Grandma and Grandpa Carey's visit to Georgia

Grandpa and Grandma Carey flew into town on Saturday, 09/20. They stayed for a week and just left this past Saturday. We had an amazing time with them! While they were in town, our really big / fun-filled trips were to the Georgia Aquarium and to the Hill Crest Apple Pickin’ Jubilee.

















For posterity, this is what our fun-filled week looked like:

Saturday – We played and went out for ice cream. :)
Sunday – We headed up to Hill Crest Apple Pickin’ Jubilee (watched Cloggers, went to the petting zoo, picked apples, bought cider & donuts). On the way home we topped off our gas tank, because the rest of Atlanta seemed to be out!!! This was a great day. Both kids were troopers for making it through the whole day. Ava without a nap. Liam finally dozed-off in the Baby Bjorn while we were picking apples in the orchard…He must’ve been tired!
Monday – I made Grandmother Lawson’s apple ring with some dehydrated apples purchased at Hill Crest…This turned-out to be much easier than going to the trouble to dehydrate them myself… We went to McDonald’s Play Place for lunch. We had the entire room to ourselves that day! :-)
Tuesday – We took pictures with Grandma and Grandpa, met Doug for lunch, went to Chili’s for dinner and then went to Home Depot. This was Liam’s first official visit to Home Depot. We’re sure he will be spending many Saturday mornings accompanying Daddy to this store…
Wednesday – We made Halloween cookies and Halloween puppets. Grandpa wanted to visit Toys ‘R Us to buy Liam’s first power tool. Upon our visit to the store, he decided the cordless drill was the way to go. :) We then ventured to the park in the afternoon, listening to a guy play guitar and sing (as he does every Wednesday). We all then met Doug for dinner at Chuck E. Cheese and cashed in on tickets! Ava likes to play Skeeball. When she throws the ball, it almost makes it’s way into the goal. :-) Sometimes it does make it into the goal.
Thursday – We went to the aquarium. This was Ava’s second visit (she originally went at six weeks of age with Grandpa Dean and Grandma Dolly), Liam’s first visit and Grandpa and Grandma Carey’s first visit, too. Everyone seemed to really enjoy visiting the aquarium. There are so many things to see there! Grandma and Grandpa touched the “rays”. Ava walked around the aquarium saying “Mr. Ray! Mr. Ray! Mr. Ray! Mr. Ray!” (I had reminded her that Mr. Ray in Finding Nemo was a nice ocean creature). On the way home, we found gas for $4.09 and filled-up, waiting in line for 10 minutes or so. J Not bad, considering some people have waited in line for hours just to fill-up, here. Grandma and Grandpa were also gracious enough to offer a night-out to Doug and myself. We quickly accepted! Grandpa, Grandma and Ava watched Finding Nemo while Doug and I dined at Stoney River. How nice that was!!! Not impressed with the current selection at a local movie theater, we decided to go to Borders Books and perused their shelves.
Friday – Grandma, Shelly and the kiddos went to a local consignment sale where we found a Winter coat for Ava for $3, and some nice clothes for Liam. While we were gone, Paul Bunyan - I mean Grandpa - cut down a tall pine tree that was being smothered with vines. :-) Earlier in the week Grandpa cut down two additional trees in our backyard. During the week, he also touched up our bathroom ceiling paint and painted some new gutters (before Doug puts them on the house). All at Doug’s / our request). Thank you, Jim, for working so hard to get these things done! For dinner on Friday we grilled-out, Grandma Carey shared her recipe for “Creamy Bakes” with me, and then went out for ice cream.

We had great weather all week, with the temperature gradually declining from the mid-80’s to the mid-70’s by the end of the week. By Friday night, we were a little chilly when eating our ice cream!

I know Ava really enjoyed having Grandma and Grandpa around. She loved Grandpa’s tickles and kisses and Grandma’s singing and hugs. We’re looking forward to visiting with them soon when we head up to MI in early October. Thanks again for taking time out to come visit us in Georgia! We miss you already!

With love,
Shelly, Doug, Ava and Liam

The Apple Pickin' Jubilee, complete with hip-hop music
















Grandma and Grandpa
















Shelly and Doug























Quite the farmboy, on his hot-rod tractor
















Ava was fascinated with tractors, requesting to sit on every tractor she saw...
















Ava at the petting zoo, petting the sweetest of cows
















The chicks hangin' out


















It was a long day for Liam. He finally fell asleep while I was carrying him around in the Baby Bjorn, while picking apples. Poor guy!
















Grandma and Grandpa on the hotrod tractor
















Off to the races for the pigs... They were smaller than I expected. I think "Frankenswine" won. Or was it Sylvester Sir-loin?








































































This cow is used to the petting zoo gig...

































Having fun at the park


















Grandpa and Liam


















Checking out the digs at the apple orchard


















At the apple orchard


















Loving the hotrod tractor


















In the orchard


















Ava LOVES to pick tomatoes. She always wants to water the tomato plants.























Grandma, Grandpa and kiddos at the park


















Ava at the park


















Doug on a mission to win tickets. We couldn't leave this machine at Chuck E. Cheese without trying to cash in....


















Grandma feeding Liam


















Doug and kiddos


















Outside the aquarium


















Grandma and Ava at the Georgia Aquarium
















This fish marches to the beat of his own drum... Or should I say swims?
















At the bottom of the big whale slide























Grandma catching some rays (literally!)


















Grandma pointing out a fish to Ava


















Ava really seemed to enjoy the tropical fish exhibit


















Very cool looking fish
















Mr. Ray!!!!

















Hammerhead shark
















Grandpa and Grandma enjoying the view under the sea...























One of the oldest living fish. I've forgotten the name...
























Sand shark


















This picture seemed to say: "I don't do mornings..."
















A whale shark and his entourage

















A beluga whale
















What a weird picture... these fish look like they're suspended in mid-air! Note the starfish.
















My absolute favorite. The sea otter. They're very playful and get to swim on their back all day long!























The CEO of Home Depot and his wife were major contributors / founders of the Georgia Aquarium.
















Jellyfish / sea nettles
























Ava and Grandpa at the tropical fish exhibit

















Wouldn't want to step on this one...
















Glad I was on the right side of the glass for this picture...
















A tank full of Pirahna
















At the river fish exhibit
















Trying to find Nemo



















Ava in the shop, near Deepo (the fish) before leaving the aquarium