The Varsity

Yes, another historic first:  a trip to The Varsity.  The other day Daddy was driving by a nearby location, and realized that Madison hasn't actually experienced "The Varsity."  This is one of those places you have to eat at if you want to say you're from Georgia.  Afterwards, you complain about the grease and joke about how the food there is probably not good for you, and yet we all wind up going there a few times - particularly during our college years.  This is because there's a location close by UGA and one near Georgia Tech.  Now there's one about fifteen minutes from North Georgia College - which is now the University of North Georgia (UNG).

As a side note, whoever thought up this official title is asking for it, plain and simple.  All I have to do is say something like "The Department of the University of North Georgia" and you've got DUNG.

Anyway, we had hot dogs and onion rings and french fries.  And that orange drink that I completely forgot about.  Madison has never had it before, but it was one of those delightful little moments where the very nice cashier let her sample it, and she let out a huge, "Yummy!"

This was probably because of the sugar ratio in this orange-colored drink.  There was quite a bit in there.

It was a pleasant visit, one made even nicer by an extremely friendly staff.  Our visit to the restaurant coincided with our trip to Wal-Mart to get some mulch, where we discovered we can fit precisely ten bags in our trunk.  We spent a lot of time weeding and cleaning out the leaves and so forth from certain areas of our front yard, and then laying down some mulch.

"Mrs. Mulch?"

Madison was quite helpful pulling weeds, using her tiny pink rake, and smoothing out the mulch that Daddy dumped out around the tree trunks.  And the weather was perfect outside, crisp and cool like a fall day.  In fact, the temperature this morning was FORTY-TWO degrees outside when we dropped Madison off for school.

Earlier, Nana and Ye-Ye called from Ireland to tell us how they were doing - which was good, we're happy to say.  Driving has been an extreme challenge though.  Can't imagine learning to drive on the other side of the road, and then adapting to all the one-lane roads, and roaming cattle and sheep.  Still, they are having an adventure, and we're certainly glad to hear it, and hear they are safe.  We'll be picking them up on Friday from the airport - I might be bringing Madison with me on Friday.

After mulching outside, it was time to head inside for some relaxing.  Or so we thought!  Madison wanted to play a Kinect game - we returned to Disneyland for a bit, and had the greatest time.  We can't really go to Disneyland right now, so this is the next best thing.

We read from her Barbie book before bed, and sleep came quickly.  It won't be long before we all can sleep in every day - only two more weeks of school.  It's a bittersweet moment watching the last of her kindergarten year wind down, but we're having a great time each and every day with Madison.