Corn Maze Adventures.....

Sunday we all went to Uncle Shuck's Corn Maze. It seemed like just the thing to do on a nice Fall Sunday. I had tried to take the kids the day before, with my friend Kim and her kids, but plans didn't work out because I had forgotten about Big A's Girl Scout meeting. I was really bummed. So, we decided to go on Sunday instead. Pixie was not feeling well at all, and the kids lost interest in the maze about 15 minutes into it. The little ones complained about being tired, and the big ones convinced themselves that we would be lost forever... And we were lost for a long time! :) I finally figured out how to read the map near the end. I definitely don't need to lead the Girl Scout troop on any hikes where only maps and compasses are involved. My sense of direction seems to be way off... Pixie was not much of a help either... after all, she often gets lost just going down the road to the grocery store.... :) I think the kids had a pretty good time all in all though. It was definitely an adventure....

On the way home we stopped at Mellow Mushroom, where we dined on an absolutely terrible pizza. The waitress sucked, too. The whole experience left something to be desired. Actually, I wouldn't say it was that bad. After all we got to spend the day together, making some memories. That in itself makes the trip worth it.

Here are some photos of our day at the maze.....

J And D On The Tractor

Our Brood Before Entering The Maze...
( Just look at their "happy, cooperative" faces!)
Ha!!!!!

Trekking Through The Maze...

Aw... My Poor Little Family...
Miserable

The Troops Are Getting Restless

Searching For The End On The
Bridge

This Week......

This week has been very long and emotionally trying, to say the least. It started terribly, as I'm sure is apparent by reading my previous posts. On Wednesday, however, Pixie and I finally really talked to each other, and finally listened to each other. And that was all it took. We started the day by meeting for lunch and running a few errands--- she talked me into buying this awesome laptop ( my bank account doesn't think it is so awesome though...). Just being with her was almost too much for me to take. It was so hard to be near her and not be able to touch her or kiss her or even hold her hand. When we hugged goodbye, my heart broke into a thousand pieces. It was terrible.

Later that night, she called me, and that is when we talked. She told me what she wanted and I heard her, and I told her what I wanted, and she heard me. The last month has been overwhelming for us both... especially Pixie. We both need to take a step back and get our lives worked out. We need to slow down and fix ourselves before we try to combine our families and play house. That was way too much, way too soon. And it was forced, which made it even worse. If only it hadn't rained so much, if only Pixie's apartment foundation had caved in, if only we hadn't been thrown together so quickly... I wonder if we would have had these problems? Maybe so or maybe not. But it certainly has been a wake up call. I think that we will be okay. I hope we will. I am going to do my part to make this relationship work. We both will have to learn to bend a little to meet in the middle. That will probably be the hardest part. But it can be done. We both must really try to talk to each other, and really listen to each other. No more trying to read minds. Communication is the key. And understanding. And acceptance. And support.

The rest of the week has gone by pretty smoothly. Friday night was Movie Night at the kids' school. I had invited Pixie's son along, too. She met me at my house to drop him off. Her dinner plans had been canceled-- due to the horrendous traffic-- so she decided to tag along. It ended up being a fun night. Of course the kids really enjoyed themselves (for practically free), but we also had fun. It was so nice just being. Of course we went out for Mexican afterwards ---our usual. Then we said goodnight. It was a good way to ease back into our relationship. However, to be honest, I am so ready to spend some adult time together--- without kids. Hopefully that will be soon.

Saturday afternoon, Big A had her first Girl Scout meeting. I have somehow been signed up as assistant leader. Unfortunately, I have not yet stepped up to do my part. I am definitely going to make that a priority this week though. Saturday night, I got a babysitter!!! Yay!!! I went to dinner with my friend Annie and then Bellisima. We had a good time at dinner, but I have to admit, Bellisima is not my favorite bar. Always the same... boring. It was good to get out of the house on a Saturday night, by myself! I needed it.

