Imagine It! Children's Museum

Lauren and I took the kids to the Children's museum in Atlanta a couple of weeks ago. We had a great time and will definitely have to do it again sometime! I love being able to take Katlyn places, especially when it's free for her age, and even more when she actually ends up enjoying it! We headed out early that morning and stayed a few hours wandering around and discovering all the fun activities they had to do! We started out in the farm where Katlyn attempted milking a cow, riding a tractor, and picking some food. Then we enjoyed the shipping process on the truck (where Miles had the most fun!) and playing with boxes, then to the grocery store where Katlyn like pulling everything OFF the shelves and did a little putting it back! She liked the little house where she and Lily sat at the table with all the food and Lily served her a "snack"! Next we headed over to the simple machines area, which was totally over our kids heads, but they liked running around with the balls and watching the other kids work the machines. Miles and Katlyn liked the little train and car area which was a really big train table with hills and roads and everything. They also had a garden with velcroed vegetables to pick and Katlyn did that for a quick minute! They got to play in the moonsand and on the stage. Katlyn danced with some big girls and loved looking in the mirrors! The three kids all painted for a minute together, which was super cute, with their little smocks on. I loved the idea because after they were finished the lady just hosed off the "artwork" and squigeed it for the next artist! I want Matt to make one for our backyard! Katlyn and I would LOVE it! The last stop was in the water area where the kids could wear little rain jackets that were bugs, firefighters, etc. and play in a huge water table with tons of toys. Katlyn liked it, but was a little too short and tumbled off the step so we decided to play in the baby area for awhile. She enjoyed crawling through the tunnels and "logs" and walking over the bridge about 30 times. She liked pushing the fish through the wall maze, too. It was a great day! Lauren and I celebrated our successful outting with the kiddos in Atlanta by having a drive in lunch at the Varsity! Fun day!

On the run to discover more!

 

Katlyn and Miles grocery shopping!

 

Katlyn loved the big mirror and found two big girls who were dancing. Since she loves to dance so much she joined right in and they were sweet enough to let her!

 

Our little artists; Lily, Miles, and Katlyn painting their masterpieces! Katlyn had a brush, but decided to use her hands instead! She and Miles both left with blue hair!

 

Ready for a drink and a nap! Can you tell they had a great time and were worn out!

 

THE Quilt!

During a visit with my Mamaw McCall she showed me how to piece a quilt. She got me started with the center square of four and then told me to take it home and finish it and she would quilt it for me....WELL, about 3 years later NOW, I still have not finished that quilt and so I decided I was going to finish up the color I was on and leave it the size of a throw and have her quilt it for me. I just can't imagine when I am ever going to have time to sit and piece this thing! I know she has made many quilts in her life and is faster than the speed of lightning compared to my, what seems like 5 minutes per square!! So, I did...I finished up the turquoise squares in the car about 5 miles before we arrived at Mamaw's for our latest visit to Tennessee! I worked so hard on that quilt and am very proud of the work I did! Deep in my heart I wish I thought I could finish it, but more important to me than finishing it myself is that she have a part in this quilt! So, I walked into Mamaw's house and after a few minutes of catching up I said, "Well, Mamaw, I brought you my quilt." She said, "You did! Did you finish it, let's see it!" so I showed it to her and she said, "Well, you're not finished...it looks good, but you aren't hardly finished!" I told her I just didn't think it was going to be possible until Katlyn goes to college for me to find time to work on it and that I hoped she wasn't disappointed, but I just wanted her to go ahead and quilt it! Now, of course I had thought through this because I knew she was going to tell me it wasn't finished! I said, "I did bring up the rest of the fabric if YOU want to work on it?!?!" and she just smiled and laughed and said, "I bet you did! I'll work on it, but I can't promise you when I'll finish it!". I told her I didn't care when I just wanted it to be a special quilt that I could say she and I worked on. I think it will be a beautiful quilt when she finishes it and something that we will cherish forever! Here is a picture of me working on the quilt and Katlyn supervising! I can't wait to see it when Mamaw finishes it!

 

Our 2010 Summer Vacation

Every summer Matt and I go back and forth about where to go and when to go for a vacation. This summer we decided to head to Florida and try out SeaWorld with Katlyn and then spend a couple of days at the beach in Daytona. It ended up being a great decision! The drive wasn't too bad and Katlyn did great..catching her naps and snoozing most of the way or reading her many books we brought! We enjoyed Orlando and taking Katlyn to Seaworld. We purchased the twilight tickets for SeaWorld which were half off for Matt and I (of course, Katlyn was free!) and went at 3 in the afternoon. It had cooled off and even was a bit cloudy so it was perfect! She says, "ish" for fish, so we heard that several times throughout the day and she really got into watching the animals. We saw whales, of course, Mommy and baby dolphins, sea lions, seals, penguins, manattees, otters, and lots of other animals! We bought Katlyn a Shamu puppett that she has enjoyed snuggling with and napping with in the car. I was impressed because it was only $10! Not bad for a souvinere! We got to see both Shamu shows; Believe and the late night one, Shamu Rocks! Katlyn fell asleep at the second one, so we figured it was about time to call it a night! She was so good and we really enjoyed watching her enjoy everything there! The next day we headed to Daytona beach and it was HOT! We spent most of the time there on the beach since it was much cooler near the water! Katlyn loved the beach and water this year! She thought it was one big playground and sandbox and just ran and played! She kept us very busy running around behind her. She would take right off for the water and when people would go by she would take off to see them, too! She did enjoy playing in the sand with her beach toys and even met a little friend there, too. Matt made her a little "pool" of her own and she enjoyed sitting in it and playing, too! We all enjoyed the trip, but as always, it is great to be home in our own bed and home! I'm guessing from the way Katlyn loved the beach like her Daddy does, we will probably be going every summer!

Watching the dolphins at the Dolphin Nursery at SeaWorld!

 

Waiting for Shamu show the first time....ended up having a rain delay, but it was a nice place to cool off! Doesn't she look relaxed?

 

Finally, Shamu's Believe show! She loved watching the whales jump and would put her hands in the air!

 

Daddy and Katlyn enjoying the show!

 

Mommy and Katlyn looking at the penguins! She loved watching them jump in and out of the water...I have to say Matt and I thought it was pretty cool, too!

 

Yay! Seaworld!

 

Out cold after a long day of fun!

 

Those big bears found one cute little sleeping baby!

 

On our way out of the park...We Loved Seaworld!

 

Daddy and Katlyn checking out the ocean! This was a completely different experience from last year when she screamed!

 

Loving the Beach!

 

Playing with her new beach toys!

 

I mean she REALLY LOVED the beach!

 

I love this picture of my Beach Baby!

 

Enjoying the fountain!

 

She loved getting soaked!

 

Mommy and Katlyn ready for our last day at the beach! She wore her sunglasses the whole time which was a miracle!

 

All packed up and ready to go home! Trying out Mommy's shoes, too!

 

Branson and Katlyn

These pictures are too funny! Tasha and I finally found a time for us to get together this summer and we had a great day! We went by Mama's house after lunch, brought the kids back to our house to play and swim for a little while, nap, and then to dinner. It was a busy day! It is so much fun watching Branson and Katlyn play together! We are looking forward to our next trip to the mountains for some apples in the fall...unfortunately that will probably be the next time we can get together!

Take One!

 

Take Two!

 

Take Three!....Oh, well!