What to Expect at Legoland Discovery Center in Atlanta

There are a few Legoland Discovery Centers around the country now. We went to the one in Atlanta during spring break. These are a fun way to spend a few hours together as a family.

If your kids have never been to Legoland Orlando or Legoland in Southern California, you should totally just tell them this is Legoland and never have to book the larger vacation. They’d probably be totally satisfied.

Of course, we actually did go to Legoland California, and I wrote about that here. Our boys are obsessed with all things Lego, especially our younger 3, so these vacations were the perfect fit for us.

This year we saved $$$$ by staying local for Spring Break, and Legoland Discovery Center Atlanta was the perfect fit.

The boys knew going into it that this was not going to be like the theme park. It’s more of a play center, and they saw a commercial for it on one of their Lego movies, so they were all happy.

We are firm believers in managing expectations. Give them low hopes and over deliver. That, my friends, is the key to spring break happiness.

Legoland Discovery Centers are scattered throughout the country, in many of the bigger cities, and this was our first time to visit one. This particular one is located in a large shopping mall, deep into Atlanta.

By the way, Atlanta traffic was not nearly as aggravating that day. We miraculously managed to keep our car moving forward, not sitting still, the entire time we were on the road.

We booked in advance because that saves you a few dollars on each ticket.

When you are a party of 6, a few dollars on each ticket adds up fast. Sometimes you can find coupons online too.

When you book in advance, you also choose a time to arrive. We did that because we didn’t want to drive all the way over there and then the place be full and have to wait in line. We waited in no line to get in, and we waited in the shortest lines ever to go on the rides. That makes this non-line-waiting-Momma very happy.

As soon as we got in, JD began to ask to build Lego men.

JD’s interest in Lego is pretty much limited to just the men at this age. All of our 3-year-olds have been that way.

But JD took the request to the level of whiny, repetitive begging that will put your teeth on edge. All the building stations are for bricks, not tiny men.

After listening to his tale of woe for a solid 10 minutes–I mean it could have been 5, but when you are listening to a toddler in despair 5 minutes feels like 45 minutes—-Alan said, “Well, I wanted to wait to give them their men until we get home so they don’t just lose them.”

“What Lego men? Is that what’s in that yellow bag? Our admission tickets came with Lego men???”

“Yeah, but I mean it’s just like this policeman. I don’t know…”

“Alan, pleeeeeaaaase, I cannot keep listening to him saying ‘where’s the Lego men? I want to build Lego men.’ over and over again. I can’t.”

So we went on our first ride, a really fun one where you shoot the Lego bad guys with a little light that blinks, just like at Disney World, and that kept him completely distracted.

After that was over, we gave him the one Star Wars Lego man in the bag. He doesn’t even care about Star Wars, but he was so happy to receive a Lego man it didn’t matter. He was content the rest of the day. Yay!!!

And the little boy who started the tower in the first place (JD) was long gone, up in the pirate tower shooting a cannon over and over again.

This is why family outings and vacations are so important.

You get out of your house, away from your screens, away from your friends, away from your JOB, and you have no choice but to focus on each other for a little while. You have fun together, which strengthens your bond as a family.

I hope you all get to go on a few good family outings or vacations this summer. We did this and we did Calloway Gardens this Spring break. I’ll tell you all about Callaway on a future post. Did you know that Alan actually proposed to me at Callaway?

We also spent a ton of time chillin’ at home, with a lot fewer cares than we normally have. I wrote about that in Part I and Part II of my Spring Break 2017 series. We enjoyed those days too. Who can go, go, go ALL the time? That’s plain exhausting.

We did everything there was to do at Legoland Discovery Center, except for eat at the snack stand.

Instead, we went to Johnny Rocket’s right across the hall.

We did everything in 2 hours, and everyone left happy. Everyone. Oh, and of course, we made time for the Legoland Discovery Center Store.

I zipped through the store picking out a little box for their Easter baskets, yeah, it’s going to be an awesome Easter, and then I parked myself on a bench outside the store. Anytime I go to Lego anything with Alan and the boys, I spend time sittin’ on the bench. I don’t see how they manage to fill up that much time gazing at Lego sets.

This was a perfect family day out for us.

