GA Vacation - Aquarium & Centennial Olympic Park

We spent a whole day visiting the Georgia Aquarium and Centennial Olympic Park while we were in GA, and it was such a fun day! (Probably my favorite day) Jane, Rachel & Barbara came with, and we met up with Uncle Mark. It was a great day! We all had a blast!

Getting a private tour of the Aquarium, thanks to Uncle Mark!

One of the four Whale Sharks.. HUGE!

Bekah was THRILLED!

Auntie Barbara and Leah

Our Family at the Coral Reef Exhibit.. pretty!

Me touching a Sting Ray

I LOVE this shot I took of Bekah.. I call it "Wonder" :)

Bekah kept trying to touch the fish through the glass.. it was so cute!

The HUGE viewing room.. to the world's largest aquarium!

Our "Beluga" video

Uncle Mark, General Manager at the Centennial Oylmpic Park in downtown Atlanta, gives us a private tour of the park!

Leah adapted to the weather like a true Georgian.. "I'm Cold!" (It was 74 degrees out!)

Flags circling the pavillion, one representing every country that hosted the Olympics

The Fountain of Rings (The Olympic Rings!)

The Fountain Water Show clip! Mark gave us a special show which included all 9 songs, and it was SO great! Leah especially loved it, as you can see her dancing on the video! It was so neat to see the fountain timed with the music! Very cool!

The Flag of Nations Sculpture (I think it was called)

One flag for every country represented at the Olympics

Josh's family's bricks on the park walkway

Uncle Mark and his buddy Leah

GA Vacation - Family!

We had such a great time visiting (and meeting!) family over our vacation! It was such a fun week to spend together doing all kinds of cool things!

Mommy & Bekah goof off!

Auntie Savannah shows Bekah the fish at China Inn Restaurant

Barb & Leah

Josh, James, and Jake - the "guy cousins"

At Uncle Mark's family cookout

Stephen, Spencer, and Jane enhoy the Wii

Rachel, Leah and Barbara

Bekah wanted OUT! :)

Leah and Josh's cousin Jessica

They are such special friends!

Rachel with a walking Bekah!

The entire Banta/Helweg family

The cousins

Nathan, Stephen, Rachel, Jake, Jessica, James and Josh

Us MN people!

(Saannah and James came for the weekend!)

GA Vacation - Zoo & Cyclorama

Well, Day 2 of our vacation was a blast! Barbara, and Jane (Josh's aunts) took us to the Atlanta Zoo and Civil War Cyclorama. The girls had a great time! It was so insanely warm and beautiful outside, we soaked it in! (78 degrees and sunny!)

Josh & Leah checking out the animals

Our two punkins! Cute!

Leah's "Rhino"

Bekah loved being outside!

Josh & Bekah- notice the bamboo in the background?

It was real and growing everywhere!

The cute red panda

BEAUTIFUL Azalea bushes!

Ahhh.. spring at last!!!

The talented Elephant

My big helper!
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The Civil War Cyclorama was right next to the zoo, and although it boasts the World's largest Oil Painting, I had never before heard of it. We decided to go in and it was AMAZING! But, I love Civil War stuff!

The Painting was "The Battle of Atlanta" and is 4 stories high and 1 football field long! It stood up inside a building and we sat in a rotating podium and saw all views of the picture as a guided tour of the battle. It was amazing! The diorama in the painting made it 3-D, or seemed like it was really in front of you! It was great!

The Cannon from the Museum

The train"The Texas" used in the Great Locamotive Chase

Civil War Leaders in the South

This is one picture I swiped off the website (we weren't allowed to take pictures inside) You can see the painting, then the fiberglass soliders to add 3-D effect.. it is cool!

GA Vacation - Arrival!

Our trip to Atlanta, GA was AMAZING! It was the best family vacation ever! Cliche, but true! Flying with the 2 girls was very challenging, but not difficult. As it turns out I brought WAAAAY too many toys and snacks, we didn't even use 1/2 of them! But better safe then sorry.

The airports were fun to get around in as well with the girls. The best thing I brought for that was Leah's "leash" or her harness.. that saved a LOT of worry and time. Plus she could run and burn energy without us having to watch her every move. :)

I still can't believe we made it to GA in less than 4 hours from where we live.. amazing! Flying is definately worth the money!

Enjoy the pics from our first couple days in GA.

Flying over the Appalacian Mts

Josh and his flying buddy, Leah

Me and my flying buddy, Bekah

Going to feed ducks at Arlington Cemetary.. just like Josh did when he was a kid!

Bekah seemed less than interested lol

BEAUTIFUL Flowers at the Cemetary.. it was amazing!

Josh's Grandparent's graves

His Uncle's Grave (who he was named after)

Our Family at the Cemetary