, here is a bit to bring you up to speed. For many of you, this might be stuff you already know so bear with me. Much of this will also warrant further posts so you will just have to wait with bated breath until I get around to it.

What's up at 1209 Atl: We are STILL in the midst of our house renovation/addition. Since we are doing most of the work at this point, it will be many more years before it is really finished. At which point we will have to start redoing things. You see, I have this genetic disease that will not allow me to have my house remain the same for more than, like, 2 minutes.

Esther is 2 1/2 and a complete terror. She alternates between dressing in princess dresses singing songs to the CD she listens to through headphones on her personal CD player and crashing things into the dog and slugging her sister for no apparent reason. She really wants to go to school but has to settle for the Mother's Morning Out program we started in our neighborhood where she goes and plays with her friends--who all give her a run for her money on terrordom. She doesn't talk well (which leaves us guessing) and seems to use all her brain space finding ways to climb, run, jump, build things, and get a hold of things she isn't supposed to. She's not so bad to have around--she makes me laugh.

Emma is 5 1/2 and in kindergarten. She loves school, her teachers, following the rules, making new friends, etc. She is a bit spacey--and both us and her teachers regularly find her staring off into space or having an imaginery conversation. Her teachers love her and keep telling me so. Sometimes I want to say "Wait, what kid are you talking about?" but don't want them to be embarrassed that they might have the wrong kid. She takes ballet and is pretty good, if I do say so myself. However, having a teenage aunt has rubbed off on her and sometimes you would think she is 12 with the "whatevers" and eye rolling. We love her even if we want to give her to the first people to pass by sometimes.

Speaking of Veronica (the teenage aunt), she is currently in her freshman year at Georgia Tech and is also running on the cross country team. She's seems to be doing well but we don't get nearly the babysitting services we expected.

Shaun is busy with work, neighborhood, and church (yes, I said church). He has worked for GRTA for over 2 years and loves his work--he even gets giddy sometimes talking about the things he gets to do. For now he is president of Home Park, but will be giving up the reigns at the end of this year (whoopee!) but will remain on the board (booo!) so not much time difference but working towards exit. On to the church thing, Shaun is a Sunday School teacher at our church, Sacred Heart. OK, OK, pick yourself up off the floor and stop laughing--this is no joke. The NON-catholic member of our family has taught Sunday school to our daughter's class for 2 years. He adores the other teacher who is also a yankee (from NY) and many of the kids have known him since before they could walk. In his spare time, he works on the house, drinks beer while watching hockey, or yells at our kids who happily laugh at that crazy tall man--Oh, look Esther, he's at it again. Do you think his head might really explode this time? Let's see what it takes. . .

I (Janet) am busy with the kids of course. I am also volunteering with the church on the wedding guild and other miscellaneous things that they pull me into. I volunteer with the PTA and as a room parent at Emma's school, Centennial Place. We love the school and her teachers. They are one of the top schools in APS and have a lot of innovative things going on. And of course there is neighborhood stuff that keeps me busy.

So that brings most of you up to date. Although I give you crap, I actually really liked hearing from so many people that I haven't heard from in a while.

So I decided to do this to appease Shelly. But I guess it would be a good way to keep our far flung family and friends up to date on our goings-on as well.

A disclaimer: our digital camera is dead (Christmas, hint, hint. . .) so I might be slow on the pics for a while.

Our current news for the week is that Emma has been chosen Student of the Month for her class. We are not sure how this happened since she would not be up for Family Member of the Month with the way she has been acting lately. But she is really excited because it means having her picture on the board in the cafeteria (remember, she is a bit of an exhibitionist) and, of course, cake. We are very proud, but as I said perplexed by the Jekyll/Hyde thing she pulls on the bus ride to and from school.

As for Esther, she's sick again which means she's grumpy and not sleeping well. Which of course means we are--well, you get the idea.