Our Big Fat Baptist Vacation (part 1)

We have been going to Hilton Head on vacation for close to 19 years. Since the little kids were born, we've only been a of couple times and then with only part of the family. We have always left some or all of the kids with Becky. This year, since I had gone back to work and the budget had some cushion, we decided that this was the year everyone was going to HHI. Can I tell you, we have been over the top excited about this trip since January?!?!

Let me also say... 6 people, one of whom is an admitted over-packer, can fill a mini van with no extra space whatsoever. Even the doll had to have special arrangements.

We left on Friday for a special surprise. We didn't even tell the kids where we were going. We just told them to get up and dressed because we were leaving a day early. They, of course were just excited to be off on a vacation. Alex was nearly overcome with curiosity, it was funny to watch.

We drove into Atlanta right at lunch time, you know what that means... The Varsity. After some orange drinks and hotdogs (and a surprise appearance by some friends from home) we headed to see the sights.

We visited Centennial Park and the CNN Center. It was SO HOT! We had some italian ice to cool us off.

Notice the blue lips/teeth, courtesy of blue raspberry.

Alex...always the willing subject of a pic (NOT)

More blue lips

Mango does not turn the lips a different color but it is still so very goodThen for the big surprise.... we went to a Braves game. Alex had been to a game with us several years ago. The little kids were more excited about the fireworks at the end of the game than any strategy or stats. They really couldn't understand the man in front of us who was watching the game and keeping stats on his iPad. Has there ever been a more stylish Braves fan, I think not :)

We watched a super fireworks show when the game ended. After the show we drove through Atlanta at night and headed to our hotel. On the advice from a friend I had "bid" on a hotel. We got a 4 star hotel for a steal of a deal. We even had a room that faced the airport so the kids (and big kids as well) could watch planes land and take off. It was a great day and night. What a way to start a vacation!