Nikole’s Visit to Georgia

It was so fun to have Chris’ sister, Nikole and her three kids come for her first visit to Georgia.  It was perfect timing since we wanted to do some last visits to all our favorite places anyway.

Itinerary for the week:

Tuesday

• Chris picked  them up from the airport at 10:30pm and they arrived home at 12:30am.

Wednesday 

• Early lunch at our favorite restaurant – Thai House.  Every time we go we get the same thing,  egg rolls and chicken broth soup and mild sweet curry and rice for Lisa and medium spicy sweet curry and rice for Chris.
• Up to Callaway Gardens to walk through the Azalea Bowl… perfect timing for a gorgeous walk through the azaleas and forests trails. 
• Over to the the Butterfly Conservatory to walk through real Georgia summer humidity
• BBQ hotdogs, chips, fruit salad and margaritas for dinner
• Lisa, Ryan and Katie over to the church for scouts and ‘Teacher Appreciation Dinner’ for YW/YM
• Chris and Nikole took the rest of the kids to Hollywood Connection to play on the bumper cars, swings, carousel etc.  where they had to answer multiple questions about being married and having a blended family.

Thursday

• Chris worked a half day.  Tyler, Spencer, Kayla, and Luke played outside in the backyard.  Nikole and I took our time talking and getting ready.
• Drove downtown Columbus and walked up and down Broadway looking at all the cool statues and enjoying the warm weather.
• Met Chris at Houlihans for lunch.  Had our favorite: Mexican tortilla soup (the best!) and potatoes, carrots and pot roast (so good.)
• Walked down to the River walk, walked along the Chattahoochee, and pointed over to Alabama.
• Home to find the school kids waiting for us on the lawn.  Cousins played outside.
• Went to Ryan’s soccer game and took a blanket and sandwiches, chips and drinks to eat while we watched. 

Friday

• Emily and Megan stayed home from school to play with their cousins.  (Hope they pass Pre-K and First grade now.)
• Chris worked a half day and met us at Chick Fil A for lunch.  Kids played in the play place.
• Lisa went home to sleep to get rid of a headache. 
• Chris, Nikole and kids headed over to Flat Rock Park to play around the stream and on the playground.
• At 5:00 Chris picked up Riley to babysit Megan, Luke, Kayla and Matthew while Chris, Nikole, Ryan, Katie, Emily, Tyler and Spencer and I went up to an Atlanta Braves' Baseball game.  SO FUN!
• Stayed for the fireworks show after the win.

Saturday

• Played at home, relaxed
• Chris, Ryan, Katie, Emily, Tyler and Spencer went to Ryan’s soccer game at 12:00
• Ate sandwiches at home
• Headed to Robin Lake to play on the sand, swim in the lake, eat cookies and enjoy the warm weather
• Come home and BBQ’d chicken kabobs, and ate snicker bar salad.  Ate out on the patio.  Played in the backyard until it got dark.

Sunday

• Went to church from 11:00 – 2:00
• Had a big Sunday dinner
• Played several games of Ticket to Ride

Monday

• Chris worked.
• Nikole and I and Tyler, Spencer, Kayla, Luke and Matthew went to the mall for a litle while and ate pretzels at Auntie Anne’s.
• Went to Lake Bottom Park to play at the playgrounds.
• Went to Red Robin for dinner
• Went on another River walk trail that we love… this time going farther than we’ve ever gone before.   Kids were TIRED walking back.
• Said goodnight and goodbyes.  Chris drove them to the airport at 3:30am

Walking through the Azaleas and Trails at Callaway Gardens…

Cute cousins – Luke and Kayla   (Kayla is 2 1/2 weeks older than Luke)

Love Luke’s silly faces

Spencer – 5 years old

Tyler – 7 years old

     

Playing at Flat Rock Park…

Spencer and Megan (Spencer about 6 months older than Megan) 

Tyler and Emily (Emily about two weeks older than Tyler)

Atlanta Braves game at Turner Field…

  

 

Playing at Robin Lake…     

Luke and Kayla did not want to be in the picture – too busy playing in the water.

Matthew taking steps to Katie

 

Riverwalk Trail…

 

We had never gotten to this part of the trail before.  Another view of the Chattahoochee River.

 

Where the trail ended was an old crumbling brick building.  Ryan and I hiked up a little trail to have a better look and take some pictures.  A fun discovery.