LegoLand ATL

The boys have developed a bit of an obsession with Legos recently. So when I heard that a brand new LegoLand Discovery Center was opening in Atlanta, I knew we would have to go. To say my kiddos were excited would be a gross understatement!
Having never been to a LegoLand before, we didn't know what to expect. Atlanta's LegoLand Discovery Center is much smaller than the LegoLand theme park in California, but that doesn't mean it's any less entertaining. We spent the better part of a day there and thought nothing unusual of it until we completed the exit survey and had to check a box indicating the amount of time we spent at the center. The box we checked was for 2+ hours. We were there FIVE!
I guess it's because there was so much to see. Like the cityscape of Atlanta constructed entirely out of Legos, obviously! All of the major landmarks were represented. Labeling it impressive just doesn't cut it! It was honestly AMAZING, and we even met the Master Builder (his actual job title) responsible for designing and building everything constructed from Legos in the entire center. He won a contest and was awarded the job. I wanted so badly to ask how much they pay him, but I resisted. At least I can rest assured that my boys might one day earn a paycheck for playing with their Legos.

Perimeter Center, Fox Theatre, & the Georgia Aquarium

The Georgia Dome - Home of the Atlanta Falcons

Turner Field - Home of the Atlanta Braves

Stone Mountain Park

CNN Center

A crane that I can only imagine represents the ever-present construction in downtown Atlanta. Scattered throughout the cityscape were opportunities to control various components in the city. You could drive the MARTA trains, control the crane and gondola, scan between CNN television cameras located throughout the city, control the athletes in the stadium, and so much more!
The Discovery Center even has two rides! The boys were in heaven!
Especially when Jaxon and Baylor discovered they could build & race their own Lego cars! The boys' first creations were very "imaginative," but eventually Jax and Baylor realized that simpler usually meant faster. Who knew! I also put in an honest effort to construct a vehicle, but let's just say it's a good thing I didn't pursue an engineering degree in college. I wouldn't have made the cut!
The playground was also a pretty popular spot with the kids. You could run through a maze of climbing walls and slides, and there were large foam Legos scattered throughout for building whatever your imagination could dream.
You know what they say about dreaming...Dream BIG!!! Baylor was crowned King and there was even a throne constructed for him!
However, the real fun came from destruction in the form of a wrecking ball...a human wrecking ball!!!
Luckily, the experience wasn't all about brute force. Jaxon and Baylor had the opportunity to use their noggins and improve their building skills thanks to the construction classes. Our class focused on construction techniques that would result in structures that can withstand the weight of an adult.
So, the 40-50 lb Jaxon and Baylor test was a piece of cake!
The real test came with the "real world" application of their new construction skills. We were challenged to build a Lego skyscraper that would be capable of withstanding an earthquake. Okay...I had my doubts that Jaxon and Baylor could master this challenge.
BUT, they proved me wrong! I better double-up on the college savings account deposits. Engineering degrees won't be cheap.

As I shared before, Anh and I were completely unaware of exactly how much time had passed, but we knew it was getting late and that rush hour traffic in Atlanta isn't pleasant. So, we told the boys that there was time to run a few more races, but then we'd have to be on our way. Surprisingly, Jax and Baylor weren't too disappointed. Maybe the gift shop exit helped ease the pain...

or maybe it was just that our little engineers were EXHAUSTED. Yep, I'd say it was the latter. Both Jax and Baylor were asleep before we exited the parking garage. Success! A great experience for all!

Life's a Beach

When our landlocked friends start to roll through town on Spring Break, our go to activity is logically playing/relaxing on the beach. It's a guaranteed good time! Adding to the excitement this season was the milestone event of Grant's first beach day.He was decked out in a tiny swimsuit and rash guard thanks to his Godmother, Auntie Geraldine. She made sure that he looked like a miniature surfer in his Puma gear. He'll be riding those waves before we know it!
While Jaxon and Baylor splashed in the surf and built sand castles, Grant relaxed in the shade of our beach umbrella. He's still too little to wear sunscreen. So for now, he has no choice. Within the next few months, we'll let him enjoy the warm Florida sunshine.
For now, Grant is content to watch and listen to the activity swirling around him. I'm sure he's taking notes on all the fun things that lie ahead for him. There's one beach event I'm actually dreading, sand eating. I've compared notes with other moms, and it's pretty much unavoidable. Baylor did it. All babies do it. They just can't be stopped. I'll do my best to view it as fiber, but something tells me I'll be just as grossed out this time around as I was with Baylor. Let's just hope that once is enough for Grant to realize that sand doesn't taste good.
He looks pretty smart to me, don't ya' think?
Cute too!

Passing Thru

One of the many benefits to living in Florida is that friends always want to visit. Maybe some view that as a negative, but not us. We love guests! The more the merrier! So when we heard our friends the M Family would be stopping by to visit on their way to Orlando, we were thrilled. Of course, it would have been nice to have them stay a bit longer than an afternoon, but we'll take what we can get of their time.It's been a while since our last visit with Farid and Sara and the kids, and honestly, it was a little shocking to see how much they had grown. I still remember them as toddlers! Of course, the shock was mutual especially since now there's a baby that's been added to the crew. Needless to say, it was great to catch up with our old friends. Let's hope we don't let as much time pass between visits in the future!

The Many Faces of Grant

This kid could win an Oscar with the range of emotions he can demonstrate! Here's a series of pictures taken in the span of approximately 30 seconds. Hilarious!What did Daddy say or do?My personal favorite!Gotta love this kid!

Argggggg!!!

Ahoy, Mateys! Our dear scallywags, the D Family, were in town for Spring Break, and we thought what better way to celebrate than with a pirate cruise! You can't do that just anywhere!The kids, all SIX of them, seemed super excited for the adventure. I'll admit I was looking forward to it as well! Can you blame me? It's not often that you have the chance to sail on a real life pirate ship.

Even little Grant was awake and pumped up for the sail. He probably didn't know what to make of all the commotion and strange characters, but he sure looked cute in his skull & crossbones bib.

As we sailed the waters of the bay watching the sunset, the pirates on board entertained us with witty banter and a brief somewhat educational and somewhat humorous history of piracy.Stories were told, songs were sung, and faces were painted. The ship's wench served up gruel and grog. It was a jolly (roger) good time!Grant was just as fascinated as the older kids, if not more so. I certainly can't say I blame him. The whole event was definitely a spectacle...in a good way!
The sword fighting lesson was especially entertaining. After days of non-stop activity, Baylor could barely keep his eyes open, but he certainly wasn't about to miss an opportunity to slay a pirate. I don't think this band of pirates was prepared for my sword-wielding boys!What a special way to end another fun week with the D Family! It's always good to have them around and sad to see them go. Thankfully, we know there's always another group adventure on the horizon, and we never let too much time pass without a reunion. Counting down the days until our Summer vacation!