Atlanta History Museum

We took the kids to the Atlanta History Museum on Saturday. It was free for Bank of America card holders so we presumed that meant all of us, but they were sneaking and we had to pay for the kids!
We had a great time, if somewhat stressful with the kids trying to touch everything. It was definitely more for older kids but the grounds are beautiful and so they got to run around outside and thankfully it didn't rain.

It was great to learn about the Civil War and hopefully I'll remember some of the facts ready for 4th and 6th grade social studies. I have a huge book all about the history of America which I think I need to read this summer in preparation for helping Jaden with Middle School homework.

The museum is built in the grounds of the Swan House. The house is pretty but looks better from the outside. We took the tour and Nicolas and Adison did pretty well. I'm determined to train them young how to behave so that when they are older we can have calm visits to museums and know that they won't damage anything.

They had a tiny playhouse in the grounds which was so cute.

There is also an old farm house and barns on the grounds.

I loved seeing the old house and then modern high rise right next to each other. It amazes me how recently everything has happened in America and how it shapes American attitudes to everything. When I think that the house I grew up in was built well before the Civil War started, and I never really thought of our house as old, it puts everything into perspective.

The garden had the kind of casual, slightly overgrown feel that I'd love to recreate in my yard.

The kids were fascinated by the hens.

Then we looked around the slave cabin which was pretty big compared to some that I've seen before.

They also have part of the museum commemorating the 1996 Olympics which was held in Atlanta. Who knows, one day Nicolas may be on a medal podium for cycling!!

We did a lot of walking and then Papa and Teffi came for dinner so it was a very busy, tiring day. I thought Nicolas was in bed but when I heard noises outside our room I found him fast asleep on the carpet with Leo!

Having seen how yukky my carpets look in this photo I've spent today shampooing all the carpets in the house. Thanks to Leo and Nicolas I get to do that at least every 3 months or else my cream carpets turn orange from the GA clay and mucky footprints!

Rock Cimbing Again

I think this will be the last time I blog about rock climbing because all the pictures look the same - peoples bottoms hanging in the air!
This is Jaden and Kirsten and they both did great as usual. Now we know what happens it was a lot more relaxed than the first time.

The kids did run around a lot more than last time which I hate as I worry they'll get in the way of a serious climber, but they did OK overall.

Woody and Stephanie came too which was wonderful as I had Stephanie to talk to while I watched the little ones and Woody could belay for one of the kids.

We were so excited that Sam, Ike and Lilli could come too. Ike is a natural climber like Kirsten but Lilli struggled a bit more. She tried really hard and managed to get pretty high. Ike made it to the top of the wall which is a real achievement.

Adison was allowed out of the stroller this time as it wasn't quite as busy and she had a great time running around and swinging on ropes.

Kirsten and Lilli on the boulders.

Kirsten makes impossible things looks so easy. I can't imagine being able to hold myself upside down and then flip over and hang there!

I hope Nicolas was picking up tips from her!

Lilli climbs the wall with a bit of help from Papa

Kirsten makes it to the top again.

and so does Adam while Woody belays for him.

He got over an overhang which is so much harder than it looks, and he did it in his work shoes!

Woody had to show Adam that whatever he could do, Woody could do too!!

Then Sam had a go and did great. I think next time I may have a go too, but I doubt I'll even make it half way up. I acknowledge my weaknesses!!

It was a fun night and we plan to go every few weeks and try to put the kids in a summer camp for a week.

1st Time Cycling at the Park

I wanted to see how Nicolas would do cycling at the park so we went to another of my favorite parks and met up with our friends.

We took crackers to feed the ducks and geese as Adison is still obsessed with geese. We only read three stories at the moment because they have geese in them. She also has two little plastic geese that she has with her most of the time and if she loses them it's nearly as big a problem as if she loses lovie!
Adison was in goose heaven and loved feeding the geese. I hope she never gets pecked by a goose as all her dreams will be shattered!

Having the stroller, dog and bike adds a whole new dimension of fun to a trip to the park! Leo always walks on the right and I need Nicolas to learn to ride on the right too, but that means I don't have a hand free to stop him or guide him if he needs it. I know it will get easier as he gets more controlled. My nerves are still on edge the whole time in case he falls off or rides into someone, but I suppose that never ends because Jaden and Kirsten still give me fits when they are on their bikes because they just don't watch where they are going.

They had fun on the playset and playing with Emilee and Cole and then it was time to go home to get ready for climbing in the evening - a busy and fun day!

Family Picnic at Preschool

Nicolas had his family picnic for Preschool on Thursday. Because I didn't look at the calendar until just before I took him to preschool I'd forgotten all about it so it was too late for Adam to come too.

I'd been really frustrated with Jaden and Kirsten for forgetting their lunches (it drives me crazy when I get up and take 10 minutes each morning to make them something healthy and then they don't take it with them, buy some awful, unhealthy junk from school and charge us for it - wasted food and wasted money!!) but in the end it worked out OK because I just took their lunches for Nicolas and me to eat.
The weather was great and the kids ran around and played with the bubbles while the parents relaxed and chatted. I'm really glad that I get to do this again for Adison but I'm sad that because Nicolas is still going two days next year he'll be in a different class from all his friends and my friends too.

It amazes me how happy bubbles made children of all ages!