atlanta temple open house

after renovations were completed we were able to take the kids to atlanta and attend the atlanta temple open house before the temple was rededicated.  atlanta is a four-hour drive from here and it felt so good to get out of town as a family.

we left on thursday night after dylan's t-ball game.  the kids were awesome in the car.  we arrived late, got checked into our hotel and then crashed.  we grabbed a quick bite to eat in the morning at the hotel, then got dressed in our sunday best and headed the few blocks over to the temple grounds.  i love how organized our church is - everything was so smooth and without chaos (or chay-ouse as marissa calls it).  we enjoyed a lovely tour through the temple and especially enjoyed the warm oatmeal & raisin cookies in the welcome tent. 
 

 this is what it looks like when you give someone else your camera to take a photo.  awesome.  almost as awesome as my hair - i'd forgotten my styling products and had to use the hotel blow dryer.  it was wicked humid that day and my frizz was epic.

next we went to "on the border" for dinner (one of my favorite places) and then stopped at old navy to pick up a new shirt for eli, as he'd completely destroyed his at lunch.

one of the main attractions in atlanta is the georgia aquarium.  this was the second time for marissa and i, but it was still really enjoyable for everyone.  except maybe eli...he had the biggest tantrum meltdown of his short little life.  it was epic!  he stopped traffic and i took a picture.  poor little buddy.  he and i lounged in the shadows while the big kids tried to pet a ray and phil took pictures.

 

 

 

 now as if petting a ray isn't germy enough.....

 oh no....did he just....no, he's not LICKING THE WALL is he????????????

 

 

 
we loaded back in the car again and returned home.  i hope it was an experience our children will remember.  and i hope they'll remember how fortunate they were to have been in the house of the Lord and to stand in holy places.