Sunday, the kids and I met Pixie at church. I actually got a lot out of the service. The message hit home. Hm. Then, Pixie and I took the kiddos to lunch and a Corn Maze... It was, quite possibly, the worst corn maze ever. Of course I have nothing to judge by.... I have never been to a corn maze before. But I don't think that this will be an addition to my family holiday tradition. At least not that one. Anyhow, it was good to get outside. Hanging out with Pixie was fun. Kissing her goodbye was hard. I wanted more. I think she did as well. But... we're taking it slow, right? Mm mm mm... that will be hard. She is soooo hot. :) So very hot!

On a lighter note, Big A wrote a book this week. I am very proud... of course. My first baby is so creative and talented.... it really amazes me sometimes. So.. I have to show off her creation....

Ironic....

She Wrote A Cute Little Story....

I Love The Braids!!!!!

Our Latest Camping Adventure...

We all went camping on Columbus Day weekend. We decided to camp at Stone Mountain because of the convenience. We had a great weekend, despite our late start on Saturday, and the torrential rains on Sunday night. The tent ended up leaking-- not good, and both the boys got fevers Sunday night, so, as you might imagine, Monday morning sucked!!!! But we made it through the packing of the wet gear... in the rain. We were all exhausted and dirty when we got home, but I think the kids had fun.... It really would have been the perfect weekend without the rain.

The Boys' Side Of The Tent

The Girls' Room

Cute Tent... Too Bad It Leaked

Mommy's First Attempt At A Campfire...

Waiting For Dinner!!!

Pixie Prepares To Cook

For The Campers

Showing Off Her Headlight...

Restless Natives....

Silly Little A!!!!

Love Those Snacks....

Trying To Quiet My Thoughts....

Well I finally got around to posting the photos from our Labor Day beach trip.... Yes I know, that was a while back, but I did try to start downloading them over a month ago. I thought that maybe I wouldn't post them, given the circumstances, but I really have wonderful memories of that trip, an I wanted to share them. I did get very sad while I was going through the pictures though. We really made a beautiful "family". I wanted so bad for that to be the reality. I still do. I can't really do anything about it though except say that I DO want to try. I know that I need to do a lot of work on myself, and I am going to do that, no matter what. I just wish that Pixie loved me enough to stay by my side. Pixie always tells me that I am too negative.. that I always look at the bad side of things. I am trying so hard right now to visualize what it could be... the good of our relationship. Isn't that what the Secret is all about? Pixie is not taking her own advise. She is focusing only on the negative. She is not trying to believe that we can make this work, that we can both bend out strong wills just a little bit to meet in the middle. I was/am willing to try. But, of course, I can't be the only one. I guess to her I seem like a wimp... or as she puts it fragile. She is wrong about that. I am not that fragile. I have accomplished more than a lot of people I know, and I've done it alone. I will be able to go on with my life alone if things don't work out between us. I don't want us to break up though. I love her. I love her enough to call her holistic doctor to see what she has to say... hopefully Pixie is right and she can really help me. I love her enough to go to church with her, even though I can't make myself truly believe... I do want to believe, I really do. I love her. She frustrates me though, she does. What frustrates me the most is the way she always takes everything I say negatively. She seems to be looking for reasons to dislike me or say we are not compatible. She often sees things that aren't even there. Maybe she just has grown to dislike me. That's too bad, because if she would take a second to try to see the good in me, I bet she would see what she fell in love with. Then maybe she would want to put some effort into this. I think though, that she is just displacing her fears and anger over here apartment situation onto me. Things have spiraled since she had to leave her apartment. She has been reading way too much into everything that I do or say. I really don't appreciate that. I have been trying so so hard to communicate with her.. I actually have been trying to talk to her. Ironically, she is now the one who doesn't want to discuss it... at least not in person. It is all such a strange situation. Maybe she's right, maybe we are wrong for each other, but maybe she is wrong, and the roadblocks that we keep encountering are just being put there to test us. Maybe the reason that we have always been drawn to each other is actually because we are meant to be together. Maybe there is a plan, maybe there is fate, or maybe not. The other ironic thing is that Pixie is the one that always talks about faith and the power of positive thinking, and she is actually being the negative one in this relationship. Hmmm. I am going to really attempt to hold myself together and trust that the right thing will happen. It just seems a shame that just one week ago we spent a great weekend together, and this week it is over. What a waste really.

Tybee Island Adventures....