Feels Like Georgia

I got Preston off to school this morning. He has been great at getting up at 6:00 and taking a shower every morning. Considering the last year he stayed in his pajamas and showered a couple times a week this is amazing. Haha. I hurried to the store and bought sunscreen for Jorja. I got home right as she was leaving. Shelby was already there. They are going up to Bear Lake for an ambassador retreat. I'm excited for her. I think she will love it. Today felt like Georgia. I was so lucky to be able to go with Janet and Teresa to breakfast. Janet was in town from Georgia because of Tracy's 40th high school reunion up in Idaho. She stayed for education week. I found out that on Friday Tracy and Janet were jet skiing at Palisade Reservoir. Ahhhh! How funny would it have been if we happened to run into them up there? Teresa was in town from Texas because she drove Weston up to BYU. Anyway, the stars aligned perfectly and we were able to have breakfast together in Orem. On Janet's birthday. How cool is that? The other reason it felt like Georgia was because it rained like it does in Georgia. It was pouring buckets and buckets. I drove so slow and was nervous for Jorja. Luckily she and Shelby made it there just fine. I did love listening to the rain all day though.

Teresa, Stephanie, Janet   

We were talking about how Teresa keeps going lighter and lighter with her hair. I told them that Jorja kept going darker and darker. I texted Jorja and asked her to send me a picture. I got these back. Haha. Love that girl!

Jorja

Teresa is going to help Payton and Kinsie move into their new apartment later today. Their apartment is attached to the place we ate breakfast. TruReligion. Kind of fun!

Mike and Stockton made dinner today. They made omelets in the waffle iron. I just had a lazy rest of the day. Today would have been my mom's 74th birthday. It's crazy that her mom lived 43 years longer than she did. I'm jealous. My dad sent us a message on our family group chat. I loved it. I sure do miss her.

Weston's Homecoming

Stockton and I stayed home from church so we could watch Weston Myers mission homecoming. Stockton and Weston were good friends in Georgia. Same grade/primary class. Weston lived two doors away from us for years. I love his mom. She is the best! Zoom has come in clutch for us many times. So fun to be able to be a part of something that we would have had no chance to be a part of before the world went crazy. Weston's family lives in Texas now.

Stephanie's House

We drove a couple of hours to Villa Rica this morning. I stopped by Mirror Lake Elementary to see if Mrs. Catlin was there. The school was locked up. I guess they start on Monday. Next, I tried my house. I knocked on the door and asked Shelby if her mom was there. Stephanie saw me from the bridge. She gave a gasp and said she would be right down. Shelby invited me in. I asked her if she knew who I was. She didn't. I asked Alyssa if she remembered me. She didn't. I told them, "I'm Jorja's mom." Alyssa got a big smile on her face. Both of the girls knew who I was then. It was fun to see Stephanie. I didn't get to see her last time I came down. It was also fun to see the house. Rachel said later that she was surprised about how many memories came back to her and she just visited here. On the way down here we were talking about how Rachel took care of me during one of my surgeries. After my mastectomy I needed to have some reconstruction surgery done. Rachel was living in Alabama for six months while Brett was in basic training. Rachel came to help while I had my second surgery. On the way to the hospital Rachel called up and said the school had Maysen and Stockton in the office and both of them were sick. I was shocked because I had no idea they were even a little sick when I sent them to school. I called Janet Lott and she picked up the kids and brought them to Rachel. Rachel said Maysen was easy. She asked for a bucket then went and laid in her bed upstairs. Stockton on the other hand was a different story. He did not want to lay in his bed and he wouldn't acknowledge Rachel. He kept walking in circles around the family room. Rachel kept trying to get him to walk around the kitchen so he would be on tile. He wouldn't listen to her. Stockton threw up THIRTEEN times on the carpet! Rachel was newly pregnant with her first child (Marie). What an introduction to motherhood!

Anyways, it was so much fun to spend time with Stephanie. She was so nice to let us just barge in on her. We were there longer than I planned because it is so hard to go. It was really nice to be able to catch up with her. When we came last year we found out that they had reorganized the ward and we would be meeting down in Carrolton if we still lived here. Teresa would still be in our ward. Stephanie said they reorganized it again and they are now meeting somewhere else. I can't remember. Temple maybe? They aren't in Teresa's ward anymore. That would be hard on me.

Stephanie & Stephanie

 Alyssa, Stephanie, Stephanie

The girls loved it there. Stephanie's girls were so nice to them. Joslyn and Lily specifically. Joslyn took the girls up to her room and shared all of her toys and let the girls play dress up. Rachel was really impressed. I think this is the first time I met Joslyn. She was born after we moved. She is five now. Lily was Preston's age. It was her birthday today. She was super nice to the girls as well.

