Atlanta Zoo x12

Today Alex and I went to the Atlanta Zoo with her friend, Ellie, Ellie's sister, Lonnie, and their mom, Cindy.  Cindy had bought the girls matching lalaloopsy shirts and both girls brought their lalaloopsy dolls (which we ended up carrying after the first five minutes).  The girls had a fun time, but most of all they just wanted to play at the naked mole rat playground.  Click below for some more Atlanta Zoo pictures:

Atlanta Zoo

Alex jamming on the guitar

Alex got two Hannah Montana guitars from her cousin, Zoe.  She loves them and likes to pretend to be a rockstar.  The other night I look out on the patio and see Alex jamming on the guitar.  I only got a few seconds of video before she noticed me,  but she didn't seem to mind, she just kept on jamming. 

Friend's Birthday Party

Juhee's 4th Birthday Party

Alex got invited to a birthday party on Sunday.  It was at a crossfit gym with a clown, food, games for the kids, etc.  Alex's favorite part was getting a balloon hat and puppy on a leash.  Unfortunately, the balloons all popped as soon as we got home and Alex cried her heart out!  Oh well, one less piece of junk around the house.  Click on the picture above to see the pictures.

High Museum of Art

When we got back from Minneapolis we were invited to the High Museum of Art with Madeline and her mom, Julie.  It was toddler Tuesday, so a good reason to bring the kids to an art museum.  We took the girls to a piece of art that was based on the art project for the day, which looked to me like a big painted ball.  We walked around and looked at some of the paintings and other collections.  It was a bit tough since the girls were not at all interested in art and would not stay in one place for too long.  One of the traveling exhibits I enjoyed (and Alex, as it was the only time she actually stopped to really look at something) was Radcliffe Bailey: Memory of Medicine.  My favorite was Windward Coast, which took up a large section and consisted of a bunch of piano keys taken from old pianos and shaped into waves.  You could see a single head coming up from the sea.  Unfortunately I did not take a picture of this but you can click HERE to see a better picture and read more about Windward Coast.  I assume as the exhibit moves to different museums the piece takes on a different shape.   If your in Atlanta, check it out.   Maybe if I have some time on my own I will go back and check it out and the rest of the museum, as they have a few Monet's and other pieces of art in their permanent collection.

July 4th

We left Minneapolis early in the morning and arrived in Atlanta around 10am.  Later that day we went to Stone Mountain Park to watch the fireworks, but we ended up leaving early because it started thundering (plus I was too tired to stay and watch the fireworks anyway).  We decided we would just watch some fireworks close to home, but they were canceled due to rain.  So we really did have an uneventful fourth of July. 

We are happy to be back in Atlanta.  Alex has had lots of playtime with her friends, especially swimming.  We have been swimming the last three or four days in a row!  I had forgotten how hot and humid it is here.  Every time I walk outside it feels like I am walking into a sauna!  Not sure if I really like all this heat!  Not only has Alex been spending time playing with friends, but she is also getting ready to start Kindergarten on August 8th!  I had no idea Kindergarten started so early here.  Only a few more weeks and she will be a Kindergartner!  I can't believe it!

Last Weekend in Minnesota

Keith flew up for the last weekend and then we flew back together to Atlanta on July 4th.  On Saturday, July 2nd we went to our niece, Brittany's, wedding at the Mississippi Dunes Golf Club.  It was a perfect day for an outdoor wedding!  The couple looked great!  I loved Brittany's dress, her hair, Vail, everything!  Alex looked pretty good too.  Here she is with her granny sporting her new dress, hat, and sunglasses.  She had a blast at the reception.  We had to practically pull her off the dance floor so we could go home! :)

More Minnesota

Alex and I went to see Abby's 8th grade graduation.  Pictured above is Alex and I with Abby and Keith's mom (Alex's and Abby's grandma).  Alex loves her big cousins, both Zoe and Abby.

Here is Alex with her friend, Megan at Minnehaha park.  The girls are so cute when they laugh.  We had a good walk down by the waterfalls and then the girls played for while at the playground.

We also had a fun time canoeing with Sarah and her daughter Megan on Lake Calhoun.  I love Minneapolis and all you can do here.  I am pretty sure I can't canoe through four different lakes in Atlanta.  Minnesota has so much to offer and after being here I realize I miss it so much, even with the cold, long winters!

Soccer

While we were here I decided to sign up Alex for a soccer camp for a week with her friend, Haylie.  At first she was really apprehensive about going.  She was told by a little boy in Karate that she didn't run very fast.  So when I brought up soccer she cried her eyes out.  I still told her she still had to go, but she cried every time I brought it up.  In the end she ended up loving it and wants to do more soccer.