Mommy and Me: Outdoors!

We had a very sunny and warm weekend here in the Atlanta area. We took the kids on an easy hike and waterfall adventure on Saturday with some pool time on Sunday. I made sure to snap a couple photos of myself with my little loves to link up with Really, Are You Serious today.

The waterfall is a fun secret, discovered thanks to my friend over at 365 Atlanta Family. It is High Shoals Falls - not the one near Helen, GA, but another in Dallas, GA just off highway 61. A great little splashing hole!

Folk art "castle" garden in Calhoun, GA #roadtrip

We are a family of road trippers and travelers, so I am always on the lookout for child-friendly adventures near (and slightly away from) the Atlanta, GA area. In November, I was intrigued by a post on 365 Atlanta Family about a Folk Art Garden in Calhoun, GA. Calhoun is a fairly easy under-60-minute ride up the interstate for us, so we decided to investigate on this beautiful Sunday afternoon. What a neat little place!
 

For big kids: Meander along the paths, traverse the tiny bridges, listen to the water in the nearby creek, and peek into the cracks, crevices, and windows of these amazing pebble churches.

For the littles: Carefully stroll the paths holding a hand and watch out for stumbles, as some of the rocks may be sharp. Our little guy enjoyed touching some of the colored glass pieces and feeling some of the stones on one of the taller towers. He also wanted to dive into the creek... so be careful about that as well.

The garden is small but captivating. There is a gazebo and a picnic table if you want to bring a snack and enjoy the whimsy for a little while longer. If you need something additional to do in the area, Barnsley Gardens is not too far away (they have some old ruins to explore and beautiful, safe paths).

Thanks, 365 Atlanta Family for the suggestion! The folk art garden was worthy of a sunny Sunday afternoon for sure.

Get outside! Favorite nature activities for children

Take a simple stroll - find a nice sidewalk among some trees or in a park and just walk together. Talk. Enjoy the sunshine and the family time.

Smell the flowers - let the child gently touch and smell various flowers and plants. Which ones smell good? Which ones smell strange?

Pick berries - this is an annual tradition with my nieces and nephew when they visit North Carolina in the summer. Grab some bags or small pails and see who can pick the most, or the biggest, or the prettiest berry from the patch. 

Visit a botanical garden - the Atlanta Botanical Garden is a fantastic option if you are in the area. Beautiful gardens, an orchid house, and a children's garden can entertain families for hours.

Catch lightning bugs/fireflies - this combines the excitement of staying out late with hunting and catching action to make it fun for everyone.

Dip your toes in the water - kids love water. Find a small creek or a park with a stream, or the ocean if it is nearby. Have some fun splashing and cooling those toes.

Water the plants - even now, at age seven, my daughter enjoys watering the plants outside. Watering the plants helps teach kids about what things need to grow and watering cans (and water hoses) are fun!

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Linked up to Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop again this week! Prompt: Choose a photo from a previous April and write a poem or blog post. (These photos are from April and July from various years and they reminded me of all the outdoor fun we love to have!) 

Prevent unwanted house guests w/ spring pest control tips from the Orkin experts #giveaway

Factual information in this post was provided by Mom It Forward and Orkin. 
This is a compensated post on behalf of Orkin, however, all opinions are 100% mine.
 

Yes, spring is in the air in most of the USA these days. While the humans are happy to get outdoors, it seems many creepy crawly critters are thinking the opposite; they are headed indoors where they are most unwelcome (especially when the spring rains come).

In many areas, including the southeast, we live alongside several insect pest varieties including mosquitoes, ants, stink bugs, bed bugs, cockroaches, and fleas (and I do not like any of them!). The pest control experts at Orkin are well-trained and know how to keep pests where they belong; outdoors and away from our homes. Orkin provides residential and commercial pest control services and they can customize their treatment plan to your own unique situation.

Jeff Foxworthy writes poetry? (And we played outside)

Jeff Foxworthy is a famous Georgia native who clearly loves his home state. He uses fond memories of childhood, old neighbors, and everyday happenings to make people laugh. Most of you are likely familiar with his "You Might Be A Redneck If..." wise cracks, but did you know he has also published many books, including some adorable books of children's poetry?

I was going to tackle this Mommy and Me Monday post much like I did last week.... the lazy way, with a cute poem and some photos. I discovered Jeff Foxworthy's Dirt on My Shirt as I searched for the words I wanted to honor adjacent to my fun family playtime pics.

 

Surely, Jeff reminisced about the turning of Spring in Georgia as he wrote about outdoor play. He knows first-hand how our area is transformed from cold, gray, and wet to a sudden burst of light and flowers. Playgrounds and parks are instantaneously filled with people as soon as the springtime "light switch" is flipped.

