Monday, April 21, 2008

Weekend Getaway

The staff at church began their annual retreat last Thursday. They headed to Atlanta to meet with a couple of churches and spend some time meeting together as a staff. Friday afternoon the wives headed west to join them. I was fortunate enough to ride with the pastor's wife and another good friend.

Upon my arrival, Daddy was not there. The evening was to take place at a Brave's game. Daddy and Hodge headed to the game early to catch practice. That was right up his alley, even for the soccer fan that he is. I had been looking forward to the game since I heard we were going. While living in Texas, Ranger games were just a natural part of the summer. I love me some summertime baseball! It's just a fun atmosphere. Food, the game, friends. Can't get much better! (at least for me!) After the game was over they had a fireworks show! (The first two summers we lived in SC we headed home one week during the summer, usually around the 4th of July. The Rangers had a GRAND fireworks show with music from the 50s and other great "God Bless Texas" type country music.) The music we heard along with the fireworks in GA was very 80s (Miami Sound Machine, etc.) It was kinda weird, but the works were great!! (I didn't haul the camera through the MARTA and to the game, sorry)

Saturday we got up and had breakfast at the hotel. It was one of the best buffets I have been too (even better than Shoney's). The staff then split up--some went home, some went to IKEA, and our group headed to the New World of Coca-Cola. I went once in HS, but that was, hmm, 12 years ago. They recently moved into a new building. It was so fun! A couple of movies, history, pop culture, THE polar bear, and best of all, the tasting room!! It was Divine, except for the Beverly from Italy. It tasted like sucking on an Aspirin!


Some of the staff and wives



Bottling the drinks (my mouth is watering while I am looking at these pictures...so good!)


After the WOC, we headed to the Cheesecake Factory. You can't go wrong there. EVERYTHING is great. And to end the meal--Adam's Peanut Butter Cup Fudge Ripple Cheesecake. Heaven!

The long trip home ended the afternoon. We exited the interstate with the family that was keeping Lil E for the weekend. We pulled up next to them, Lil E saw me and lost it! Fortunately we were going straight to their house to pick her up. Poor thing. She also had an eventful weekend at the landfill, Happy Cow Creamery (I would love to get a group together to go sometime--they also have strawberries in May!), trip to Sam's, and lots of playing with the big kids.

It definitely was a whirlwind of a weekend, but a much needed trip away from the everyday! What a blessing!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you had a fun weekend! Glad you had some adult time away. I know that Lil E was glad to see you. She probably had been okay until seeing you. Our Texas Rangers are struggling AGAIN this year. Did I tell you that we actually were invited to a game about a week ago and got to sit in the suites in center field. (I still like sitting in the cheaper seats where you can experience the game.....and the food is GREAT!)

Caroline said...

Glad y'all had a great time! YUMMM - Cheesecake Factory. I'm going to have to take a trip down to see my parents and go to dinner there. M has never been and everyone should go b/c you're right, EVERYTHING there is good!!

It's a Mom Thing said...

Yea for a fun weekend! What's up with your Coke Bear pic? Kinda lame compared to Chris'. TOTALLY KIDDING!

And Cheesecake Factory...it was so good, wasn't it. I almost got that pb kind, but decided on Snicker's. Maybe next time.