Day 4- Carlsbad Caverns

We were going to spend the morning hiking Sitting Bull Falls, but they were closed due to some flooding last fall.  We decided to spend the whole day at Carlsbad aCaverns instead.  This is near the entrance to the cave, with a time of cacti scattering the entrance.  

We are getting ready to walk down the natural entrance into the cave. It is about a mile and a half hike.

You can see the switchbacks during the entrance into the cave.

While walking in the caves, we loved watching the formations, the stalagmites and the stalactites. We even got to Watch a stalagmite being formed! 

We took a lot of pictures inside the case, although the lighting on our camera does not do the natural beauty any justice  at all.

We entered "the big room", which ended up being another mile and a half hike through this one portion of the cave.  It was enormous!

We did learn on our hike that new chambers of the caves are still continually being discovered.

#9. Take the Boys to a Gwinnett Braves Game and sit in the Outfield

This is potentially going to be a problem for us, just because my two youngest typically go to bed around 6 PM :-). We had gone to an Atlanta Braves game back when H a S was only six months old. It was at the end of July and was 102°. Not our smartest move as parents. So, we thought we would try this one in April. It was not 102°. However, by the end of the night, it was 45°. The best part was that the Gwinnett Braves won and we were there for Friday night fireworks.

#56. Go on a Bike Ride as a Family Once a Week for a Month

We love to write our bikes as a family and the two little boys are just getting to the point where they can keep up and enjoy this experience with us. We had a hysterical experience several years ago, when I was pregnant with LPS. I've attached the link to that experience for your reading pleasure. HAS is now able to ride his bike on his own, so that makes the experience even more enjoyable. LPS is still a little small, but does enjoy the bike trailer. One of these weekends, included a 34 mile bike ride down the Virginia creeper trail in Abingdon, Virginia. We did this with my extended family to celebrate my dad's retirement. LPS Rode in the trailer the entire time and loved it. HAS rode on a trail-a-bike behind me, and pedaled 32 of the 34 miles. I was so proud of him. For my boys, their favorite part of the Virginia creeper trail was probably the train the road right by the little house we rented. As we were checking this off the list, we were able to find a new trail, or new to me, that will be great to ride on in the future.

#8 Leave a 100% tip

I have wanted to do this for a long time, but I struggle to find service anymore that warrants such a tip.  In addition, we do not eat out frequently, so that was making this a challenging task.   However, I love the place where the two little boys get their hair cut.  David cuts JMS's hair.  They are so patient with the boys and always attentive to them.  My boys do not like to sit still and the movies that they have playing do not even slow the boys down at all.  Needless to say, I thought this was a great place to leave a 100% tip.  In addition, they have just closed the facility two days a week so I know in a hurting economy, it would benefit these sweet ladies.  The best part was letting LPS hand them the tip.  This made my heart smile. 

#38 Take the Boys Skiing

David and I love to ski.  The last time we went skiing, I was pregnant with our youngest.  We noticed how great the youngest of kids were skiing and realized we wanted to start ours young.  So, we took the boys.  HAS and JMS loved it, but LPS did not.  I think part of his problem was that he is so tiny that he couldn't lift his leg at all once the boots and skis were on his feet.  All 3 of them did remarkably well.  At one point, I even took JMS and HAS to the top of the mountain and we all skied down.  It took a long time to get down, but it was fun.  It started raining in the afternoon, but the boys had a good time regardless.  LPS was done after lunch... he just couldn't do it for one more minute.  He actually needed a nap, but there wasn't a place for that.

Getting Ready to Hit the Slopes

Getting Lift Tickets

David helping HAS with his skis

Me and LPS

JMS and me on the Ski Lift

Seriously... How cute is this kid??

HAS has the same simple joy factor in his life that I do

Didn't mind falling

Love these two... even if they spent a LOT of time on the snow!!!

He was determined to carry his own skis

JMS Skiing-

 HAS Skiing-

LPS Skiing-

We had a great time and are already planning next year's trip.  We are hoping LPS weighs a little bit more and can enjoy it more. 

#7 Have an adults only weekend at Disney

This weekend, I actually crossed two things off of my list. David and I went to Disney with three other couples. No kids… Just the adults :-)   

We arrived at Port Orleans (Riverside) on Thursday night before any of the other couples. We checked in and took a friend of ours out to dinner before gallivanting around Disney.  This is our room, which was great, but the view was even better. 

After dinner, we went in search of the campground at Disney where we will we be staying in December. On the way over, we went to the Wilderness Lodge and just happened across the electric water pageant. I had always wanted to see it, but had never quite been in the right position to see it. My timing was always off! It was awesome! We got to the campground, walked around, and as we always do… Go about determining which is the best campsite at each different campground.

On Friday morning, we went to the expo, which was packed, where we met up with the Herrings. After that, the four of us went to the opening game of spring training for the Braves. We sat in the outfield grass and it was perfect.

Friday night, we went to dinner at the Yacht Club resort at the Yachtman's Steakhouse. We celebrated Carrie's birthday and the food was awesome. Then we walked around the Boardwalk Resort, which I had never seen.  It was an awesome environment. 

Saturday, we spent the day at Epcot. We walked around all the countries and had an Italian lunch to Carbo load for the race on Sunday. We didn't stay until the park closes like we normally do, because Sunday we had to wake up at 2 AM. This truly was a perfect day.

Trying out the hats of the World !!!

Power to the Princesses!!!

One of my Favorite Princesses!!!

Sunday, we woke up and ran a half marathon in the morning and then headed to Magic Kingdom at noon. We moved a little slower this afternoon, because Our legs were exhausted.  We wore our shirts, medals and tiaras to the park all afternoon :) 

We stayed through the fireworks, but couldn't make it one minute longer. We were asleep by 9:30.

 

Monday morning, we left to head home. Experiencing Disney with only adults was awesome. I love experiencing it with my kids, it is just an entirely different experience. I will be repeating both… With my children And without.

#88 Take the Boys to the Children's Museum

It was a cold morning in February, so we decided to take the boys to the Children's Museum in Atlanta and then we headed to the Farmer's Market.  I love these pictures of David walking in holding both of the boy's hands.  I cherish them even more because I know they won't always do it and time is moving too quickly. 

 My two youngest boys LOVE to drive a tractor.  When we go to my grandparent's house in Ohio, my amazing grandfather allows both of the boys to steer the tractor in the pasture until their little heart is content.  This last time, HAS drove for about 45 minutes.  He didn't want to get off after that, but it was time to eat. 

 There was also a mock grocery store that the boys loved with the carts, the cash registers and the scales to weigh fruit. 

 I wish my cashier was always this cute !!!

There was a massive ball pit with many "physics-like" ways for the kids to move the balls through the huge maze.  Both of the two little boys loved the entire thing. 

And of course, we can't go ANYWHERE without enjoying some trains.  Even if we have a ton of them to play with at home. 

 HAS's favorite part was this crane like device which allowed the kids to turn it, load it with some of those balls for the maze, turn it and dump them into a bin.  He could NOT get enough of this toy. 

 

 

Another big favorite.  Painting on Glass that was over a white wall.  Just water and a squeegee cleaned it all off.  Still trying to talk David into putting this in the garage for the boys.  As you can see, they LOVED it. 

 

 

JMS, my 12 year old, did not find the museum to be all that entertaining :)  It was a little bit young for him, so it was NOT his favorite day.