Summer Learning: Telephone Museum and MLK Jr. Center

Today we had to forgo our new Summer Schedule for home because I found a list of activities to do around the city that are free. So, today we had two summer learning adventures. 

Our first adventure was at the Telephone Museum. My source said that the hours were from 11-1. However, the receptionist acted leery about us not having an appointment when we got there. It all worked out because there was another group who had just started a tour. This museum has a guide who leads you through the exhibits. It is a small museum, and we were there about 45 minutes. The guide was knowledgeable, and the kids liked it. We saw early phones, statistics of the numbers of phones throughout the years, switchboards, and the first Atlanta phone book.

Here are our pics:

The 1st Atlanta Phone Book: Only 1 Page
 Early Phones:

 Switchboards:

Outside the Main Building:

Our second adventure was to the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site. Here we did a self-guided tour. We watched a movie on the Civil Rights, toured the exhibits, and walked around the site.

My sister & Me:

In the D.R.E.A.M. Gallery with a replica of the Lincoln Memorial: 

 The Eternal Flame:

The Crypt of MLK, Jr. and Coretta Scott King:

125 Foot Painting on the Wall of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Natatorium by Artist Lois Delsarte:

Summer Schedule with Kids Day 1

On Monday of this week, it was our first full day home for summer break. And... that... is... when... I decided around noontime that I needed lesson plans and a schedule for my own two children this summer.

So where do you turn when you need some ideas? One word...Pinterest!

I pinned some summer schedules that other moms posted. Like this one from www.thrivinghomeblog.com:

Then I made a list of ideas to put on the schedule. Our Girl was THRILLED with the idea, and she started helping with the plan. However, Our Boy was NOT SO THRILLED with a summer schedule.

Hmmm...so I made a new plan. I created two lists: "Have To" and "Choice." The kids have to do the things listed on the "Have To" list. Then they can choose what they want to do from the "Choice" list.

Here's our "Have To" list:
-practice piano
-brain activities (EX: math games & xtramath.org)
-read
-clean (today was dusting)
-exercise/outside time
-swim lessons

Here's our "Choice" list:
-TV/devices/Wii/computer
-art/playdough
-free time
-Lego challenge
Our Boy's Lego Vessel Flying Ship:

Our Girl's Lego vessel: a bowl that holds trophies

Our Girl's Play dough "steaks"

The kids did like having a plan, and they did like choosing when they did each activity. They did not complain about any of the "Have To"s because well...it was on the list.

Tomorrow I will add *time alone and *make your bed to the "Have To" list.

June wasn't so sure about this new plan because all that planning led to a bath for her!

Look what we found outside today...the kids said it was a Smurf House:

Wife, Mom, Kindergarten Teacher?

For the past 14 years, I've been "wife."

For the past 10 years, I've been "mom."

For the past 16 years, I've been "Kindergarten (or Pre-K) teacher."

Well...in the fall...my new name will be "2nd grade teacher."

I'm looking forward to a new adventure.

Happy 10th Birthday

Somebody hit the double digits in our house...well...back in February is when it really happened. It's hard to believe that our boy is 10 years old! Here are some pics of his celebration:

 10 candles on his white cake with white icing:

He asked for a watch for his birthday.

He also received this Titanic ice cube tray:

 We visited the Wren's Nest, the home of Joel Chandler Harris:

 Then we spent the night at the Westin Peachtree Plaza:

 We decided to walk to dinner, and we ended up at a restaurant with this display on the wall below. The un-named restaurant looked good, and we ordered our drinks and dinner. After we enjoyed our drinks for a few minutes, I noticed something in my daughter's drink. And it was......
                  a roach!
                                                 a roach in her sweet tea!!!
Needless to say, we did not stay at this restaurant. However, they did make it right by giving us a gift certificate to eat at another location at a different time.

 So then we went to have pizza and pasta at Azio's:

 We stayed on the 61 floor of the hotel:

 We swam in the indoor pool:

 And we ate lunch at the Sundial:

 We had a great time celebrating this 10th birthday!

Happy 2013: Resolving to Be Intentional

 Happy 2013! This year I'm resolving to be more intentional.

One way we started the year with being more intentional is by visiting with a friend that I've had since elementary school. This girl and me...whew! We have been tight...I'm talking BFF charms and everything! It was so good to visit this weekend.

Here we are with the husbands. I mean...I can remember when these two started dating at the pizza place. #goodtimes

Now...here are all of our kids. When we were growing up, my friend always said "I want so many kids that I need a U-Haul to carry them around!" Well...she she has 3 super cute boys! And my 2 kids had the best time with them.

L to R: hers, hers, mine, mine, hers

 This photo below was taken around the last time we all saw each other...at Our Boy's 5th BD party in February of 2008!! Umm...that is 4 years ago!!  #toolong

We have made a plan to be more intentional about getting together. #lovethatfamily

Here is an interesting side note. On our way to visit their house, we passed "Barbie Beach." Hubby said that he has driven past here before with work, and that the person changes the scenes in the yard with the Barbies. I just had to share it with you so you could experience it too! #havetoseetobelieve #didtheyhavetobegeorgiafans #wow

More Home Updates in 2012

We did a few more updates around the house in 2012.

Our Girl's Room: I sewed a new valence for over her closet.

 Our Girl's Room: new rug (from Target with a gift card) & new duvet (from Ikea)

Our Boy's Room: new mirror (from TJ Maxx), new paint (Mountain Laurel), new curtains (from Wal-Mart), new curtain rods (from Tuesday Morning)

  Our Boy's Room: New rug (from Ikea) It's dark brown and light brown. I think we paid $14.99.

 Our Boy's Room: New duvets on bunk bed (from Ikea)

 Foyer: New table (from Marshall's that I bought with a gift card from a friend). I had Christmas decorations on it, but you can see Our Girl has now taken it over with her Lego Friends.

 Foyer: new rug (from Marshall's)

 Kitchen: new dishwasher (from Home Depot on Black Friday)

  Kitchen: new refrigerator (from Home Depot on Black Friday)

  Kitchen: new stove (from Home Depot on Black Friday)

 Family Room: new rug (from Hobby Lobby with gift card)

Front Porch Update November 2012

We have been saying for years that we wanted to update our front porch, but in November 2012, we finally did it. I'm posting before and after pics of the project that Hubby completed.

Before: There were railings. There were 2 full posts in the middle, and there were 2 half posts on each side.

 Before: railings

 Before:

In Progress: Here's Hubby with his helpers when they removed the railings.

In Progress: Hubby used unfinished 1x6 pine boards to wrap the existing posts. 

 In Progress: Here you can see the half post on the side and the middle post.

 After: Ta-Da!!!! Doesn't it look soooooooooooooo much better!! We love it! Completed posts & no railings

 After: You can see how Hubby trimmed out the columns at the bottom and top to finish them.

 After: Here's a shot of the half post and full post completed.

 After: Don't you always ask yourself after a project is finished...what took us so long?!?!