Georgia Peaches

We left Tennessee early this morning and headed for Valdosta, Georgia, which is just north of the Florida border. I was really sad to leave Tennessee - it's so beautiful and Elijah and Kristin are so lucky to live there. Kristin's parents, two grandmothers, and two aunts and uncles live within a mile of their house. They have a beautiful home with Kristin's son Josh, in a gorgeous spot surrounded by acres of fields. The house is only 2 years old so until we arrived I don't think there was a scuff on it. The kitchen looks like something out of Extreme Makeover Home Edition - everything is new and matches. I wanted to stay forever! But...we had to move on so the newlyweds could get back to normal.

We found plenty of stuff to do even though we were visiting a household that doesn't have any little kids:

~ visit the goats, cattle, puppies, and horses

~ check out Elijah's 1966 pickup which he has resurrected from the dead

~ learn how to strum a guitar

~ attempt to play ping-pong

~ pretend the uncles were jungle gyms

~ draw intricate scenes on the white board

~ walk around in other peoples' shoes and Sesame Street slippers

~ watch Josh and Michael play video games...I even participated as the singer on Rock Band

~ roll down the hill behind the house

~ kick a deflated soccer ball around the back 40

~ take out our aggressions on the heavy bag

~ celebrate Popi's birthday

~ run into walls (mostly Norah)

We had a long drive today, so we stopped at Monkey Joe's in Marieta, Georgia. They had 10 giant inflatable slides and bouncy castles, plus pizza and hot dogs. It was paradise! They even had wi-fi so I could catch up on some work. The kids were thoroughly exhausted and slept for about two hours until nature called. I had just been wishing for a peach - it's hard to stop thinking about them when there are giant signs everywhere - and when we stopped at the rest area there was a farmer with a pickup truck full that had been picked this morning. They were SO GOOD. Like a bite of the sun. Yum. They rated right up there with the donuts we got from The Donut Palace earlier today.

Today we saw a giant peanut and the olympic torch in Atlanta. We also saw another truckload of pigs. That never gets old.

.

.

We're headed to Grammy and Popi's house tomorrow, by way of the shuttle bus station where Josh will head to the airport. He has been a very good sport but I think he's ready to go home to the love of his life, Auntie Rachael. Aliya wrote a postcard for her tonight. It says, "Hello Anti Rechul. It hez ben fun we miss ya a lot. We are in Goga."

Hotel Review: We're staying at the Comfort Inn & Suites in Valdosta, Georgia. When I registered, the woman at the front desk said that there are free snacks, beer, and wine until 7. WHAT?? Yay! Pros: brand new hotel, soundproof walls, close to lots of restaurants and the highway, 55 yards from Starbucks, pull-out couch, microwave and fridge, flat screen TV, free beer! Cons: None so far. 5 stars!!!

.