Marie

 Jorja's old room

Joslyn, Marie, Mina, Grace

 Eve & Lily

 Joslyn & Marie

 Lily, Joslyn, Grace, Marie, Mina

The stop at my old house put us way behind schedule. I'm so glad Rachel humored me though. I sure loved it here and I loved seeing Stephanie and her family. Today was a long driving day. We didn't have any car problems, but we did have to drive through a Georgia rain storm. They just come out of nowhere. We arrived at Brett and Rachel's new house right after midnight. Three long days in the car. Brett and Rachel's new house is awesome. It is the biggest house they have ever had. There are three big rooms with big closets. There is a nice kitchen and a two car garage. They are going to love it here.

Eve

Brett had little gifts next to where each girl was sleeping. Here is Mina with a skim board and a barbie. Marie got a boogie board. Grace and Eve got sand toys and Rachel got a scooter. (Rachel had left her scooter in Idaho and was really sad about it. She thought that would be something she could do with Mina and her broken arm, since she won't be allowed to swim in the ocean.)

Mina

 Brett even got me a beach towel!

Brett has a air mattress set up for me in the front room. It is going to be nice not to be in the car tomorrow! Stockton took his biology final today. He got a 115 out of 125. I think he is done with summer school now. He must be so happy!

Miranda's Wedding

I have been really excited to go to Miranda's wedding for awhile now.  I knew Miranda in Georgia.  She was in my ward and I remember teaching her in primary.  I wasn't her primary teacher, but I was the music leader when she was in primary.  She has always been beautiful! I should have gotten a picture of her for this blog.  She looked stunning. Miranda's mom, Jennifer, was the primary president when I was the music leader.  It was fun to see her and her husband James. Jennifer took this picture of us.

Jennifer and Stephanie

Miranda's wedding was beautiful.  I think Mike's mom would have approved completely!  She had the wedding reception at the state capitol.  It was funny, because she had it catered by Chick-Fil-A.  They had these cards to explain why they were doing this.  It made me laugh and it was really delicious.  Mike and I joked about how the kids would regret turning this wedding down now!

Heather's House!

We left Stone Mountain this morning and headed to the house of our high school friend.  It was so fun to have her live in Georgia when we did.  I also went to college with Heather.  I mentioned to Paul that we had an institute class together.  It is easy for me to remember him because he was engaged to Heather at the time and I always sat next to Heather.  Before we left our campground I was able to get pictures of our 'Southern' shirts.

Stephanie, Mike, Preston, Jorja

 Jorja

 Preston

 Mike (his glows in the dark!)

I wanted to get this one for Maysen, but it wasn't in the buy 3 get one free deal.  I probably should have gotten it for her anyway.  And a matching one for Grace.

We made it to Heather's house this afternoon!  I was so happy! Heather let me invade to do laundry, which is such a blessing.  It was nice to have a relaxing day.

Stephanie and Heather

Heather lives in such a magical place.  Lily was in the pool when we arrived.  She was in the pool for EIGHT hours today!  What a fish! There is a pond near Heather's house, so the kids were able to just play while I got the clothes clean.  It sure is beautiful here!

Jorja on the diving board

Stockton and Preston fully dressed on the duck

Lily and Paul in the pool

 Jorja joining the duck party

The kids got their swimsuits so they could swim for real.  Mike and Stockton had a mini war to push the other in.  They both lost.  Mike got Stockton in, but Stockton did not let go and Mike tumbled in after him.

Stockton & Mike

Paul, Lily, Jorja, Preston

 Chicken Fight!

Jorja didn't last long on Stockton

Lily & Paul

Mike & Preston

 Jorja & Winnie

 Preston & Mike

 Maysen

 Preston & Mike

 Stockton

Jorja and Preston had fun catching frogs.  Look how tiny they are!

Jorja

 Preston

 Louie

I really wanted to go to the Hawaiian Chick-Fil-A.  Heather needed to drop Celia off at dance camp two hours away.  I thought we would get back around the time Heather did, but it took a lot longer than I expected.  I left Maysen at Heather's house doing laundry.  She doesn't like to eat out much.

It's kind of cool.  They have a fast food side and a restaurant side.  The same food is served on both sides.  We picked the fast food side of course.

 Their frozen pineapple was delicious

 Stephanie, Preston, Jorja, Stockton

I stayed up talking to Heather for awhile before I headed back to the laundry room.  I worked on the laundry until two in the morning.  It is nice to have clean clothes for the second half of our trip though!  Good thing I will be able to sleep while Mike is driving!