Atlanta: Day 1

Nick and I have the opportunity this week to travel to Atlanta, GA for a business trip. Nick has passed all of his actuarial exams (YAY!) and is currently attending the final event before receiving his "credentials" as an accredited actuary.

Nick Fiechter, FSA :)))))

So we drove (b/c I am 37 weeks pregnant and well...really b/c I hate to fly! lol...) 11 hours and arrived at the Four Seasons Hotel in Atlanta, GA. Go ahead. Google it. (WOW!) It is a 5 Star hotel (the only one in Atlanta, or so they say...)

 

What have we learned about a 5 star hotel? Let me tell you. ;)

• We are out of our element here. We arrived in pj pants (c'mon, we were in a car for 11 hours!) BUT - you can be proud of me. I packed in a suitcase, NOT my normal ( a laundry basket!) I learned my lesson about that. ;)

 

• A doorman is a man who greets you at the hotel while you are still in your car. He opens the door for you, insists on you taking a bottle of water, makes you feel very welcome, tells you all about how he'll take great care of your car and park it for you. I mean, they do valet service here (oh, and it costs $35/day!!!!!!!!! AH!). AND....this guy is to be tipped. $1 per bag, no less than $2. 

• If you insist on carrying your own luggage, it doesn't really work. If you ask for a luggage cart, they'll bring you one, but you aren't even allowed to push it. That's the Bellman's job.

• The Bellman is a man who brings your bags on the luggage cart (that you are perfectly able to push yourself) up to your room. Then when he gets to your room, don't attempt to unload the cart. He'll do that for you. AND....this guy is ALSO to be tipped. $1 per bag, no less than $2 if you only have one bag. 

• The front desk lady will not hand you your keys over the countertop. She'll walk ALLL the way around the long marble desk, addressing you as Mr. & Mrs. and personally welcome you to your hotel, and hand you the keys with a hand shake. (even if you are dressed in pj clothes that are much too warm for the climate, and even if you do have messy hair and no make up! eeks!)

• If for some reason your 5 star hotel overbooks themselves for the 3rd night of your stay, they'll move you next door to another hotel and oh, don't worry, the Bellman will take care of your luggage. ;) 

• And to apologize for their mistake, they'll offer you free Wifi service, bring you a bottle of tea, a personal letter, and candied pecans and leave them in your room while you are out for dinner. (How did they know we were out? Are there hidden cameras in our room?)

• OH! Don't forget the 30% discount they offered on their spa! Duh! Now instead of paying $125 for my pre-natal massage that I could get if I wanted, I'll only have to pay $87.50. Oh, don't forget the 20% expected tip.... ;)

 

• The Varisty is a fun restaraunt to visit if you are in the area. It is basically a "Bummies on steriods" and very yummy. According to Nick, their milkshakes and onion rings are shhhh! (actually better than Bummies!) I have to say I thought they were about equal (I'm VERY loyal to my Bummies!)

• The Boston Celtics also like 5 star hotels and have a basketball game Monday night. No, they are NOT a NCAA team, but still famous all the same. IF there happens to be a player working out in the fitness center, it is apparently very funny to try to trick your wife that you can't get the 50lb. bar off your chest. But really, the jokes on you when the fitness coordinator comes to your rescue before your wife even notices your joke. ;) (she was too busy "checking out the treadmill beside the Celtics player!" ;) ) 

:) We are having a fabulous time! 

My 4 year old boy!

This post is going to sound like a repeat of Carter's birthday post - lots of pictures and a really proud momma! ;) I looooooooveee my boys! ;)

Mason too has been a real joy to raise. Although, he has caused me to be on my knees a bit more and also taught me a lot about patience! ;) I think this is all VERY good though! He is both incredibly sweet, and ornery, loving, silly, energetic, smart, and oh-so-full-of-life! Mason is 100% pure BOY!

 (Patch 36 Photography)

(Patch 36 Photography)

Like I've said before, Mason and Carter are absolute BEST FRIENDS. This brings me so much comfort and joy! I continuously pray that this will stick through the adult years. When we were discussing what he would do on his birthday I asked who he wanted to be with (as in friends). Without hesitation he said, "Carter!"

Recapping Mason's year:

He LOVED to play in the sandbox last summer. He spent HOURS there!

This picture makes me feel SO bad!  He wanted to run the bases with Carter but Carter took off and ran too fast! Mason also had a bad cold so he coughed and coughed after he was done. 