Mommy & Me: Tallulah Gorge State Park #Georgia

Labor day weekend gave us another chance to get away and enjoy family time. We traveled in a brand new Toyota Rav4 (review coming soon!) to the mountains of Western North Carolina. On our way home, we stopped at Tallulah Gorge State Park, just over the border back in Georgia. Near Dillard, Georgia to be more precise. The gorge and falls are really gorgeous!

We had the stroller with us, but it was easy access to overlooks 2 and 3 on a trail paved with fused rubber mulch (the path removed hundreds of tires from landfills!). If you want to visit and feel adventurous, you can take a path of 640+ stairs to a bridge that crosses the gorge - strenuous! But it looks like you would catch a phenomenal view from the bridge.

#WW: Weekend tubing in Ellijay, GA

Amelia went on an outdoor adventure with daddy the other weekend. They "shot the rapids" tubing on the Cartecay River in Ellijay, GA. She had a lot of fun! She enjoyed the class 1 and class 2 rapids, met some ducks, and soaked in the sun with a joyful smile.

Next time, Mommy will have to go! Minimum age is six, so I had a date day with my little man instead.

Summer Family Travel "Up North": Lovely Michigan Coast

As promised, here are more Michigan travel photos! I wish I could share all 502 of them, but I think my computer might explode if I tried to upload even half of them here.

When planning this family vacation, we focused on areas that showcased Michigan's natural coastal beauty, combined with family-friendly activities and upscale lodging. Family trips are not exactly a relaxing break for mamas, so I require comfy beds and nice hotels.

Suggestions for a great Gatlinburg, TN weekend #familytravel

It's a throwback Mommy and Me Monday! 

I was a Tennessee girl long before I became a metro Atlantan. We would frequently drive to Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg for a day trip to shop and have a little bit of family fun.

Two years ago, I took my own family on a weekend trip to Gatlinburg. It was exciting because we spent a couple nights there. Since it was only a 90-minute drive from my hometown, we never stopped to stay. So for a long Mother's Day weekend in 2012, my husband and I rented a cabin, visited Dollywood, ran around the Gatlinburg downtown shops, and drove through Cades Cove as a long way home. Amelia was a little girl and baby Andrew, of course, was not even a thought in our minds.

Quick tips for a great Gatlinburg visit 
(from a girl who practically grew up there!) 

#1 -- find great food. Tennessee isn't the healthiest state by any means, so set aside the calorie concerns for just a couple days and enjoy some of the best cooking in the USA.

Breakfast at the Pancake Pantry - do not get fooled by any of the copycat pancake places around. Go to THE Pancake Pantry, in the middle of Gatlinburg. Not Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg.  Pancake Pantry... Gatlinburg... got it? Be prepared to wait, the line often goes out the door. But they pack the place full and the wait isn't usually too terrible.

Mommy & Me: A walk through the flowers

Thanks to Groupon, we discovered a little piece of garden paradise tucked in the suburbs of Atlanta. Smith-Gilbert Gardens is a wonderful place nestled in between neighborhoods and not too far from WalMart and other suburban necessities. We had passed the sign often, but never really thought much about it. Thanks to a Groupon and our lovely spring weather, we were able to visit.

How lovely! I really had no idea that this property was so far back from the road. They had quite a bit of acreage and it was in full bloom. Flowers, trees, a pond and waterfall, Bonsai tree nursery, and more. Amelia absolutely loved meandering down the paths and discovering sculptures, butterflies, birds, and plants. A neat place to visit!

 

 

 

 

 

Linking up to Mommy & Me Monday with Really, Are You Serious. Getting moms in front of the cameras! Join in. 

 

Driving a sleeping baby (and some lovely Southern charm)

With baby number two almost three months old, I am slowly remembering the nap issues and mommy tricks to stay sane. Amelia was a bad napper - short naps, and no amount of hiding or leaving her alone would help her go back to sleep. Thirty or 45 minutes, and boom. Eyes open and ready to see  the world.

Andrew is turning out the exact same way. We are in the too-short nap phase and it's driving me bonkers. I can't get anything done in 30 or 45 minutes! The other day, I resorted to my old standby with baby Amelia: driving through random Atlanta suburbs. Andrew falls asleep easily in the car and he is really comfy in his car seat. So today, when he dozed off after our errands at the bank and post office, I just drove. I chose random roads through the northwest suburbs to see where we ended up.

Family birthday fun @StoneMtnPark #Atlanta

We spent a beautiful spring Sunday at Stone Mountain recently to celebrate my mom's birthday with some quality family time. We lucked out with gorgeous weather (it's headed back down into the 30s tonight - eek!) and had a lot of fun checking out the various activities.

Amelia, now a brave 6-year-old, is still talking about conquering Sky Hike, the sky-high ropes course that can get your heart pounding. We had lunch at Campfire Grill and laughed through the surprises in the 4D theater. We also Rode the Duck for the first time!

For information on Stone Mountain Park attractions, check them out online. You can also follow Stone Mountain on Twitter.

