Big City Fun

The past 2 days the kids and I have pretty much been on our own in Atlanta while Mike attends his conference. Yesterday we went to visit Zoo Atlanta. There were several different animals that we don't have at our Milwaukee Zoo that the kids were excited to see - Pandas, tons of Kangaroos (up close), and many animals in outdoor environments that are indoors in Milwaukee. We then asked someone to direct us to a grocery store that was in a "safe" neighborhood. It was definitely a big city experience as we had to park in a structure to visit Target and Publix. The kids thought it was amazing that our shopping cart had to be put on a conveyor belt next to us while we rode the escalator up next to it. It looked like there was excellent shopping options there, so maybe we'll venture back that way tomorrow morning. Centennial Park is closed down as they set up for the final event of Mike's conference - looks amazing from the street! The slides that we had been enjoying are gated off until tomorrow too - Brooke asked if that was so daddy could use the slide during his party.

Today we decided to visit the Children's Museum (about a block from our hotel). On the walk there we watch a semi try to back through the park gates - Brooke insisted that we watch until he made it in...so 40 minutes later we were on our way to the museum. I'll be sure to post pictures later - they had a blast. We ended up staying until lunch and then going back until Clayton was way over exhausted. They had a "market" with fresh fruits and veggies, a grocery store, delivery truck and fork lift they could "drive". Beyond that was a house with a kitchen and treehouse. Clayton LOVED the water area that they had set up. The kids put on super cute rain jackets and fished and played - I think Clayton would have crawled into the water if I had let him. We played with "moon sand" - kind of a mix between playdough and real sand. There was an enormous easel to paint on and a huge ball area where there were all sorts of tracks, pulley's, water mechanics, and a bulldozer. I think we spent a good 4 hrs just playing and there were maybe 10 other kids in the whole place. I'm really not sure why we haven't been to our own Betty Brinn museum!

So only 1 more day of adventuring and then the trip home on Saturday morning (Mike's really dreading the chance of a similar experience to getting here!). OH...I almost forgot. One other lesson learned - DO NOT allow your husband to leave live sea creatures in a plastic cup filled with sand and ocean water in the cupholder of your car while it's 80 degrees outside. The smell when we went to get in the car for the zoo was enough to gag a magot! I wonder if the rental place charges extra for stench?!