North Georgia Corn Maze

 I got a great deal on tickets to a Corn Maze...something I have always wanted to do....but it was 3 hours away....but that didn't stop us!  The Maze is located near Helen, Ga so we just made a day trip out of it and visited that city as well.  We had a blast.

 They had hay bales where you could jump from one to another.

When you enter they give you a post card with a 'map of the maze'...and 6 or so places you needed to locate to punch your card....dont' know how else to explain that...

 Sophia is punching her card and I am trying to figure out which way to go next.  Reading the map was like reading a foreign language....turn right by the corn stalk and go past the 3rd stalk with 4 ears of corn ....and look for the stalk that is bent at a 38 degree angle then take 5 steps backward....

i found it!

We decided to divide into teams....boys vs. girls?  no...parents vs. kids.  RIchard and I would tear through the maze and yell "we found it!" and then wait to hear Nate and Fia yell, "they found it over here!" and as they were running towards us we would take off in another direction laughing the whole way!  I haven't  giggled that much in a long time!

Well....we let you win Mom.   

When got to the end there was this cool bridge where you could look out onto the whole maze...it was a pretty spectacular sight!

then we went on a authentic hay ride....we were riding with a mom and her 3 year old daughter "Sophia".  They were nice company....well at least I enjoyed them...not sure what Nate is thinking....

And a final picture with the Jack-o-Lantern hay bales....Nate can't contain his excitement any longer.

Villamor Family Christmas

Every year Richard's family gathers at someone's house.  This year we travelled to Pooler, Ga where Butch and his family just moved.  It was the usual Christmas festivities....

 The cousins sang some Christmas carols and did other talent.

 We were able to have all the Villamor children take part.....Richzer, Evan and Ethan via Skype from the Philippines and Babe and RJ via IPhone face-time in California.  They also did talent...

This is all the family trying to do the Dougie dance.  RJ was teaching everyone via face-time on the IPhone. 

 Then we had the annual take-a-picture-in-front-of-the-tree pictures....

Nothing was going to make Nate smile...it was after midnight and he was tired!  and cranky!

Randolph "Boyet" and his wife, Shela and their children Vic and Lourdes

Ronald "Bobet" and My-My, and their children, Femi, Rovic, and Kyla

There was an incident with a nerf gun and we didn;t get a picture of Butch's family....but here is the mother and her boys!

Nate always celebrates his actual birthday while we are with the Villamor's....he enjoyed the attention...and this lovely chocolate oreo cake!

It was a very lovely time.  And I will end with this picture of myself....why?  because it turned out so nice...and I am learning to be vain like Richard...ha ha ha.  

small furry dogs....

While we were in Savannah visiting Richard's brother we were introduced to their little Shi-poo dog "Oreo".  Oh man....I took to that dog like glue. He was just the right size for neck snuggling...and he loved to be rubbed.  He did this cute little butt scoot when he would run around.  I found myself taking him on walks and taking him from the kids just so I could rub his soft fur.  I think I was going through withdrawals.....

He reminded me of another small furry dog.....

we had to put her down in 2o11 (or as Nate would say..."she was assassinated by the doctor" .  

In her glory days she had more fur and wasn't covered in those age spots....and could hear...and see...and liked to snuggle....

I sure miss that little girl.  She was so easy to carry!  And fit under your arm perfectly.   And just loved to sit by you on the couch while you did whatever.  And loved to sleep under the covers.  And would lick my feet.   She never once thought my feet were stinky...such a sweet girl.  

Playing with Oreo also made me miss this little "big" guy......

I was very happy to see him when we returned home...he is 3x the size of little Cricket and doesn't like to just 'hang out' on the couch with me while I am watching TV....but he is so fun to snuggle with when he is sleeping.....but don't stay long because he likes his space!

I am already planning when i will get another little furry dog.....it may be a few years away....but it is good to have a plan!