Stone Mountain, one more time ....

The most evil contraption ever. The steel contraption you are looking at is three stories tall and contains a series of evil challenges between each platform. The challenges range from walking across a four inch wide plank to trying to walk across an one inch rope with various obstacles in the way. The bottom line, this contraption is not for the faint of heart or the weak of knees.

This contraption is a combination of rope climbing, balancing act and dealing with heights. Remember, we are tied into this thing with a rope attached to a harness around our chests. Im sure the harness could have handled the weight of any of us, but I want willing to test it!!!!



Here is a picture of Little E and JM in the middle of the third floor of the challenge. They look happy and rested, almost like the past hour of climbing the stupid thing has tested them at all.

This is Brooke after completing the thing. She looks happy, did she climb all three levels? Umm ... maybe she wimped out after two.

This is me, after only two levels. I was hanging my tongue out hoping it would help cool me off like a dog? I didnt work! Thankfully, this was near the end of the day, so I was able to take a shower, go to dinner and go to bed! Ahhhhhhh ..... sleeeeppppppppp!!!!!!!!!

Stone Mountain ... Part Three

Three more pictures. This one is a the top of the mountain. Everyone was resting from the climb.


A great view of the hotel from the top of the mountain. The hotel is the building in the background. The closest building is actually a museum about the mountain itself.



Here is another cool picture from the top of the mountain. You can see the lake and if you look close, a couple of the cleared areas are actually a part of one of the two golf courses.

Stone Mountain ... Part two!

I am having a problem uploading more than two or three pictures at once.

Anyway, here is a picture of one side of the mountain along with the famous carving of the mountain. This is not the side that everyone hiked up, this is the side that I rode up on the cool sky car.


Here is the side of the mountain that everyone hiked. It tok them a little over an hour to hike the 1.6 miles. Also, the big field in front of the carving is where we watched a spectacular laser adn fireworks show one night.

Stone Mountain Summer Trip with the Girls ....

We took a trip to Stone Mountain a few weeks ago with the girls. These trips are becoming a little more special as the girls get older and scheduling "family" trips becomes more difficult.

Everyone had a really great time.

We went to Six Flags, Stone Mountain and the Coca-Cola Museum on this trip. We also managed to eat like fools!!!!!!! That was my favorite part of the trip.

One of the challenges for the trip was the hike up Stone Mountain, every one tried and completed it but me. I didnt even bother to pretend that I could do it. Everyone succeded!!! One of the girls had a stop and puke on the way up. Apparently, eating a full buffet breakfast before hiking is not a smart move (who knew?).



Above, I am relaxing as I watch them depart.

Here is what they looked like before departure. That's JM with them, he went on the trip with us.

I'll post some more pictures from the trip in a minute.

One time, two time, three time .... DEAD!!!

Several months ago, I introduced you to Elizabeth's new "baby", Daisy. Daisy is a beautiful Cairn Terrier (terror), who has managed to double in size and almost triple in weight since we got her in March. She isn't the only one gaining weight but that is a different blog.



I admit that I wasn't a fan of Daisy (or getting any little "mini" dog) but Elizabeth was very persuasive about the decision. However, since getting Daisy, she has grown on me and I readily admit that I love that dog.



Cairn terriers were bred to be rodent chasers. In fact, they were bred to climb through tunnels and crevices in the Earth to catch their prey. In Alabama terms, that means that Daisy is ready to own and defend "her" turf!!!!! In theory, this should be Rusty's job!

As luck would have it, theory means nothing in our house. The reality is, females rule, males drool. Daisy rules Rusty in every sense of the word. She also rules the back yard which she considers her domain.



Since getting Daisy, she has managed to catch and kill two birds. She is a quick little bugger. Today, she caught and killed her first rabbit. To prove that I am not kidding, her is a picture of the rabbit.

WARNING: For those that love rabbits or don't understand the concept of the food chain, don't look now!!!!

Yes, that rabbit is dead and yes, it is our backyard. Daisy makes me so proud. Don't come in our backyard or Diasy will get you.

Its not enough that Daisy rules the backyard, but she also thinks that she rules the sofa. To be clear, the sofa is MY domain. I rule the sofa!!!! I rule the TV, when the women of the house are not around. Tonight, Daisy, apparently amped up on her most recent kill, decided she ruled the sofa too. Don't believe me? Check out these photos......

The first one is me and sweet little Daisy. Can you see how lovely she looks with her little bow? She is a little camera shy, so I had to hold her for the picture (hence the worried look on her face and my hand on her throat). Notice anything else about the picture?

Check out this close up! Yeah, that's my nose after it has been cleaned up!! Daisy apparently had an issue with me sitting in "her spot" on the sofa. To extract her revenge, she literally, head butt me to the nose.

Ahhhh, its always exciting at our house. Usually, its the girls that keep it fresh but sometimes the dogs get in on the action too. If I get a black eye, I will post that tomorrow.

Last, let me say a big happy birthday to my sister. Tomorrow is her big day. I think she will be ... yeah, I ain't that dumb ... 21 for the second or third time. Love you, happy birthday!!!!!