So its been a month and I think it is time to "review" our experiences so far. Like a travel guide if you will to the few places we have been so far. Let me start by saying that if it wasn't so unbearably hot (we have only dropped below 95 a few days-like to 91) we most likely would have gone out and about more often. So here is the Newsome Montgomery Review:
First stop, The Riverfront downtown: This is a very nice area for families. There is a nice walkway along the river with tons of open grassy areas for Ryan to run around in (and boy did she ever take advantage of this). At the top of the grassy knoll is the local minor league ballpark (I think we are the Biscuits, or something)and to the right is a huge amphitheater. We went when there happened to be a ball game, but no event in the amphitheater, so we had the space mainly all to ourselves! I could see us going many many times to see music, or to simply have a nice walk-Once it gets cooler of coarse.
Our own apartment complex: This is a new one for us, living in a complex like this with certain amenities. The highlights are the lake and the pool (2 pools actually). We can take walks around the lake and there is a gaggle of ducks (are a group of ducks considered a gaggle?) and if you feed them they literally follow you around the entire walk. Ryan likes to turn around to make sure they are still there and she says, "Come on ducks" or "Lets go ducks" while waving her arm. I will say they are pretty aggressive ducks (they tried to eat poor Leah's toes). Then there is the pool, which of coarse the girls LOVE. I would like to say I love too, but it turns out it is a great deal of work to get the girls ready, gather our stuff (which grows each trip) and walk down there, only to swim for 30 minutes and deal with a monumental meltdown upon leaving. Leah is a squirmybug, so we got a raft/tube for her to move around in the pool as she wants, and got Ryan "wings", but once she saw Leah's raft she didn't want the wings, so now we had to go get her one as well (hence the growing list of stuff we bring to the pool). But while sometimes I wonder if it is worth it, it is..they love it!
The Montgomery Zoo: This is a fantastically perfect zoo for kids. It is small enough to wonder around without having to spend an entire day there. They have all the animals you would want to see. And they have a really great playground area. Before we went we considered whether it would be worth buying a year pass and I do believe it would. Just to be able to go when I want, and not have to make a "trip" out of it, even if it is just to take the girls to the playground is worth the price of admission.
AUM Soccer games (the reason we are here to begin with): When I can go to the games by myself, its great. I always enjoyed watching Jamey coach. But taking the girls out there in 100 degree heat trying to carry Leah and keep Ryan off the field is nothing short of torture. One of their away games was broadcast online so we were able to watch at home-MUCH BETTER. Cute story, when I asked Ryan where daddy was, she said, "with the soccer balls". True Ryan true!
The most important-Shopping: One word- PUBLIX! Let me just say this, they give you BIG cups of chewy ice-FOR FREE-enough said. But located within a 5 miles radius of our apartment is every store I would ever need or want to go to, which is a HUGE change from having to drive an hour. Now, if I could only find a job to truly enjoy all this shopping! For now I have my nose pressed against the window-but at least I have the options.
I hope this review expands as the holidays sneak up on us and we get to enjoy this town even more, but needless to say we are very happy so far!
