Our Mini Vacation

I just wanted to come on and post pics of our trip to Charlotte over the weekend. We had a GREAT time, especially at Dave & Buster's. I wish they'd build one in Augusta. We got to watch the UGA game, after talking with 2 different managers because they had the same game on 2 different TV's, but not the game they told us would be on one particular TV (UGA vs. GSU). Anyway, we watched most of it while eating and watching the kids play the various games. They loved the claw games and really got some good swag out of them. Chad got a necklace and 2 bracelets out of one and Carter got 3 stuffed sports bears out of another.
Then Carter played a game that gave out tickets and racked up quite a few. Here he is with all of his loot.
I love the way their ticket store is set up, too. It's so much better than CEC (Chuck E Cheese). They put your ticket amount on your card and you're able to roam around and 'shop' until you've picked out what you want. Put it on the counter and debit it off of your playing card. Awesome. After that fun we went to the room, got checked in, small nap, then swam for a few minutes.

Chad laying down with me


The many faces of Chad...only one face for Daddy.


Then we went back out to the Nascar Speed Park where they rode Go Karts, climbed the rock wall and played mini golf. They had a great time!


We had a late dinner at a Mexican restaurant before retiring to the hotel with a few minutes left to do some more swimming. We got up the next day and went to Bass Pro Shops since we didn't have time on Saturday.

Then we headed to Carowinds. They rode a couple roller coasters, but spent most of their time in the water park. We were only there for one overnight, but everyone had a blast and it seemed a lot longer. We packed a lot into just one weekend. Our next destination...D.C in October for the Army 10 Miler.

Don't forget to peruse my site and see what links might interest you.

Spiders

Our den tends to become a staging area sometimes. It can be a nice room, but is an enclosed carport, so it seems a little off from the main house and doesn't get used much. Back in May we decided to turn it into a game room because Sears had several game tables on sale. We bought an air hockey table, already had a foosball table, bought a skee ball table and planned to put Chad's arcade basketball game in there. Before we could make this happen we had to move out 2 computer desks and rearrange some stuff. Well, of course that never happened. We stored the games in there (in their boxes), along with some other boxes that just needed someplace to hang out. Charles also moved home from NC around that time, so his stuff got put in there also. I tell you all that to tell you this...we have spiders. Not just any spiders, but black widow spiders...a lot of them. One must have gotten in there and laid eggs because we have a ton of juveniles. We put off a fogger in there yesterday with hopes of being able to get in there to organize and create our game room. Today Charles started on it and found 6 black widows. Two of them were still trying to hang on to life, while the other 4 were dead. So, no organizing today. We set off another fogger and did one in the living room also, just to be safe. It's really creepy. When I think about it I guess we sometimes use the den as some would use a garage, so it's plausible that the spiders would see it this way also, but ICK!! I hope once we get all the boxes and stuff out they stay out for good! I know having stuff stored in there has given them plenty of places to hide, and it doesn't help that the huge wall size bay window that was installed 15-20 years ago has some issues. There are spots where you can see outside through the bottom of the window, and I don't mean through the glass. LOL We spayed that spray foam caulk stuff in there a few years ago, but that has separated also. So there's plenty of opportunity for the little buggers to get in. But they are NOT welcome here.

Teasing

It's 3:00 AM and I'm awake. Why, you ask? Well, because I love my son. I found out today that Chad is being teased at school. It totally and absolutely breaks my heart. First, just the fact that he told me tells me that it's a big deal. He does NOT show vulnerability...ever. I spoke with his teacher, the teaser's teacher, AND the counselor about this a little over a week ago. I casually asked Chad today how things were going and apparently this kid is still torturing him. Now, I am not here saying that Chad is an angel and could never do the same to someone else. I am well aware of Chad's capabilities, but I have never heard of him teasing another child (aside from Carter) and if I ever did I would certainly do everything within my power to put a stop to it. Which is why I have formally requested a meeting with the school counselor and this child's mother. Now, I realize that teasing happens. Nobody is immune to it. However, Chad isn't just anyone. He's MY child. LOL And if I can go through the channels to make sure everyone that needs to know about it DOES know about it, then I will. This kid is doing some very specific things that need to be addressed. As far as I'm concerned, Chad has shown great restraint by not decking him in the nose. At this point, I don't think I'd punish him if he did. ;) Not that I'm condoning violence, but the only way to stop a bully is to put him in his place. Anyway, I digress...

The counselor has been extremely understanding, so I feel confident that she will set this meeting up for me, hopefully on Tuesday. I also copied the email to the 2 teachers involved, the principal, and the vice principal. I want a paper trail and documentation that steps have been taken to put an end to it. Chad had problems with this child last year, so I expect it will not end here. *sigh* Why do kids have to be so cruel to one another? As a mother my number 1 job is to protect my children. This is an area where I can't protect him. Sure, I can call meetings. I can advocate for him all I want. But hasn't the damage already been done? This will not be the last time he will be teased. I'm sure of that. But each time it happens, how much of his sense of self does it whittle away? Can he just blow it off, or does it hurt him at his core? Hard to say really. All I can do is do everything in my power to make it stop. It's my job. My only job really...protecting my children. I know some of you may see this as a drastic step, but I do not see myself as an overprotective Mom. Honestly, I kind of pride myself as not being overly protective and giving them plenty of freedom to experience life, a long leash if you will, which sometimes exposes them to slight dangers that I think they can handle. But this is different. Chad has done everything by the book here. It is now time for the adults to step in and take over the situation. And, trust me, I will be relentless.