Atlanta Vacation Part 4

On Wednesday we observed the Suzuki Summer Institute violin and cello lessons. We weren't able to attend the teacher's training, but we could observe the children taking lessons one day. James watched the cello lessons that afternoon and Becca and I learned a lot watching the violin lessons that morning and afternoon.

 On Thursday the whole family went to Stone Mountain Park.

We got to ride the Sky Lift to the top of the mountain.  I loved the view!

Sunscreen time!

The Adventure Pass for Stone Mountain included the Air Tram ride up the mountain. We were about to go over the cliff in this picture.

After the Grandparents took Anna home for a nap, we explored the "village." Lily pointed out where we were on the map. It was a little off, but still cute.

We walked to the Plantation and Lily zonked out. Her head kept falling forward so we propped her stroller back while we took turns exploring the buildings.

The Plantation House

The Adventure Barn had lots and lots of Nerf balls to shoot from cannons and play with. We didn't have long before our scheduled Duck Ride, but Lily enjoyed those few minutes.

James and I tried to imitate the serious expressions in the Farmer painting. I think we look a little scary.

The Duck ride took us out on the lake where we got a great view.

Duck call toys were standard issue for every passenger. Lily was nervous about them for the first 20 minutes then wouldn't quit for the next two days.

Our ride started as a bus ride, then we splashed quickly into the river for a boat ride.

Lily wasn't too keen on the life jacket.

All of the children on the Duck got to take turns steering it on the water. Lily loved doing it so much, she cried when she had to stop.

After the Duck ride, we ate supper and settled in for the laser show that was displayed on the face of Stone Mountain.

Lily kept herself entertained while waiting.

It was an amazing show that we greatly enjoyed!

Anna figured out the duck toy pretty fast after she was introduced to it. Then we got to hear it in surround sound!

Atlanta Vacation Part 3

Sunday morning we met up with David and Tricia Troester and went to their church near Stone Mountain. Tricia used to teach Becca and me piano lessons in NC.

After church we went out to eat with them, then home for naps.

Later that afternoon we went back to the covered bridge for photos and exploration.

That evening Rebecca, Dad and James drove to downtown Atlanta to get some night photos of the skyline.

On Tuesday Rebecca, James, and I took Lily to Six Flags of Georgia. I took Lily on the kiddie rides while James and Becca rode the crazy fast coasters. I normally like fast coasters, but I can't ride while pregnant. :-)

They rode the Superman Coaster and every coaster in the entire park.

Lily actually rode this swing ride by herself, but she said she didn't want to try it again.

She was a little nervous on some of the rides.

She rode on a truck ride around a track.

We rode on a boat ride through monster mansion.

We rode on a balloon ride.

I think her favorite was the carousel though.

Refreshment time! Coke advertisements are everywhere in Atlanta. :-)

We rode the train around the park

The next time we rode the truck ride, Lily rode the in cab by herself and "drove."

Becca rode this craziness - an extreme drop tower ride.

This was the first ride they rode. Becca's cell phone fell out of her belt clip on this ride, and she got to watch it fall toward the ground. They told her they could only do a track sweep for lost items after the park closed at night. But there was a rain cloud and they closed everything down for a little while in the afternoon. They did a track sweep then and returned her lost phone! She was thrilled that it was undamaged except a small crack on the case. Lots of people left the park under threat of rain, so the ride lines were shorter after that too!

Atlanta Vacation Part 2

On Saturday we went to the Fernbank Museum of Natural History with the entire family. We bought the City Pass for five Atlanta attractions and this museum was the part of that package.

The museum employees said the stone floor tiles have fossils in them so the girls bent down to investigate.

Becca's "selfie" in front of the hugest dinosaur ever.

The huge dinosaur's head and neck...

And the dinosaur's tail

We watched an IMax film about Great White Sharks. Anna looked very grown up sitting in her own seat.

Lily was  little nervous of the scary sharks at first.

They had a play area that the girls enjoyed.

James reached through the crack to get Lily's hand.

They had a bubble-making area that James and Lily loved!

James was really good at it!

James got a bubble to float, then the trick was to keep it airborne!

We were weathermen for the moment

The museum entrance

Lunch!

Anna was hungry.

That afternoon the young adults went to Underground Atlanta and the Civil War Cyclorama while the Grandparents took the girls home to nap.

I don't recommend Underground Atlanta. Don't bother going there.

The Cyclorama was neat. It is a three-story-tall painting hung in a continuous circle. If it was spread out, it would cover the length of a football field. It was commissioned for a general who wanted to be elected Vice-President of the USA. It was his campaign poster completed by 11 artists depicting the battle of Atlanta.