Everyone – I have been delaying this post because I do have great pics of the planetarium.  Expect those to come under separate cover – I have to get this out of my Outbox and stop the bottleneck!

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Last weekend we got in some great play with Grandpa (my dad) when he came to visit (days 21-23).  Friday, we had swim lessons, followed by a horrific dinner at Los Bravos.  May I point out that it was horrific NOT because of the restaurant (which was lovely, as always, and patient as Job with our kids), but because we made the mistake of bringing our swimming-starved and exhausted kids to a public place.  NEVER AGAIN.  I love my kids, but I refuse to pay $60 for a terrible time.  Dad arrived shortly after dinner, and then on Saturday we played at the train park in Marietta Square while SNS was in ballet.  There’s nothing like a hot breakfast pie from The Australian Bakery to start the weekend off right!  And I don’t even feel bad that my two-year-old has a cookie before 10 am. Hey, it’s shaped like a wombat!  Before you call DHR please note that he already had cereal at 7:45 am ( a full hour after he awakes on the weekend). 

Then as WM napped, Dad and I took my clever daughter to the Fernbank Science Center.  It’s free, and only about 25 minutes away (nothing in Atlanta!).  We did pay to go into the planetarium, which was totally worth the ~$12 for all three of us.  My favorite items were the vibrant and cute poison dart frogs as well as the Apollo 6 landing capsule.  Yes, the actual one.  I definitely geeked out it.  I am the type that reads every placard at the museums, and thankfully so is Dad.  The Scot was luckily not there to be driven crazy by our nerdiness.  I think he would have choked me with a haggis.  The planetarium was great, although the later afternoon and the calming music and reclining seats and dark night sky projection resulted in a  much-needed power nap for about 10 minutes.  That was the part where they were talking about the history of the telescope.  Before the show started, Sugar and Spice was actually getting a little apprehensive about the new space and the weird, massive machine in the middle of the room.  She wanted to leave, but we kept promising her that it would be worth the wait.  Of course, she loved it.  She already told us she wanted to be an astronaut before we went in and now, let’s just say that “ambulance driver” ambition is a thing of the past. 

Sunday was another monsoon, and we took cover by taking the kids to see Alvin and the Chipmunks –oh yeah, “The Squeakquel”.  It was Wee Man’s first time at the movies and it was a success!  He was jumping up and down when the Chipmunks had the concert portions, both arms raised with thumbs up over his head.  I think he really thought he was at a concert!  He was clapping and cheering along with the crowd in the movie. Don’t worry, they had massive amounts of popcorn and lemonade to calm them down. 

Also in this week’s news…Wee Man is now in a Big Boy Bed!  We got a new double bed for SNS’ room and for the rapidly deteriorating backs of the grandparents, so her twin bed was moved into his room with a trundle, or “secret sleepover bed”.  The crib has been disassembled without much ceremony, and on night #2 of the big bed, I have to say the transition has been a breeze thus far.  All except for the disposal of the crib.  I feel bad just throwing it away, but I think that because of the drop sides it’s not safe for anyone to use under the recent recall.  Ah, well.  Times change – like when I was a baby being put to sleep on my stomach.  And when I asked to take my seatbelt off on long car trips I was told to “wait until we get on the freeway” (was he being ironic?).

The last couple of nights have been focused on bathtime play, using the Batman shaving foam and Princess and the Frog papering set that Santa brought!  I’ve also had fun organizing the new furniture… along with the new bed we also now have another dresser so the kids don’t have to share.  It sure was nice tonight to lay in the big pillowtopped sleigh bed and read the next chapter in the American Girl book with my darling.  Although she looks so tiny in that bed!