July 2014 Part 2- Atlanta, GA

After two weekends in Florida, we decided to spend one weekend traveling north to see the city of Atlanta and some good friends of ours, Tashia and Joe Zuniga. They have three kids, a three year old boy, and twin boy/girl that are ALMOST one year old! We got up early Saturday morning and took the kids to the Atlanta Aquarium. 

This has been a dream of mine for a very long time. From the age of about 8-16, I wanted to be a marine biologist. I was obsessed with sharks and whales and loved learning everything I could about them. So going to the country's largest aquarium and the only one with a Whale Shark in captivity, pretty much made my decade. 

We finished all the exhibits just in time to eat lunch together and then take the kiddos home for a nap. Once everyone was up and ready, our friends invited us to their family's home for a home cooked meal. We originally wanted to go out to eat, but we figured we could get more quality time together and the kids would enjoy it more inside a private home! We were right. Kids loved their spaghetti and strawberry shortcake dessert. Elise hasn't always been the most social child, so my husband and I were shocked when she not only warmed up to my friends kids, but her husband as well! It made us both so happy to see our kids play together.

It's funny, I've known Tashia and her husband since high school. But Tashia and I's friendship came much later. We bonded at what was probably the lowest points of each of our lives...the losses of our babies. We leaned hard on each other, even across the hundreds of miles between us. I don't think either of us meant to become so close, our relationship just fit. It came easy to us both and I think that's why we are still the MASTERS at texting! Since we are both SAHMs, its much easier to text than to talk or FaceTime. And it is SO nice to have someone there throughout my day, no matter what. And for real, no matter what, this girl (with a toddler and twins) responds to me when I need her. I find myself grateful for her friendship everyday. Hopefully one day, getting together in person will be easier and we will love closer to one another.

The next day, we took Elise to the Children's Museum in downtown Atlanta. It was a great decision on our part, and Ellie LOVED it. I wish we could go all the time. After the museum, we went to the mall for lunch and a bit of shopping before heading back to Montgomery. Not before getting a cupcake or two though :)

At the very end of July, my husband graduated SOS, and we began the long trek home. 

It was a really nice break from West Texas and my husband's normally hectic schedule and long hours. We are so glad we decided to go together, as we ended up spending way more time together than we are used to. We take those opportunities where we can get them in this life.