Travis and Sam's art classes were scheduled for a field trip to the High Museum in Atlanta to view the Picasso to Warhol exhibit. The exhibit featured works by many of the artists that they've been diligently learning about in co-op this year and was bound to be an awesome way to cement their studies. And plus, it's just pretty cool to see the actual paintings you've been reading about and imitating up close and in real life.
During the hustle and bustle that comes with getting so many people ready for a big day out, Jimmy surprised us with a last-minute decision to join us. We were thrilled! Everything is more fun when dad comes along. And true to Jimmy form, just before we ran out the door he told me to grab some extra diapers and everyone's toothbrushes, you know, just in case we decided to stay the night in Atlanta.
Then, after talking with Uncle Ron about our change of plans, he got all crazy on us and surprised us by redeeming some points that he had saved up on a fancy double room at the Westin Peachtree right, smack downtown! These two guys know how to do things right, I tell you.
The museum was amazing. There was an audio tour for the exhibit that was equally as enjoyable for Jimmy and I as it was for the kids. We each had our own headphones and it was fun to watch even Ben enjoy what he was hearing and really interact with the paintings that he was learning about. We stayed for about 2 hours and barely scratched the surface! I'd love a trip back some time.
After the museum it was time to find our hotel and get settled in. Since we only had toothbrushes you can imagine that it didn't take very long. : ) The Westin was awesome. The kids were immediately greeted by a bellhop with their own vacation bags filled with hats and coloring books and crayons, rubber duckies and even outlet covers in the baby bags. Upon checking in, the concierge was incredibly friendly and took the liberty of putting a free movie on our tab, along with arranging for milk and cookies to be sent up to the room just before bedtime! When the precious room service man showed up at our door with one plate of cookies and four glasses of milk and found six kids in there, he insisted on turning around immediately to go get more. He didn't give me a chance to tell him that those cookies were so huge there was no way each kid would finish one by himself! (Well, ok, Jack could have...) But he returned with a whole other plate and more milk than we needed, as well as two big bowls of strawberries to go with them.
In one evening the kids got to ride both the MARTA, as well as a few city busses, which just happened to coincide with our study of the beginnings of the Civil Rights Movement. While boarding a very crowded city bus, a kind black man offed his seat to Caroline and me. We sat down and Caroline whispered to me, "But it's different because he wanted to give it to us, right?" Indeed, it is quite different.
Our short whirlwind, spur of the moment vacation came at just the right moment. It was an awesomely relaxing and luxurious afternoon and evening; we felt so pampered!
During the hustle and bustle that comes with getting so many people ready for a big day out, Jimmy surprised us with a last-minute decision to join us. We were thrilled! Everything is more fun when dad comes along. And true to Jimmy form, just before we ran out the door he told me to grab some extra diapers and everyone's toothbrushes, you know, just in case we decided to stay the night in Atlanta.
Then, after talking with Uncle Ron about our change of plans, he got all crazy on us and surprised us by redeeming some points that he had saved up on a fancy double room at the Westin Peachtree right, smack downtown! These two guys know how to do things right, I tell you.
The museum was amazing. There was an audio tour for the exhibit that was equally as enjoyable for Jimmy and I as it was for the kids. We each had our own headphones and it was fun to watch even Ben enjoy what he was hearing and really interact with the paintings that he was learning about. We stayed for about 2 hours and barely scratched the surface! I'd love a trip back some time.
After the museum it was time to find our hotel and get settled in. Since we only had toothbrushes you can imagine that it didn't take very long. : ) The Westin was awesome. The kids were immediately greeted by a bellhop with their own vacation bags filled with hats and coloring books and crayons, rubber duckies and even outlet covers in the baby bags. Upon checking in, the concierge was incredibly friendly and took the liberty of putting a free movie on our tab, along with arranging for milk and cookies to be sent up to the room just before bedtime! When the precious room service man showed up at our door with one plate of cookies and four glasses of milk and found six kids in there, he insisted on turning around immediately to go get more. He didn't give me a chance to tell him that those cookies were so huge there was no way each kid would finish one by himself! (Well, ok, Jack could have...) But he returned with a whole other plate and more milk than we needed, as well as two big bowls of strawberries to go with them.
In one evening the kids got to ride both the MARTA, as well as a few city busses, which just happened to coincide with our study of the beginnings of the Civil Rights Movement. While boarding a very crowded city bus, a kind black man offed his seat to Caroline and me. We sat down and Caroline whispered to me, "But it's different because he wanted to give it to us, right?" Indeed, it is quite different.
Our short whirlwind, spur of the moment vacation came at just the right moment. It was an awesomely relaxing and luxurious afternoon and evening; we felt so pampered!