So naturally as Quinn's birthday approached she started asking "Where are we going for my birthday?" Hmmm, perhaps we started a dangerous trend. Clearly we couldn't go back to Europe again for a large variety of reasons but luckily BGA's fall break fell the weekend before her birthday giving us an opportunity to do something away from the house to celebrate. And well, if you can't go to Europe, the next best place is Atlanta, right?
The kids and I left Thursday morning, with Raif to follow Friday night due to some work commitments he couldn't get out of. We spent Thursday morning leisurely packing up, making sure we had everything. I even let the kids pack their bags themselves by simply telling them what they needed to pack. (Which led to Greyson wearing nothing but BGA t-shirts all weekend.) We pulled out of the driveway in plenty of time to get to Atlanta and through Chattanooga before rush hour. I was quite pleased with my "I don't need Raif's help. I can do it by myself." single parent morning. It wasn't til we got about a half an hour out of Nashville when the realization hit me like a bag of bricks. "I didn't put the kids bags in the back of the car." S.H.I.T. So now what? Do I turn around an add an hour to my drive putting me smack in the middle of Chattanooga and Atlanta rush hour? Or do I let Raif bring the bags Friday night leaving my kids without any change of clothes without a trip to the local mall?
We turned around.
Driving 3 1/2 hours with two kids whining about when we are going to get there is bad enough but then adding an hour to that from your own stupidity makes the car ride almost unbearable. I was in a foul mood, made worse by the stand still traffic in Chattanooga. Thank goodness for my darling Surabhi who had wine waiting for me when I finally got to Atlanta.
But from miserable beginnings our vacation had nowhere to go but up. We spent the weekend hitting all the major kid attractions Atlanta has to offer. (I would show you pictures of the Atlanta kids' museum but while I brought my camera I left the memory card at home. Raif was kind enough to bring that on Friday).
(Greyson showing off his Vandy pride while Raif and I enjoyed FlipBurger. Mmmmm Flipburger. Atlanta I do not miss your traffic but I do miss your food.)
(The kids outside the Georgia Aquarium. The only picture I took of any of the places we went that weekend.)
On Saturday night we took Quinn for her birthday dinner at Dante's Down the Hatch. Seriously, what could be better for two kids who love to eat well - fondue on a pirate ship?! At the end of meal Dante himself let Quinn open a 16th century pirate trunk, by picking the magic key from an old brass key ring, to find birthday treasure. That was pretty miserable for Greyson but it was made a little better when Dante suggested that he come back for his birthday. So Atlanta friends, you may see us in July!
(Quinn smelling the wine cork. I pity the boy that tries to take her out for a fancy meal. He will have no idea what he has gotten himself into.)
(The highlight of the evening for me. Birthday Daddy/Daughter dance to the jazz trio)
(The Kumars surprised Quinn with birthday balloons AND a cake when we got back from dinner. Quinn was over the moon.)
And while we enjoyed all the things we did, the best part of the weekend was celebrating Quinn's birthday by making new friends and reconnecting with old ones. A pretty good birthday weekend, if I do say so myself.
(Quinn, Anika, and Greyson. Nikhil was napping so he missed the group picture.)
(Those wild and crazy (and adorable) Roberts girls.)
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