It was such a breeze sticking to day trips this Spring Break, rather than a big vacation. Come back this weekend for Spring Break Part 4: Callaway Gardens! My new favorite spot in Georgia!

The post What to Expect at Legoland Discovery Center, Atlanta appeared first on Stories of Our Boys.

All of us at Open House

I LOVE being a stay at home mom.

No, I mean literally. I LOVE IT. I always have. This is my pace of living y’all. Yes, I have to get up BEFORE 6am now to drag sleeping boys out of bed and drive them to school, but that is the ONLY down side.

My life is so free now. I made a schedule on day 1, just to make it all feel official. Then I took the notebook I wrote the schedule in, closed it, stuck it somewhere I’ll never find it again, and got on with my stay-at-home-mama life.

enjoying the slower life after school: One advantage to moving is that at first you belong to NOTHING. No clubs. No sports. Just freedom.

It’s just JD and me during the day now. He already made up his own routine, perfect for a 3-year-old.

Here’s his basic daily plan of action:

1. While Mom begs brothers to get out of bed, JD is always the first kid up.
2. Drink milk that is 50% white milk and 50% chocolate milk.
3. Ask for breakfast food, but never eat it.
   

   Also he does love to sweep.

4. Piddle around with toys, usually planes or cars.
5. Ride with Mom to drop off his brothers.
6. Eat a snack.
7. Paint and then stand behind Mom while she does her workout asking, “Done yet? Done yet? Done yet? Done now? Now?” over and over again.
   

   Getting’ fit with kbburn.comwhile JD stands behind me asking, “You done yet? Done now? All finished? You wash Dusty now?”

   Dusty is his airplane. He likes to draw on his eyes and then beg me to wash all of the marker off.

Hot Tip: Sharpie is easily removed from many surfaces, using rubbing alcohol. Even walls. Unfortunately, it did not work on my dining room chairs. This is my true area of expertise.

8. Watch Planes while also playing with about 15 toy airplanes.

9. Before Planes is over, ask to take a bath with 30 or so toys.

So much cuteness! I love my job.

10. After the bath, let Mom dress him and then have lunch with Mom.

11. Story time!

12. Nap: He sleeps on Daniel’s top bunk with the box of 20 toys that he carries around the house.

13. Mom carries him, asleep, from the top bunk to his car seat.

mini-Alan #4

14. Jump on the trampoline with Joshua. This is so adorable to watch.

This is so different from what spending the days with Daniel was like.

Daniel and I had one year that was just the two of us, back when he was 1 1/2- 2 years old. With Daniel, I had to re-trace my steps every few minutes to make sure he wasn’t pouring syrup all over the table, painting his chair with lipstick, or emptying an entire bottle of baby powder all over himself. And let’s not even talk about the poop play-doh incident. *Shudder.* I was really thankful for the steam cleaner that day, and also thankful that Alan and Nonna cleaned Daniel up while I got off scott free.

There was no limit to the things he’d get into. He was always helpful and sweet, and I would take him anywhere, but whoo–he could think up some messes to make and execute like no other.

If John David miraculously lets me stay in a room by myself, I can guarantee you the most mischievous thing he has done so far is color all of his cars with markers, which I let him do because who cares, they are his cars.

And yes, he’s finally 100% potty-trained.

I do miss my assistant chef, though. The other night, I held Daniel in my lap, and I just sobbed. Kindergarten is emotional for mommas. Gracious, what is with me lately? I said, “Daniel, I miss how we always baked cookies together, now that you are in school all day. I miss you so much.”

John David looked at me, with the cutest, guiltiest, sheepish look on his face and said, “Sorry, Mom. I’ll cook whi choo.”

But he didn’t, and that’s okay. We don’t all love baking. I get it. Maybe I’ll lose weight without Daniel here, driving me to bake goodies.

I do miss all three of them, but I’m enjoying spending my days at this slower pace too.

Now if I can just figure out how to squeeze in a little “working at home” time, maybe I could make some money. It’s the best of both worlds. I just need to get in the habit of picking up more writing/blogging jobs.

However, next year John David will go to pre-school part-time, and I will have even more time to work. Years and years stretch ahead of me in which I can and will work for money, but these are precious years, years that you cannot get back. And I am loving this!

