GA Trip part 1

February 27, 2011
Dear Family,

We took a trip to GA!!!After crazy traveling (any travel w/ 6 children HAS to be crazy doesn't it?), we stayed @ Mom and Dad's for a week, enjoying the Georgia Aquarium (that we had never caught while we were living there), a little hiking, a drive past our old home, and lots of wonderful cousin and aunt and uncle time.

We left our house Friday morning (2/4) around 9:30, flew to Phoenix, then flew to Birmingham, then after a brief rental car debacle (misquoted price on a suburban rental, and fairly absent customer service), we drove a 7 passenger minivan 3 more hours to Marietta, getting in around 2 AM!!  The last pictures are at the Birmingham airport--what our luggage and exhaustion looked like at that point, and how grateful we were for Brian being able to drive so well and long after a day like that!!

After sleeping in Saturday morning, all the GA family gathered for a little hike and dinner afterward.

Scott & Rebekah stayed over w/ us Saturday night, so we got a little cousin sleepover (minus the sleep, and ending w/ mostly everyone separated--in order to stay w/ tradition!), and then all enjoyed going to church together the next morning, where we got to see a LOT of new faces, but a lot of dear familiar ones as well, AND we got to be there for Briant's first week conducting as a bishopric counselor.  After church and naps, the Madsen's (who are also in the ward!) had us over for a raclette feast and fun games.  Anne finally realized who it is that made her blankie, and sat on Carrie's lap singing songs for a good while.  Despite her misery, I was grateful Anne could enjoy this trip and getting to know cousins and G&G's house, etc.  She had a lot of fun--and probably enjoyed the planeride more than any of us!