United States: Atlanta,Georgia - Part I

Our arrival in Atlanta was less then glamorous.  We had this little leg in our trip planned since last October when we got the tickets for South Africa.

As we left on Thursday morning, I received the news that my friends kids had a stomach bug and that staying with them will more then likely result in us getting the stomach bug, and well no one has time for that on an almost 16 hour long international flight.

My first reaction was to freak out - well I did freak out, also I am thankful for a man who preforms well under pressure so it was on.  Nate and I decided that a hotel and a rental car will be the best way to go.  It got squared away.

So everything went great, we had fast and fabulous flights - very uneventful.  Once we arrived at the Atlanta airport we gathered our luggage and started to figure out how to get to the car rental terminal.  To my horror I realized that I had to get the kids, myself, our luggage and everything else we had with onto this little train, I was less then thrilled.  I was totally that overwhelmed mom, that instead of offering a helping hand, I am pretty sure people judged us super harshly.  As I loaded my cart (I learned that I such just as much at this, then packing) the whole cart just tipped over onto its side right then and there, were we were suppose to cross the street.  I am pretty sure that I gave some people a good laugh, because all I could so was laugh myself.  I gather myself and all our stuff, and off we went.  As we were waiting for the train, I told the kids what to do (because these trains wait for no one) so off they go into the train, and our cart with all our luggage got stick right there in the door with the kids inside and me outside - at this point I lost it.  Luckily some kind man saw that we were in total distress and helped us - whoever you may be - THANK YOU! I am not going to lie, I this point I just burst into tears because I was tired, frustrated, and completely over the struggle.  We got a car, figured out how to get away from the airport and started to make our way to the hotel.

Everything went smoothly, as we were driving I started to adjust my bad attitude, and decided to make the best of this little weekend vacation of the kids, thinking up some cool things we can do together.

We grabbed dinner, checked into our hotel, and began researching "fun things to do in Atlanta with kids," I was so excited because the possibilities were endless.

The next morning we got ready, and all decided that the Lego Land Discovery Center is what will be in on the agenda for the day.  We got all our stuff, and hyped with excitement set out for a day of fun.  So half way there our rental car broke (I am not kidding you) - so at this point I realize that if I believed in something like the travel gods, I need to amend whatever I did wrong because they were clearing against us.  We had to wipe out plans for the day, and figure out how to fix the rental car situation - it took all day, lots of tears and frustration to remedy the situation - we wasted an entire day.

This trip was not looking good, and part of me was wishing it over so that I could just arrive at my final destination, to stop moving and going.

After the rental car debacle we got another car... and we were all clear to try again.  We had dinner and ice-cream because why not...

We finally made it to Saturday morning, my friends kids where in the clear, and though I decided we would stay at the hotel for one more night, we all decided to go to the Georgia Aquarium together.

It was extremely busy that day, so that kind of put a damper on the experience, but it is a fantastic aquarium and I would definitely return during the week, as well as the off season.

We spend all day here, there were so many options of things to see (the place is huge) and also a lot of sea animals and creatures that we have never seen in real life before.  It was a little more challenging to get pictures due to the light, as well as the amount of people that decided to go to aquarium on this particular Saturday.

Summer doesn't look too thirlled to be in the picture - lol!

  The jelly fish is was one of my favorite exhibits.  I can just look at them for hours and hours.  But I had three kids with me, and well they were ready to move along.

 I love that they had these touch pools that the kids could touch some of the sea creature and learn about them, as well as a whole little kids research section with some trivia, games, and loads of information.  If it wasn't as busy, I would have seriously stayed even longer.

  There were so many varieties of fish, and we all loved just watching them, especially the huge viewing windows.

  Another first for us - whale sharks.  AMAZING

  Nate and I got the kids little camera before this trip.  They have been super interested in taking pictures, and I have been intrigued to see their perspective on things.  I also love to see how and what they choose and view as worthy, and to see their own little artistic side.

Right now every one in about forty-five pictures are not blurry and visible.  I will take it.

These couple of pictures are from their cameras, not bad for a five and seven year old.

  It was a make up day for the two crummy days before.  I have to say that my poor kids handle it like champs, and when I couldn't keep it together they did.  I love little spontaneous adventures with the kids.

I can't wait to be able to do it more and over time.

Part two will be up hopefully sooner then later - this jet lag is kind of getting to me, and I have just been focused on settling in, sleeping, unpacking, and eating wholesome meals.

Happy Friday!

I am the luckiest to have these two!