Labor Day Weekend - Part 1

During Labor Day weekend, all of my mom's side of the family got together to say goodbye to my Grandma Shirley.. who was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in addition to her Parkinson's. We celebrated her & Grandpa's 60th wedding anniversary and spent her last few days all together as a family. It was a sad time, yet special to all be together. Here are some of the first pics from our weekend.

Bekah & I

My cousin's wife Sidra and their new baby, Hamilton (isn't he cute?)

My grandpa & his kids :)

Pictures of days gone by..

celebrating Grandpa & Grandma's 60th wedding anniversary

4 generations of Halver boys! :)

Ham & Great-Grandpa

All 3 kids and Grandma

Great-Grandma & her first great-grandson!

All of us out to breakfast at Hell's Kitchen in Mpls

Wonderful food!!

GA Vacation - Saying Goodbye

Our last day in Atlanta, we went to Peachtree/Delkab Airport and ate a picnic lunch. (Under a BIG Magnolia tree.. how perfect is that? I will MISS Magnolias!) We played on the playground and had fun watching the planes land and take off. :)

Leah rides her own "airplane"

Josh and Bekah hang out in the sun.. it was 85 that day! Whew!

The playground at the airport

You know your child is in "vacation-travel mode" when you put them in their car seat and they actually LIKE it!!!

Saying goodbye to Auntie Barbara.. we MISS you!!!

The view over Atlanta.. you can see the skyline on the horizon

The Twin Cities.. notice the apalling lack of green? lol

Leah and Bekah were KONKED after our return flights.. they actualyl fell asleep on the smaller flight home. :) It was nice for Josh & I to get a breather.. plus to see the cityscape from the sky at night was breathless.. :)

It was a wonderful vacation!!!!!!

GA Vacation - Chamblee & Yellow River Game Ranch

We stayed at Josh's Aunt Barbara's house in Chamblee, and it was wonderful!!! She has a park less than 2 blocks away, which was so fun for the girls! We just loved soaking up the warm sunny weather!

Tada!

Aunt Barbara's house - before Josh trimmed the bushes! lol

Swinging at the park

Yay!

Sweet Leah

Our sweet girls..

Josh's grandparent's old house.. so many memories!

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Then, Jane & Rachel took us to Yellow River Game Ranch, where Josh & them had gone as kids. Basically a wild animal petting zoo! It was great! Josh & Leah especially enjoyed feeding the deer!

Feeding deer

Laughing!

Bears!

Potbellied pig

Bekah.. poor sweet Bekah. I helped her feed a donkey a cracker, and the donkey's soft lips touching her hands scared her and she screamed hysterically! Poor thing..

But she LOVED the little goat kids..

Yeah.. we need this sign at our house!

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!)