Renaissance Festival

One thing that amazes me in Atlanta, is how long traveling programs stay here.  For example, the Renaissance Festival - in Arkansas they would set up for a week, maybe over two weekends.  Here it stays for two months.  We had gotten a couple of free tickets from a friend, so we decided to go yesterday.  

We really enjoyed the Barely Balanced show.  It was an acrobat/comedy routine.  It is hard to snap pictures without being noticed, so this is the best I could do.  

Eric took a bunch of pictures during the act.  Here is one from his camera.  

Eric got to hold this beautiful goose.  It didn't even look real.  It was a lovely cream/tan shade that almost made it look golden.  

When he was finished holding the goose, he thanked the lady for the opportunity to hold it.  She was a little overwhelmed by his manners and insisted on giving him a hug and went on and on about it.  

There was a man inside that giant tree behind us.  I bet he was scorching, because it was a very hot day!

Our caricature.  

CNC and Tidal Waves

Yesterday our friends called and invited us to a homeschool day at the Chattahoochee Nature Center.  We have never been before, so we went with them.  (Plus she had guest passes to get us in free.  Yay!)  Eric had a great time at the center.  We packed a lunch and ate first, then explored a little before class.

Exploring the center with his friend.  

In their first class, they talked about cells.  The boys peeled the outermost layer of skin from a red onion and made a slide.  Then they viewed it under the microscope.  

I was able to get a really cool picture of their onion cells through the microscope.  

Then we played a life cycle game outside.  Eric really enjoyed that.  (the fella loves games!)

I took this one because he is looking so big.  He is growing so much physically, spiritually, and in maturity.  I am constantly in awe that I get the privilege of being his mother.  

And summer swim team started yesterday.  Go Tidal Waves!!!  The boy could not wait until summer swim started.  He loved the feeling of being an amazing swimmer, and summer swim definitely reminded him of that.  When you are with amazing swimmers every day, you forget just how good you are.  It is nice to be with average swimmers and stand out.  

He loves his new swim cap.  He said it is the most comfy one he has every owned.  Robert picked it up for him at the Google store when he toured the Google headquarters recently.  

Lots of smiles with friends from last year.  Glad he is so excited.  Can't wait to watch him swim!

Girls' Night/Boys' Night

Since GA shuts down for Spring Break, or at least everyone seems to think it should, we had a night out last night.  No church during spring break.  How crazy is that?

I went to a paint class.  I have wanted to for years.  I loved it.  I went with a girl here that I have really enjoyed.  She is a Christian momma, and I have yearned to have some strong Christian friends here.

The start of my painting.  

My completed picture. 

Our works of art.  

My completed work at home on its current resting spot - my mantle.  I was very pleased with it.  I have about zero artistic ability.  

So, while I was there, Robert and Eric and another father and son from church went to the Braves game.  Robert also took our friend, Ellis, from LTC.  It was his first baseball game, and he was mesmerized.  They had a great time!  

No swim this week either.  I'm telling you, GA shuts down at Spring Break more than any other holiday.  We swim the days around Thanksgiving and Christmas.  But Spring Break?  No way!  That is a sacred holiday around here.  

However he did have soccer today. 

Bible Bowl

LTC was fantastic!  This boy...

Yep, this one...

This ball of craziness...

Completely rocked Bible Bowl!

I mean he was just shy of a perfect score.  

He missed two in the first round.  One of those, however, was incorrect.  I approached them between the first and second round and showed them that it was incorrect.  They then decided to give everyone credit for that question.  So, just one there.  

In the second round, they asked that same question in a different way.  It is the only question he missed in that round.  Since I had rocked the boat so much on the first round, I just let that one slide.  Shouldn't have, but I did.  I didn't want to start out as a crazy coordinator in my first event ever at this LTC convention.    

He missed none in the third round.  

So the boy missed two.  And really only one.  

One.

He rocked it!

Amazing!

The other fella on our team did not get an individual medal.  However, Eric's score was high enough to pull their team up to GOLD!   

New soccer

So, soccer has been an ordeal for the past three seasons.  Each season we have been scheduled to practice on Wednesday.  While I am not saying it is sin to not walk in the doorway of the church on Wednesday night, it is sin to put things above the Lord.  So, we have chosen not to put this sport above the Lord.  After much discussion and attempting to remedy the situation, we withdrew E from the Y soccer.  He is now playing for a homeschool soccer team.  It is a non competitive team, but I was surprised at how organized it is.

E had his first game yesterday afternoon.  In the blazing sun (yes, Arkansas, I know.  I'm sorry.  Not trying to rub it in).  We had to wear sunscreen.  They practice for 1 hour and then divide into teams for a game.  Reminds me of the winter league he did.

E put on his own sunscreen and missed the area near his goggles.  I missed the back of one of my arms.  So, we are each sporting a nice small sunburn today.  

Friends

Eric has started to develop friendships here that he would be sad if we had to leave someday.  I am glad.  It is taking me a bit longer.  I do have some swim friends though.  Thankful for those.

We went to eat last night after practice with one of  Eric's swim buddies and his family.

He also has a fun lunch group.  

They sit across the room from me, so I don't interact with them much.  But they have started playing a modified version of Pokemon.  Eric is their referee.  

There is a family that we enjoy getting together with.  Their youngest turned 2 on Monday, so we met up with them to celebrate.  

Swim Meet

We had a swim meet this Saturday.  Eric did a great job.  

I love the above picture because Eric still looks tiny.  He isn't.  By any means.  But the angle of this picture tricks my mommy eye, and therefore makes me happy.  

We enjoyed being all together at the meet.  

His first event was the 50 yard backstroke.  He had a slow start, his foot slipped on the wall.  He usually starts very well.  But even with that, he STILL took time off.  Awesomeness!  He took .35 seconds off with a new best time of 38.74.

So very proud of that kiddo.  He works so hard at this sport.  

He then did a 100 yard backstroke.  He did well in that.  He didn't get his best time.  He added 0.63 to his time to finish with 1:22.30.  

Next was 50 yard breaststroke.  Swam this one quite a bit slower than his previous best, but still swam very hard.  He added 2.96 to this for a time of 51.21.  

Then he did a 200 yard IM.  This is where you do each stroke.  This is his very first time competing in this event.  In fact, he had to swim with 15-18 year olds because it wasn't offered for his age.  He wanted to try this event, and I am so proud of him!  He did great.  He executed each stroke and turn properly and finished with a time of 3:19.25.  

See the fellas around Eric.  Yep.  These are the boys he was racing.  Some of the boys on the blocks (in the next heat) clapped for Eric when he finished.  I think they were impressed with this little guy hanging with all the big ones.  So, so proud of him.  Last year at this same meet, he did a 200  Free.  It just about took him down.  He struggled so much with that.  This 200 IM didn't seem to bother him at all.  He rocked it!  He didn't even seem that tired when he got finished.  

We went to Shoney's after the meet and got some dinner and hot fudge cake for our hard working guy.