He made this hat at toddler time - one of his favorite places to go!

Oh how he loved to watch Carter play the computer...Now he wants HIS turn too. :)

Never a dull moment....

He has more personality than I ever thought a little guy could have!

AND attitude. ;)

And the stongest bones....Can't believe he hasn't broken any yet!

SERIOUSLY? Mason!!!!

Serving up our supper! 

Recapping Mason's year:

• learned to swim with water wings
• became extremely agile on the trampoline
• learning to add very simple math on his fingers
• learned to rhyme
• learning to read simple words (cat, dog, sit, hit, tan, fan, etc...)
• learned to write his name
• became potty trained - through the night
• moved to the top bunk!

Sweet story about Mason - He wanted this baby to be a BOY so badly! After finding out that it is a boy, he proclaimed that HE gets to name him. (yikes! I thought...) 

A few days after the ultrasound, I was tucking Mason in for a nap and he said, "Mommy, bremember? I get to name our baby. I am going name him B - O - D - E!" 

I began to quickly dismiss it as I do many of his made up names such as Tervio, Bario, Kerchunk, etc. Then my body bolted up from bed and I gasped! Bodie? YES! I LOVE it. And am still in love with it now.  :) Thanks MASON! :))))

Happy Birthday, Mason!! 

We love you to the moon and back!

Reconsider my focus

I am currently reading a book called Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow...

Although I don't love to read "self-help" books I know  I can learn so much from them... So this year I've made a list of books I want to read and have deadlines for each of them. This book is to be read by the end of January and well.....I've got some reading to do! ;)

 This particular chapter is about our focus and dealing with contentment. This poem really struck me and convicted me to live in the here and now and be thankful for the little things. It is written by a 14 year old boy! (How wise for such a young age...)

It was spring bit it was summer I wanted; the warm days
     and the great outdoors.
It was summer but it was fall I wanted; the colorful
     leaves and the cool dry air.
It was fall but it was winter I wanted; the beautiful snow
     and the joy of the holiday season.
It was now winter but it was spring I wanted; the warmth
     and the blossoming of nature.
I was a child but it was adulthood I wanted; the freedom
     and the respect.
I was twenty but it was thirty I wanted; to be mature and
     sophisticated.
I was middle-aged but it was twenty that I wanted; the youth
     and the free spirit.
I was retired but it was middle-age that I watned; the
     presence of mind without limitations.
My life was over but I never got what I wanted.

My prayer for today (and the future) is that God can be my portion and help me to live in contentment with where/who I am.

And so I don't bore you toooo much...Here is a picture. :) Carter was 3 in this picture -- Even when I look at pictures like these, I quickly think, "NO! Time stop flying by - I already barely remember him at this age." But ---I need to be content with memories and the time I have with him now.

My 6 year old boy!

My oh my! Another year has passed! My firstborn son is 6 today - he has been SUCH a joy to raise. I stand in awe of God's goodness for blessing Nick and I with such a sweet, loving, tender hearted, fun, smart, silly, ornery little man. 

Carter shocks me so often at what a good...I mean really really good big brother he is. He keeps his eye out for his brother and sister to keep them out of trouble. He protects them and cuddles them often. Mason and Carter are BEST.FRIENDS. I pray so SO hard that this friendship remains through their adult years. He is so excited to meet his 2nd brother too.  He is so sweet and thoughtful that he wanted so badly for this baby to be a girl so that Adalynn could have a best friend like he has in Mason. He even teared up when he found out it would be a boy...Then we told him Adalynn's best friend could be a boy....I think he's ok with that now. :)

Recapping Carters year:

• Graduated preschool
• Became a very good reader
• learned to swim
• Learned to ride his bike without training wheels
• Began Kindergarten
• Lost his first tooth
• Got his first cavity :(
• Made the high honor roll
• Earned enough money to buy his own Wii

Today as I visited him at school, I saw a project he did in his classroom on the wall. They were to finish the sentence, "If I had gold, I'd buy _______" He finished by writing "a bible". 

:) This shows how precious this little guy can be. I had a proud momma moment....But just so you all know that Carter is a normal kid, a few months ago - that sentence totally would have finished with "a new Wii!" But he already saved up for that.  ;)

Happy Birthday, Carter David! 

We love you to the moon and back!