Lunch in Warm Springs and a Visit to FDR's pool

We ate lunch at the Paradise Grill in downtown Warm Springs before we walked around and into some of the little shops. I remember I thought the shops were nice as a child, but now they seem to be filled with junk. Perhaps we were just on the wrong side of the street.


This stained glass window was hanging outside the Paradise Grill and Owen asked me to take a picture of it. He thought it was pretty cool.

A view of the side of the street with shops where we did not walk (kids were tired and we still had to stop at FDR's pool).

The side of the street we stuck to. Love the old buildings.

A cool little walkway between buildings. An adult could easily climb up between these two buildings with feet and hands on each building. It was very narrow. The kids liked running back and forth on the stepping stones while Todd was getting the car cooled down.

Here is the middle of the three pools. This was the only one that had a chair and table in the middle where people could sit or lay down in the warm spring water to relax. Chloe is walking down the rampway that was used for people in wheel chairs to get into the water.

This is where the water comes up from the warm springs. Over Labor Day weekend, they will stop the drains from draining to fill the pools with the warm spring water. They are opening up the pools to the public to swim in over the weekend, which I think is pretty cool.

The water comes up out of the ground at just over 80 degrees warm.


Here is the old ringer used to ring the water out of swim suits and towels. Owen had a blast cranking it to make it spin.

Road Trip to Warm Springs, GA

Saturday morning I woke up with an itch to get out of the house and drive. I patiently waited for the rest of the house to wake up before I asked if they'd like to drive down to Warm Springs to see FDR's Little White House. Todd thought it sounded like a lot of fun.

So did Chloe.


Owen, not so much. I got more of a Will Smith, Men in Black vibe. He said our two hour trip was taking FOOOOOREEEEEVEEEEEERRRR. Owen couldn't seem to remember our drive to Minnesota taking as long as our trip to Warm Springs.


Kids see rocks and they just gotta stand on top!


Here is the Little White House. The kitchen is on the front right and Eleanor's bedroom was on the front left with two little twin beds (one for when their daughter came to visit. FDR's bedroom was on the back left and separated from Eleanor's by a small bathroom. Owen wondered why there was just a bathtub and no shower. A small sitting area was just inside the front door, then walking through the dining room was on the left (which could be walked through to get to FDR's bedroom. And a small guest room to the right of the living room.


This is the ice box/refrigerator that was kept outside on the side/covered porch.


Eleanor's pantry with tons of glasses and cups for every occasion and many service settings of china. A glass window covered the door so we couldn't walk in.

I LOVED this little stove in the kitchen!

The living room with a wall of bookshelves surround the fireplace. From this position, the dining room table was directly behind me me.


Owen and Chloe hanging out on the back veranda of the Little White House.


This is the new wishing fountain that takes the place of the old wishing well. The old wishing well is still there, but it is covered to prevent any monkey children from climbing/falling to the bottom.


Amazing how nicely they smile when tickled!

Owen was being very sweet/snuggly with Todd while we were waiting on Chloe to throw her penny in and make a wish. Owen wished for a wii and Chloe secretly told me she wished for applesauce. My bizarre little bean.


Owen thought he was faster than Todd, but he was beat running to the end of the parking lot and back. It might be hard to see unless you click on this picture to enlarge it, but I liked how Chloe's hair was flying out to the sides while she was running as fast as she could to keep up with the guys.

Hanging at Martin's

After dinner, we drove over to Martin's home to hang out and let the kids play. They got dessert. Lucky kids.

Owen had fun hitting the heck out of Martin's punching bag. I need to learn the menus/dials on my camera better so I can speed up the shutter speed and catch this fast boy in the act!


Luke and Chloe had fun holding the ceiling up while standing on Luke's top bunk. Crazy kids.

Chloe thought it was pretty cool that Martin had a pig that was her same size. Although, it didn't stop her from giving up her focus on her Brown Cow ice cream.

Friday Night Out with Luke

Friday night after work, we picked up the kidlets and then met Martin and Luke for pizza at Dagwood's. Chloe and Luke are just crazy about each other!



Owen, always happy to show off those missing teeth :)


All three kids hamming it up. Chloe was looking over at Daddy.


Owen was deep in thought over some nasty, gluey junk that Chloe made in pre-K that day that they were calling Silly Putty. It was not Silly Putty. It was nasty. It was gluey. It was disgusting and Owen had to bring it to the table, fling it around, twist it into shapes and then tell us it was nose gunk (or other more colorful words, just use your imagination since Mom wouldn't like me to write boogers what he said).


After dinner, we walked ran over to Publix to find dessert. Martin loaded up on six containers of Cool Whip. I like Cool Whip and all, but six?


The kids thought they were cool.


Way cool.

When My Boy is 100 Years Old

As parents of a four and six year old, we have worked hard to teach our kids to treat others fairly. To be kind and understanding. To not call names. To follow the golden rule of treating others the way you want to be treated.

As added back up, we have story books that display openness and appreciation of others in spite of appearances, infirmities or just some good old-fashioned stubborn bullheadedness. One of our favorites doesn't label races or colors, but champions people's skin tones as mocha, peach, cinnamon, butterscotch, or cream. Similar descriptives are used for hair colors.


I love that my son is growing up believing that people are people, not black or white, slow or smart. That he knows everyone is different, but that different does not equate to lesser or better than he. Differences are what make each of us interesting. He agrees the world would be a boring place if we were all the same.


And I also love that he believes when he is 100 years old, he will look like Little Richard.

Chloe is a Hat Thief

Chloe snatched Todd's hat.


Apparently she thought it would be cool to wear Daddy's hat :)

Chloe Smush Face

Think she was silencing herself?


I know the focus is a bit blurry, but I think it fits her sleepy, just-waking-up mood.
Pout

Dance!

I took the last hour of Thursday off from work to watch Chloe in her tap/ballet lesson at school. Owen joined me and sat very quietly, watching as closely as I was over Chloe and the other little ballerinas. We agreed Chloe was the cutest.


A class of four whole girls. I may be biased, but I thought Chloe was the best listener. I know that may come as a shocker to some of the grandparents. Perhaps she was on her best behavior to show off for me just how good she was in her class.



Ta Da!


Jump!



What's with the face? :)


Contrary to popular belief, ballerinas are not all seriousness.


Jazz hands?


Each week, one of the girls is picked as the Princess. Lucky Chloe, she got to wear the tiara and tutu this week.


She was so happy to be the chosen Princess.

The Artist at Work

I love that Owen loves to draw and color and paint. It completely captures his attention. His head tilts to one side, his mouth opens a little and his hearing becomes a little slow because he is so focused on what he is creating.


I want to take the kids to a local art store this weekend and pick out new art supplies for them. A new medium that isn't in our shelves. Maybe some larger canvases and watercolors (the real kind in tubes, not hanging from the Crayola shelves at Target).