Posing with my babies!

Sweet Granddad moment

Springtime in #Atlanta: Favorite family activities

Springtime is trying to show its face in Atlanta! The daffodils and cherry trees are blooming and for the first time in a while, we have a very sunny weekend with temperatures near 70 degrees! This is the perfect time of year to get outside and enjoy what Atlanta has to offer.

Now that we are a family with a baby again, we have a few specific places we like to enjoy family fun time together.



Three favorite outdoor Atlanta activities for small children...

Parks and playgrounds
We are so lucky to have a city with tons of park spaces! We enjoy short, easy hikes in the woods, picnics, and burning off energy on one of many area playgrounds. Three of our favorite north suburban playgrounds? Swift Cantrell park in Kennesaw, East Roswell park in Roswell, and East Cobb park in Marietta.  Swift Cantrell boasts two huge play structures for two age groups, a dog run, walking trails, and the brand new skateboard park. East Roswell offers disc golf, playgrounds, and (when it's warmer) spraygrounds where kids can play and get wet for only $1. East Cobb park has two playground areas, walking trails near water, and really nice pavilions for party rentals. We had Amelia's third birthday there a few years ago!

A look back at the big snow day

Today, it is 60 degrees and sunny. Quite gorgeous outside, actually! We feel like it is a heat wave after all the snow and ice we have had this year. Clearly, we have nothing compared to other northern states, but it was a lot for us! We have been out of school way too much.

The last snow was perfectly wet and heavy. Snowman snow!

#WW in Tennessee: Davy Crockett birthplace (and a nice little park!)

We had one beautiful not-too-cold sunny day in Tennessee just after Christmas. After spending several days indoors enjoying family time, it was time to get out and explore a bit. I lived in East Tennessee for my entire life until college, and did not know that Davy Crockett's birthplace was a short drive away near Jonesboro, Tennessee (TN's oldest town).

There is not much to Davy Crockett's actual home, it is very small and primitive (obviously). But it is interesting to peek inside the house, fenced garden, and chicken coop.
 

When I asked Amelia what she would think about living in a house like this, she replied: "It would be gross and stinky!" I guess we need to work on understanding how blessed we are today.

The park around the home is quite lovely! A river runs along a big stretch of grass with a large picnic shelter, charcoal grills, and plenty of sticks and rocks to splash into the water. It was a nice quick trip outdoors, and we were so thankful to see the sun! (It has since gone away again.)

Epic battle. Squirrels.

Hello, my name is Julie and I am a warrior.

There is an epic battle happening in my home. I sit alert in the darkness, listening, waiting. Vigilant, with a taste for victory.

We have squirrels.

I have always been fond of small and furry creatures. I have been known to slam on the brakes to avoid hitting anything scampering across the road. I have hit a couple, and felt guilty about it for the rest of the day.

Now I see them differently.

Deck weather!

It’s time again for Mommy and Me Monday. Pop out from behind that camera and capture yourself in action with your kids.  Check out the inaugural Mommy and Me Monday on Really, Are You Serious for more information.
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We had amazing weather this weekend! The mornings were cool and breezy, which gave way to sunshine and puffy clouds in the afternoon. The family really enjoyed some "deck time". One of my most favorite parts of the new house, the deck is surrounded by peaceful tall trees. 

Amelia and I enjoyed a deck breakfast and a deck afternoon snack yesterday. Excited for the fresh air and no rain! Steve poked his head out an upstairs window to capture the moment:

And on Saturday, we decided it was finally time for an official "belly pic":
20 weeks - halfway there!

#WW: Serene Tennessee

On our road trip to Nashville, TN recently, we stopped by Cheekwood Gardens for the Light: Bruce Munro exhibit. We had no prior information on the event, my husband just happened to come across the website when we were planning something to do that night of our arrival. We really had no idea what to expect.

We are big fans of the Atlanta Botanical Garden here in town, so we knew we would enjoy meandering through wooded paths in Nashville as well. The Light exhibit did not disappoint, and Cheekwood Gardens are truly gorgeous! A fabulous stone mansion, now serving as a museum, sits atop the hill overlooking the property. The charming southern porch perfectly frames the Tennessee hills and mountains. I felt like I needed a Scarlet O' Hara gown to truly fit into the lovely surroundings.

Tennessee is a beautiful state. We had a wonderful vacation together, and I am so glad to have discovered Cheekwood Gardens!

Love family travel in the South? Check out another BalancingMama post highlighting  family travel in Atlanta.

#WW: Fly away, be free

Butterfly; butterfly fly away,
teach me how to be as free as free can be.

Butterfly; butterfly I see you there,
its beautiful the way your wings caress the air.

Butterfly; butterfly go as high as you can go,
show me the things that I don't yet know.

            -- Excerpt from Butterfly, by Ashley Landry