Babies don’t keep. They tell me he’s not a baby anymore. Fine. If you insist, but he looks like a baby to me. Pre-schoolers don’t keep either, and I could just eat him up, he’s so darlin’!

Yep, I’m back to being a regular ol’ stay-at-home, occasionally work-at-home mom, and this is the life for me.

SaveSave

The post My New Stay at Home Mom Job: Just JD and me (and the blog) appeared first on Stories of Our Boys.

That’s us at a Washington Nationals game on Memorial Day. We love baseball games, and that was really fun.

Plus, we’ve gotten to see some wonderful friends this week. Thanks for having us over, Pastor and Terri!!!

Their dog is probably still recovering from what Daniel seemed to think was their ‘play date.’ Poor Annie.

So good things have happened, and a few crummy things have happened, but nothing all that terrible. I think the main thing getting to me is just the stress of this humongous move!!

So three thoughts for today:

1. A good night’s sleep will fix a lot of things. I’m hoping to go get one in a minute.

2. A grumpy baby will ruin anyone’s day. If you don’t believe me, then it has obviously been a long time since you hung out with one.

3. The world still turns. All of today’s problems will be forgotten three weeks from now.

4. No matter how early I get up to have coffee, every child in this house will be awake before I’ve gotten the coffee poured into my cup…

But they are ADORABLE. Here’s your weekly dose of adorable. Just watch this video of JD crawling over to wake up his brother:

Choose joy….choose joy…..choose joy….I’ll just keep repeating it to myself.  Never mind that the dryer and the washer are both full and I want to go to bed. I’m choosing joy…….

How’s everyone else’s week going?? I could use some GOOD news. Or some misery company…ha….

The post On the Outside Looking In appeared first on Stories of Our Boys.

We found this the other day.  Hey, he fully understands what to do with shaving cream, I will say that for him.

Just for the record:  I was out walking, and I left Alan in charge, so this one wasn’t my fault.

Speaking of ‘in charge’, I will never, ever leave Daniel “in charge” again. I often tell Joshua or Caleb they are ‘in charge’ of the others while I take a shower or run outside to check the mail, you get the idea.  It’s always the oldest child present that gets to be in charge.  This has proved quite useful over the years for keeping Joshua and Caleb in line.  They take it very seriously, and it gives them a feeling of leadership that they really enjoy.

This didn’t work so well with Daniel.

“You’re in charge while I take a shower, Daniel.  Just DO NOT wake up the baby, and do NOT play in the bathroom.”

Daniel became quite giddy, “ME!  Me in charge!?  Me in charge.”

I thought it was cute that he was so excited to finally have a turn at being in charge.

As it turned out, being ‘in charge’ meant a very different thing to Daniel.  He didn’t take it to mean “tell on your brothers and keep everyone out of trouble,” as Joshua and Caleb rightly interpret it.  Instead, he interpreted it to mean, “I’m in charge, so I can do anything in the world that I want to do.”

This little boy became absolutely drunk with power!!

I got out of the shower to discover a trail of destruction and mayhem that went from his room all the way through the house.  Thankfully, he did leave the sleeping baby alone.

If I have taught them nothing else, I have at least taught them that waking a sleeping baby is the absolute worst possible thing that you can do.

I’m sure you’re dying to know what exactly Daniel did.  I’m sorry to tell you that this was a few weeks ago, so I don’t actually remember it all.  It is important to block out unpleasant memories. I’m pretty sure there were marker drawings on the dining room table, orange juice in the kitchen floor, and a completely unraveled roll of toilet paper, as well as random overturned laundry hampers and emptied out kitchen cabinets.

After expressing my outrage to my little delinquent, he looked at me with those beautiful wide eyes of his and said, “Me in charge. Me not in charge now?”

“No, Daniel, listen carefully.  You ARE NOT IN CHARGE ANYMORE, and that wasn’t what I meant, and you will never be in charge again.  Mommy’s rules. Mommy is always in charge.”

“Oh,” he said, and that was that, as he helped me clean up the mess.  And since this is Daniel we are talking about, yes, he actually did help.

The post Why Daniel Will Never Be “in Charge” Again appeared first on Stories of Our Boys.