August 29 - Georgia Aquarium

After our wonderful trip in Raleigh, we started our trek back to Houston. Once again we stopped in Atlanta on the way, but this time we took a slightly longer route and drove through the smokey mountains.  It was a little rainy but simply beautiful. We stayed overnight with Becky and her family again and it was great to catch up.

The next day, we went to the Georgia Aquarium in downtown Atlanta and then headed to Emory for a quick campus visit. We had a great visit! The highlight of the aquarium trip was the dolphin show. It was fantastic-Julia has now decided she wants to be a dolphin trainer when she grows up. Luke loved the show too as well as all the fish. What Luke doesn't love? Photos. It is very difficult to get photos of him these days. 

Fish!

Beluga Whale

Trying to hug the whale and fish

Penguins! We crawled through a tunnel and were able to pop up right next to them. Luke loved it.

Tunnel through tank

Shark!

Jelly fish

Mommy and Julia

Mommy and Daddy

Strike a pose!

Hands on fun

Julia and the Beluga Whale Mascot

My freshman dorm

Back to the pool!

All-American Photo

August 26 - Birthday Bash

Julia's 6th birthday was last Monday and we had a great time celebrating. Her party was at the local trampoline place and amazingly had 22 kids at the party (I wasn't expecting that many since the party was on Monday evening). There was jumping, pizza, cake and fun for all! Enjoy these pics. 

Six and Fabulous!

4 Layer Chocolate Cake with edible cake topper

2 dozen vanilla cupcakes

Taking a break from making the gift bags to create her own Olaf

Do you want to build a snowman?

Presents from the family - thanks everyone!

Hannah, Julia and Shayne

I'm trying to eat pizza, don't take my picture

The party table

Rocking her new Olaf shirt

Luke stole her new zebra stuffed animal

August 21 - Park Fun

Raleigh has some wonderful parks and it was fun to explore them. We went to one close to Greg and Jill's house and in addition to the playground equipment, there were trails in the woods and a pond/stream we could walk to. They also didn't have a bathroom, so Luke saw his first ever porta potty and his response was "I'm not using that thing. Can I pee in the grass?" Hilarious!

Another day we went to Pullen Park, a fabulous park near the NC State campus. We went paddle boating for the first time as a family, went on a train ride and had an all around fab time. 

Walking to paddle boats

Yamo Family

Cook Family

Train ride

Little monkeys

See saw fun

Cousins

Swinging (look at those beautiful trees!)