Trip to Atlanta Georgia

This weekend we had to cancel our planned beach trip because of the hurricane. So Friday night we headed to Atlanta instead. Saturday a.m. 1st stop Atlanta Botanical Garden.

It was cheaper to buy a family membership so hopefully we'll use it to get into other gardens this year! My favorite sculpture.

Which way should we go guys?

Very neat canopy walk.

Pink banana trees!

Be still my heart. It's these moments I treasure most.

Venus fly traps. They actually bite your finger! This was in the children's area where they influence touching. There were also tons of pitcher plants. NCs other carnivorous plant.

This girl's got skills. She caught a goldfish 1st try.

One of about 14 very impressive plant sculptures on display for a special exhibit.

The kids were hunting a huge green frog. I love when they are interested in the same thing.

I have a thing for beautiful lily pads.

Looking up in the jungle forest. I still don't know what plant all these long strings were hanging from.

The desert section of the green house was a favorite. The boys had to touch every spiky plant. And they used some aloe on a cut.

After the gardens, we went downtown for lunch at the CNN center. Then in the evening we saw the light show at Stone Mountain State Park. It was not very good. The next morning...my sleeping beauties.

The star of the show...Georgia Aquarium!! One of their 4 infamous whale sharks. Magnificent.

Everything at this place was HUGE. This manta ray was the size of Josh.

Side view of the whale shark.

So cool! I don't remember ever seeing such a beautiful octopus so close up!

The amazing dolphin show! No pics allowed during the performance.

Belluga whales playing with their blanket.

We can't see your face! For scale. Bigger than all three boys.

Huge tropical fish tank.

The very fun sea lions.

The sea lion show. I almost liked it more than the dolphin show!

Again, no pics allowed during the performance.

Another beauty.

This place was worth every pricey penny we paid.

Twins! I told the kids no hiking this trip but...

Tallulah Gorge State Park was sort of on the way home.

With an 80 foot high swinging bridge above the deepest gorge in the eastern U.S. My legs were shaking.

About 250 steps down to the bridge and another 250 down to the falls. My calves are still sore!

Family photo at Hurricane Falls. Then back up about 500 steps to complete the loop.

There were multiple overlooks with views. We wanted to get down into the gorge. Only 100 hikers allowed per day by permit only.

The giant 200 ft man made waterfall from the dam feeding the gorge.

The most awesome road kill ever...a dead armadillo!!!

Hurricane Florence

We survived hurricane Florence! There were some gusty winds but thankfully no damage. AND we didn't even lose power!

We got record amounts of rain but it just seemed like a normal rainy weekend. The Molskness family stayed over for the weekend because they were nervous about the huge trees over their house falling or losing branches.

We went back in the woods to check out the creek and found some streams in places there usually isn't.

Stephanie & Chloe came over to play one day. They were getting bored at home. Even church was cancelled and school on Monday.

The creek water was flowing! This was near the drainage pipe.

This is the section at the bottom of the hill by the green way. Flowing but not flooding.

Fun weekend playing games & sharing some together time with friends.

Labor Day Camping

Our glamping trip quickly turned into a camping trip when the place accidentally double booked us. I'm pretty sure we found the last 2 camp sites left in NC. So here we are all setup at the Lazy J Campground near Brevard.

Our good friend Amanda came but unfortunately her son Zachary was not able to. He was at this exact same campground with us last year for Jackson's birthday. Due to the last minute packing of tents, Amanda had to use Mimi's old tent. Still so nice.

We all still fit in our big tent. Slept all in a row like sardines.

Snuggling my man by the campfire the 1st night. The kids had smores of course.

Our sweet boys playing Jackson's homemade card game by lantern light. They are the best!

The next day we headed to Gorges State Park. It was Josh and my 2nd visit. This place has the largest waterfall I've ever seen. Rainbow falls. Can you see the rainbow!?

Up close and personal to the rainbow.

Addy checking out the falls.

Posers. We were feeling some serious mist coming off the falls.

Amanda and I on the top of the falls. Check out the people at the bottom for perspective. There were signs deterring people from going to the top because of several recent deaths.

Benny & Josh watching people slide off Turtleback Falls.

Of course Josh had to do it. He wanted to take Benny with him but I said NO WAY!

We returned to camp and were soon joined by my favorite female combo, Stephanie and her daughter Chloe.

After a chili dinner we walked down to the river to explore.

Then got to see the sunset in the farmyard area of the campground. They had a rooster, chickens, and some ponies the kids got to feed.

Eating breakfast the next morning in our tent neighborhood.

This crazy girl made bacon and eggs for everyone on her griddle.

My very favorite guy and best friend. We just celebrated our 15 year anniversary! So thankful for him in every single way.

There's nothing they'd rather do, even our teenage girl. So proud of her for this!

Real women know how to skip rocks! Ha. Josh just taught me not too long ago.