Country come to town.

We got a much-needed getaway this weekend to the g'parents farm.  All the boys are healthy and we all needed some fresh country air to get us back on track.

We climbed up into the barn and got a great viewpoint of the land around the Carter House (named after my wonderfully famous and affluent husband of course......shhhhh.....we let him believe that at least).

The Dynamic Duo found their weekend spot in Papa's lap.

My smiley guys.

The favorite viewing spot to see all the people and more importantly, all the moo cows.

Looks like a magazine ad for John Deere.  There is much excitement when the kiddos look out the kitchen window and see this mammoth tractor pulling up the drive.

The great-grandchildren got a hayride after church, chauffeured by my boys, before the big hailstorm arrived that sent us packing.

 Big Sis walking the hay stacks.

We came back to our boring home with no tractors, Kubotas, 4-wheelers, hay stacks, cows, horses or front end loaders.

But we do have a cat.

And he plays football.  That should amount to something, right?

It was a good day.

We have had a rough week.  We Akins folk know how to get sick.  We know how to sufficiently rid ourselves of all immune systems.  We are full-throttle, petal to the metal, take it to the next level with germ infestation kind of people.

And then there was this little redhead who watched it all from afar.  She watched her brothers battle some tough stuff and go down hard.  She rallied her troop of 1 tiny sister who was still healthy and made the best of it.

Which was good because she had to become Parent #3 as the other 2 parents were joining in man-to-man combat with the boys.

Then her birthday sneaks up at the tail end.  She has created herself a tradition of going out to eat Mexican on her birthday.  Knowing our boys were on very restricted diets for at least another week, we didn't know how to break it to her that she would have to suffer a saltine cracker/ginger ale meal with the rest of the fam.

Then the husb has a brilliant idea.  Since all the girls are well, why don't we make it a Girls Night Out to celebrate the big 0-6.

Perfect!

She loved the plan and we got all dolled up for the Girls Club to have a night out.

Of course this was after she opened what seemed to be 400,000 gifts.  She even let the Little Angels help her open a few.  They were so thankful for the opportunity.

I am proud to say that the quality of music this girl enjoys ranks high.  And I may or may not have begged my children to go see the movie with this little dude in it so I wouldn't be the creepy old lady sitting in the theater by myself sapping over a 15 year old boy.  And this cd may or may not get confiscated by aforementioned creepy old lady.

She asked for only one thing for her birthday (besides a laptop, digital camera, Ipod, cell phone and Wii), and that was a heart-shaped birthday cake.  She was very specific in wanting strawberry cake, white icing and red piping.  It was the ugliest thing you ever did see, but the little encourager told me over and over how "awesome" it was.  Made me feel like I could take on Duff.  Right now.  Call him.

I can't believe this girl has been in my life for 6 years.

She makes me so darn proud it hurts.

Wild at heart.

This boy drives me to the crazies more than anyone on the planet.

He has christened the entire house and car with copious amounts of intestinal stuff either out of his mouth or....that other direction...

He unloads the pantry and has a cooking class at least once a day.  My grocery bill continues to increase.

Fortunately for him, all he has to do is look at me with his icy blue eyes and cut his famous grin.

All is forgotten and I am forever smitten.

This does not bode well for the future teenage years.

The Proposal

He definitely asked me to marry him tonight.

I definitely said yes.

And I will be sure to remind him of this day in about 20 years when he shows me the ring he plans to give another girl.

Play ball!

There are few things I love more than the start of sports season.  I'm not too picky about which sports they are.  Ok, yes I am.  There are only 4 I will take part in willingly.

1. Any sport my own child plays - for now, just soccer.
2. Softball - playing, not watching
3. UGA Football
4. A live Braves baseball game

The rest of the sports/teams around are tolerable, but the true love is found in my top 4.

I still get nervous like I did when I was a kid and just starting out.  Now, that nervousness translates to my own children.  I'm nervous on behalf of them. Crazy I know, but I am a die hard athlete who finds pure joy in all things sports.

Like the first kick-off of the season...

Or going head to head with an opponent...

Or becoming red faced, sweating, hauling tail down the field to protect what's rightfully yours...

 Or finding yourself in enemy territory and finally breaking free...

It's a beautiful game.

Winning matters because everybody needs a victory in their lives. Losing matters because we all need to learn how to handle it gracefully and push ourselves to work harder. How you play the game matters because you can either be a show stopper or a show continuer - your choice. The life lessons are endless and I do not dread the days that we will have 4 kids in 3 different sports on 4 different teams at 4 different locations 6 days a week.

That is adrenaline to my veins.

Proof

Somedays I just need a tangible reminder that they still love each other.

 Or, at least, tolerate each other.

There we go, Lover Boy's gonna keep hope alive.

 Removal of the paci: check.

 Kiss planted: check check!