July 4th Memories Made? Yes, but WARNING - long post ahead.

Traveling always begins with car rides...well our traveling does, because we literally pack everything but the kitchen sink to take with us.  The car rides - to and from Georgia - roughly about 6.5 hours, with a 4 year old and a 2 year old.  You can imagine how those went right?  Sigh.  

JUST KIDDING.  Maybe it was the prayers, maybe it was the DVD player and the new movies that I was smart enough to get out of the $5 bin, but something totally worked and the kids were AWESOME!    

Eli & Evy kept asking where Muffin was, but thanks to my dear friend, Gela, I knew Muffin was safe and loved and I didn't have to worry about her being alone or locked up in a kennel!  The kids thought I had given her away and Eli's reaction was "Oh no, but I'd miss her?"  Evy's reaction was, "Do they love her? If they do, they can have her!" 

 The kids were so excited to get there.  We had to wait in the lobby a little while, but Eli was entertained with the many escalators and elevators.  He kept saying, "oh my goodness mama, we've never stayed in a hotel before," (even though he just doesn't remember) or "Oh my goodness, this room even has a bathroom!"  

It's the little things really...and trust me they explored every inch of this room. He doesn't quite get it that if this room didn't have a bathroom, we might have serious problems. 

Friday night was something more magical to Kevin  than taking our kids to Disney will ever be ... an Atlanta Braves game.  Technically, Eli went with us when he was 10 months old  - but it consisted of him sweating while he slept in our laps, giving us occasional smiles when he was in the seats and then TONS of bouncing, walking and pushing in the stroller up by the food.  It was exhausting, but he sure was cute!

But this love for the Braves didn't start with his first game.  It's ALWAYS been a love of Kevin's and finding out he was having a son made this dream come true for him - being able to pass these memories on.

This time was a much different experience and although it was hot and exhausting, it was sweet and special. Eli & Evy kept hugging each other, staring at the field and saying, "Can you believe it? We're watching the Braves?"

Kevin was in heaven, and I was falling in love with him all over again watching the twinkle in his eye explain how special this was to our kids.  This was something Kevin and his dad grew up doing, year after year, and even now it's their "Special place."  We're so thankful Mrs. Marlene and Mr. Wayne could go with us and experience this first special memory that is so near to their hearts!

The kids did great and made some special memories, but it was so extremely hot that the kids were soaked in sweat, and so were we...so Mrs. Marlene and I decided to take them back after the sixth inning.  It was getting late and we had a lot of stuff to do the next day.

On Saturday, because this special tradition did begin with the men, Mrs. Marlene and I took the kids to the mall, and hung out around the hotel (which excited the kids) while the guys got to spend the day together in their last game at Turner Field.

 Sunday, we took the kids to the indoor/outdoor pool, swam for a little while and then got ready for our next adventure - Stone Mountain!  Here are the kids in their July 4th outfits. 

The kids had a blast, but if we thought the Braves game was hot, boy were we wrong!  We aren't really in the stroller stages anymore - both of my kids want to be independent.  Well one of them at least - so here we are walking around this huge place (me with Evy on my hip - she ONLY wanted me) and Eli is running around saying "I'm tired of walking."  When you are in 100 degree weather, carrying a toddler on your hip - you see juuussstttt how out of shape you are.  Regardless, the day consisted of seeing fun things, playing in some place called the Barn (which you would think had animals, but it had all kind of fun slides, rope courses and balls.)  It was a great break from the heat.  The kids both LOVE trains, and now they've added a cute little show for the train to stop and see.

We started getting frustrated around dinner time because everything had a wait - BUT God looked out for us.  While we were eating our later dinner in an air conditioned place, the bottom fell out of the sky and SOAKED everyone in the park, except us.  When we walked out of the restaurant the rain had slowed up enough for us to get to the car and everyone else looked like they had been on a water ride - except the didn't want to be on it.  They were DRENCHED and looked miserable!  I'm so, so , so thankful for the 40 minute wait to eat and that it kept our family dry.

To sum it all up, one word comes to mind : PERFECT.  Did the kids get tired and crazy sometimes? Yes.  Did we get frustrated at all or tired? Yes.  Was it everything we hoped for and were once - in - a - lifetime memories made that can never be replaced? Yes.

Lots of wishes were made...

Precious time was given to us for one night, because we fall in love again everytime we go to Atlanta...

...and memories to last a lifetime were created.

July 4th memories made? CHECK.