Atlanta

It has been waaaaaaay too long since we have been able to worship with an AC congregation... since we left Detroit, actually. I had original intentions of trying driving the boys to Atlanta about once a month, or at least every other. But then pregnancy and all the joys of sickness came along, as well as Joel's busy schedule. We finally had a free weekend and even though the boys and I are headed to Phoenix in a few days, we decided we needed to get down there. We stayed with the Waldbeser family-- it was so fun getting to know their family, and I was able to glean much wisdom from Sue. Joel was able to maximize game time, and the boys loved their children. I think Callum developed a crush on one of their girls, and Liam and Aiden were often running around with their younger son, dressed as cowboys. If it wasn't a 6 1/2 hr drive, I think the boys would want to go every weekend!

An added bonus is that Tom Hitz works down there!! So we called him up to make sure he would be around, and then went to the aquarium together. Although it was a long, tiring day, the boys were in their glory. They were so excited to see Tom again (although Aiden was a bit confused as to why we were in Atlanta and not Michigan with him), and they absolutely loved the aquarium. They've always preferred aquariums to zoos, and this one definitely didn't disappoint. Liam was still able to see his Japanese giant spider crabs, and Aiden was excited to see the whale sharks and beluga whales.

 Callum's favorite part... touching the sea anemones. He probably would've stayed here the whole time if we would have let him, and was noticeably disappointed when the second time we came back, the animals were on a "touch break". Notice Liam watching... him and Aiden refused to touch the sea stars, anemone or cucumbers in the water. :)

 Aiden was glued to Tom most of the time. 

 I felt for the beluga above the boys... She's pregnant. ;) It made me suddenly grateful, after I heard they have a 14mo gestation period, and she will gain probably 200lbs, producing a 130lb baby around April/May. 

 There were some gigantic manta rays in the tank with the whale sharks. The tank itself is nearly the size of a football field and has over 6 million gallons of water in it.

 There were four whale sharks. The boys enjoyed watching them be fed, from little inflatable rafts above.

 So... this is someone dressed up like a hermit crab in the center area. Callum, again being the brave one, just held onto his claw. Aiden, stood back a few feet and watched. Liam was petrified, and probably stood about 15ft away, and would give a wide berth each time we had to pass it. Oh, my boys. :)

These colorful little fish swim at a depth of 200ft. 

 The last exhibit we went to was a challenge to become "aquanauts"... This was a really cool section, and we would've probably lingered longer, except in order to win your certificate, you have to complete it the challenge (answering 5 of 7 questions, based on your age) in 45 minutes. We were given an iPad and were off! 

 He finally got up the courage to touch a starfish, after I told him that the mouth was underneath it. But he only did it long enough for me to take his picture, so that I could show everyone he was brave ;)

Tom was lamenting that the kids exhibit, filled with all kinds of touching, hands-on things was closed for remodeling until the end of the year... I don't think we missed it ;)

 Measuring a mother and baby beluga whale as a part of the challenge.

 Jealous of some of Tom's large puzzles, Tom and Sue pulled out a 100 pc one for Liam to put together. :)

There was a lot of bid euchre that went on until early Sunday morning (Atlanta has delayed services once a month), and even a game of carcassonne was fit in before church!