pine lake pageant
on saturday, we joined our Pine Lake neighbors for the Cookie Exchange and the Lighting of the Lake down at the beach house. Both girls had parts in the little pageant; Camille read the “reindeer report” and Chloe was both a mouse and a reindeer. The girls just loved it, and the event reminded me
cookie exchange
i’m not a baker. so when it comes time for the cookie exchange, i’m really quite lucky to have a daughter that loves to bake! This year, Camille decided to make four dozen snickerdoodles for the Pine Lake Cookie Exchange! After breakfast yesterday, she and her two helpers took over the kitchen for a couple
pizza party
last year, I started a “tradition” of having potluck dinners about once a week. However, our crazy travel schedule soon got in the way. The few weekends that we were all home at the same time were full of errands and chores that were otherwise getting put off. Finally, four months after Rob has returned
chloe’s snowpeople
for our pizza party, chloe decided she wanted to have a project for kids to do — make marshmallow snow people. At the store on Tuesday, she bought big marshamllows, mini marshmallows, spice drops and pretzels for assembling them. I have no idea where she came up with the idea, but they sure were cute
ralph’s at it again
I have just heard that All Around Ralph’s World will be out on Bar/None Records on February 9, 2010. If you know us, you know we can’t wait to hear it! Last month, when we went to see Ralph’s World perform at the XM Rumpus Room and at Jammin’ Java, we were treated to two
o christmas tree
last night, after rob worked on trying to fix the lights that have been broken for two years and finally gave up, he and the girls decorated the tree. I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but I just don’t enjoy it. I’d prefer a tree with some nice white lights and ornaments made of
gingerbread village
we’ve tried a gingerbread house and a gingerbread tree, but I think this year’s gingerbread village is our all-time favorite. We buy a prefab kit from Target, and the girls assemble the pieces and decorate. Last night they had a great time putting together the five little buildings and decorating them all. That wasn’t enough
tree time
after we finished unpacking from being away for a week, we headed out to get our Chrismtas tree! The first year we lived in Pine Lake, I asked around for where we should get a tree and heard about Hall’s Nursery. We headed over there and found a great selection of trees and some very
tuba christmas
today we headed downtown for “Light Up Blue Ridge.” Barbara had been practicing quite a bit to join the “Tuba Christmas” performance…. Not only did we attend the Tuba Christmas concert, Chloe got a balloon animal (of course) and we watched Santa come in on the Blue Ridge Railroad. Overall, it was a nice time
light up aska
after going for our hike, we headed to Shallowford Bridge to the “Light Up Aska.” Santa arrived on a Fannin County firetruck; Chloe didn’t want to talk to him, but finally did go up to him and said she wanted a dog for Christmas. From there, we headed to the Lily Pad. Rob and the
“hiking,” north georgia style
after spending the morning in the cabin, we headed out to go for a “hike.” With the slowpoke dog and the gimpy sister, we didn’t do much hiking, mostly just a long drive and a tromp on about 500 feet of the Appalachian Trail. Camille enjoyed writing runes with charcoal from primitive campsite fires. Chloe
happy thanksgiving!
as most people know, Thanksgiving is not high on my list of holidays. I don’t like the production of cooking a big meal (especially not the turkey). I’d gladly give up the meal and the football. My favorite part of the meal is having apple pie for breakfast the next morning. fortunately, the day was
playing in the park
on this my first day of a five day weekend, we (Phil, Barbara, Camille, Chloe and I) headed out for the afternoon. After lunch at the general store by Shallowford Bridge, we headed out to the county park for a walk. Big rocks are so fun … the girls didn’t want to go for the
at the cabin
days working at the cabin are often much nicer than working at home. Even if there weren’t others around at the cabin to help with the kids and the cooking, I feel more relaxed. I suppose I don’t feel the pressure of having to work on straightening out the numerous piles in the storage room
in the woods
today, I finished up my work and other tasks by mid-afternoon and headed out for a short walk despite my back still hurting from when I threw it out last week. Once I left, I realized that the grey skies and my beige coat were probably not a great combination, given that it is deer
Pappy’s Trading Post
As I’m sure she’d say, one of the reasons my mom likes to geocache is that is gets her to places she would not normally go. By heading off the beaten path to look for the caches, we end up in places we never would have thought to go. Today, we headed out to a
looking for family music?
if you are a regular reader, you’ll probably already realize that I follow the “kids and family” music genre fairly closely and maintain a radio station and blog, Gooney Birk Kids (gbk for short). This weekend, the results of the Fids and Kamily Poll have been released, so if you are looking for some good
innocence of children
are discussions of death appropriate for young children? moreover, what young child has never seen death? is it possible or even appropriate to avoid discussing death with young children? yesterday, I read a facebook comment from a mom who expressed her opinion that she did not want to listen to a kids’ radio station that
last day of classes
this session of homeschool classes, camille took Latin (her fifth year!) and fencing (her first time) and chloe took robotics and greek drama. yesterday was the last day of thursday classes. Chloe’s drama class demonstrated for the parents some of the skits that they had worked on over the past ten weeks. they enjoyed the
all i want for christmas
is my two front teeth. yep, she lost another. unfortunately, the tooth fairy went broke on the last one, so some piggy banks will have to get broken for this one. and I just wonder what Chloe will quiz the tooth fairy about tonight???
GBK Gwyneth
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