Soccer Clinic

Chris sent me this photo of Abby...she was lovin "watching" Lexy & Hannah participate in concorde's soccer clinic....life is good from the sidelines w/ snacks, iPad and coloring nearby....this is why we love Atlanta - two weeks earlier it was about to snow enough to keep us homebound for nearly a week and now it was 70 degrees and sunny - incredible!!!!  What an "amazing" weekend - smiley face

Birthday Party weekend

What a fun weekend we had...four birthday parties (Emma turned 4, Kira turned 40, Craig turned 50 and Kaia turned 7).  We started out with party fun on Saturday celebrating Emma's bday w/ gymnastics and Fancy Nancy.  Saturday night Hannah & Lexy had sleepovers at the Hutchinsons (Hannah's first sleep over at someone else's house...funny thing is that Lexy's first sleepover was also at the Hutchinson's two years ago) and Abby spent the night w/ Gma, Charlie & Julia at Meredith & Tom's...while Mommy went out to midtown for a FUN night to celebrate her friend Kira's bday and Chris went to a party w/ his co workers (and Meredith & Tom) to celebrate Craig's 50th bday.  Sunday we celebrated Kaia's bday w/ pottery painting (I didn't make that part b/c my tennis match started late - but at least I came home with a "w") and back to their house for dinner.The girls were WIPED out from all the fun (and so was mommy....smiley face)

40 to feed 40,000

One of the men in Chris' men's group turned 40 this year...and to celebrate it he decided to invite all his friends & family to donate $40 and use that to fund 40,000 meals for Stop Hunger Now (he matched every donation).  There were over 100 adults and children (200+ total) at our church on MLK day to fill, weigh & package over 40,000 meals - incredible.  Hannah wasn't interested in having her photo taken...but I snapped this picture of Lexy, Abby & (her friend) Ella....weighing the grains.  Impressive and honored to be a part of it all!  Thank you Sean Taylor.

playdate fun!

Abby had some of her classmates over for a fun playdate...while Hannah was at a neighborhood friends w/ one like this of her own (don't worry - Lexy had a playdate over that afternoon too) - it was a fun Wed afternoon for the Faklaris girls....we love our friends & the fun we share together - smiley face

Fun weekend with the King Family

Greg, Kathryn, Charlie & Matty came into town for a fun weekend (and a long run for Chris & Greg in preparation for their Napa marathon in March).  As always, our girls were crazy as can be w/ the King boys but had a blast....we enjoyed lunch at Meredith & Tom's and a busy afternoon w/ the swim meet & dinner at our house.  The Crosby family came over on Sunday morning for a yummy brunch....we are going to be spoiled this year w/ all that we get to see the Kings....fun times ahead - smiley face

Swim Meet....Hannah's first ever!

The girls had their first winter swim meet this weekend...we were so lucky to have so many people there to cheer them on...thanks to Gma, Nana, Papa & the King family for coming out and supporting them (at a crazy meet start - talk about unorganized - aie yi yi).  None the less, it was fun!

In freestyle...Hannah actually got SECOND place over all in her age group - and she's one of the absolute youngest in it at only five - she swam a 25.73 in 25 free.  Lexy got 5th place overall in her age group - she swam a 20.45 (but she was the fastest 7-8 year old girl for our Y - the other girls in front of her were from Norcross and were all 8 years old). 

In backstroke...Hannah got 7th place overall (3rd place from our Y)...She had a time of 32.35.  Lexy also got 7th place overall in backstroke (5th place from our Y)...she had a time of 26.19.

In butterfly...Lexy impressed us with 6th place overall (4th from our Y - but again she was the youngest) w/ a time of 25.43

So proud of our sweet swimmers - incredible.  Glad they have the opportunity to participate - and that they enjoy doing it - smiley face

so sweet!!!!

I had a really, truly bad day filled with lots of silly things and complaining people....and when I came home from some errands that night - this is what the girls decorated the kitchen with.  It was just what I needed and more.  With Daddy's help they brought tears to my eyes and happiness back to my heart.  What an incredible family we have - I am so thankful for them every moment - smiley face!

Good Luck to good friends!

Hard to believe when we first started our supper club it was over a decade ago....we had one of our first dinners with all our children together to say goodbye to the Kirby's for the year....they are leaving for a year mission trip in Nicaragua.  Here's a picture we snapped of the girls w/ Ella, Christopher & Ryan.  Kristen & Jeff never cease to amaze us with their dedication to helping others - and using their talents to do so.  When they told us in November that this was a reality we were excited and scared for them.....we'll be praying for them & wishing them nothing but the best.  Good Luck!

Day Five

Okay...I think I'll make this my last snowjam 2011 blog - smiley face.  We've had a great week with the snow, but I'll let tomorrow, Saturday, be a regular weekend for us - smiley face.  Or I'll try to at least...ha ha!  Chris went to the office for the first time this week....after breakfast.  Then we had a morning of books, books and more books - lucky for us I had been to the library before the snowstorm, so we re-read all of those books this morning....watched some tv (Tom & Jerry and Full House are now new favorites) and played a bit...then the girls had a playdate.  Hannah wanted to make a snow fort at our house (she helped do it yesterday at the Whiting's) so we invited snow fort maker Jane Brooks over....as well as Ella Thomas and Maggie Dunkerley.  Abby had Ani over and Lexy went to Josie's for a swaparoo - I had six girls and they played INCREDIBLE for four and a half hours.  We started outside - building a snow fort!!!  Then had lunch, played upstairs and downstairs (making those darn bead/ironing things I loathe - ha ha) and then had a snack - that's when it started to go crazy (note to self -don't give applejuice as snack playdate - despite how many times Jane Brooks asks for it - ha ha - sugar HIGH!).  Eventually we went back outside for some sledding and more playing...all in all a fun afternoon.  That night, Aunt Meredith, Uncle Tom, Charlie & Julia came over for a spaghetti dinner and a little headbandz game (fun group game!!!).  We love that our family is so close - smiley face