One last time

I already posted about the first day of school about a month ago. School started on Aug 10. That Saturday Aug. 15th, we decided to hit Callaway Gardens one last time before our yearly pass expired. This was the only day opened to go since the next two Saturdays we had things going on.
Since we got there pretty early, we decided to do a few thing before hitting the beach while it wasn't too hot out. First off, those who wanted to go on the paddle boats went with Jon while I took the the others on the train.

Connor, Hayden, and Talmage on the train

Brenton, Jon, Payton, and Kennedy taken while on the train

We then did some miniature golfing kids style not keeping score and picking up your ball and placing it where ever whenever you feel like it. The kids were way to fast to get some good shots of them.

Hayden


Then the kids were asking for lunch so we ate and then headed over to the beach. I didn't bring my camera to the beach since I took lots of pictures the last time we were here and we did the same stuff as before. After over 3 hours at the beach, we decided to shower up and do some of the things we have never done here before. First off, we headed over to a log cabin. It was a little one room log cabin with a loft. I would hate to live in that small house with lots of kids like they had back then or even with the amount of kids I have. I need my space. Then we headed over to the Horticultural Center. This place was awesome. The landscaping and plants were beautiful. The kids loved feeding the fish.

Gretta and Hayden note to me for next time don't forget the comb and brush

Talmage and Hayden

Connor

Kennedy, Hayden, and Payton

Kennedy crossing a bridge

Payton


The starving fish. Thank you nice couple who gave my kids some quarters to feed the fish.

The back side of a water fall

Last we went to the lake to see a water fall (not the above picture) that was a joke but I did get this beautiful picture of the lake.

We stopped of for dinner on our way home. We will miss you Callaway Gardens. Thanks for the great times and the memories. I am so glad we finally did and saw everything there is to do there that isn't an extra price of course.

The Beach!

On July 23rd we went to Callaway Gardens. We started out about an hour later than we had hoped. We got stuck in some traffic for 45 minutes. There was an accident on the highway we were already down one lane because of road construction and then with the accident we were down to only one lane. So instead of taking just under 2 hours it took almost 3 hours. When we finally got there we found our usual picnic spot and ate lunch. Then we headed over to the butterfly garden center. I love this garden. They have some pretty awesome plants and flowers that I would love in my yard. I could stay and enjoy the garden for a long while, but this place is very humid and hot so about 10-15 minutes is about all we can handle. This is the first time I got so many great pictures of butterflies. Usually, I only get one good one each time we go.

Next, we headed over to the beach. The kids kept saying "the beach" like Mr. Bean does in Mr. Beans Holiday. That was the last of the summer free movies we saw. By the time we got there it was peak hotness. So the water felt wonderful. The kids started off by making a sand castle with the help of Jon.

Payton getting water for the sand castle

Talmage and Hayden building a sand castle

Brenton, Talmage, Payton, and Hayden working on the sand castle

A few hours later we headed over to the train. Last year, the train wasn't running so we wanted to make sure we got it in.

The train

Kennedy, Hayden, and Payton on the train.

Brenton and Talmage on the train.

After the train ride, we went back to the beach for some more water fun. A while later the clouds were getting real dark. I started gathering our things together and folding up the blankets in case we needed to make a quick get away. A few moments later it started raining and then there was a real loud thunder and the life guards made everyone get out of the lake. Then we took our stuff and ran to the car. We threw the stuff in the car and headed over to the showers and changing room. By this time it was raining like crazy luckily we were all in our suits so it didn't bother us. After our showers and getting changed, the rain was starting to slow down a bit but thunder was still in the air. The kids weren't ready to go yet so we checked out a few things we had never done before because we go here in the summer and everything there is to do is all outdoors and way to hot to do in the summer. The rain cooled things down at least 10-15 degrees. When we got to the vegetable garden the rain had stopped all together. This garden is huge. They have every kind of veggie you could think to grow here. They sell some and use some in their restaurants. Our favorite was the benches with grape vines shaded them. I would love to have something like this in my yard. After this, we were starting to get hungry for dinner so we decided to leave and find a restaurant on our way home. We had great traffic on our way home.

Labor Day

We went to Callaway Gardens for Labor Day since we had the year pass. Jon's parents spent the weekend celebrating their birthday's in a cabin there. We met up with them for a few minutes while they were packing up to leave for home. The weather wasn't that great. It was overcast and rainy. Since it was rainy, we decided to do some shuffle board they had an overhang over the two ends so you could stay dry. Of course, the kids didn't care if they got wet.

Kennedy

Hayden

Talmage and Kennedy

Brenton and Jon

When the rain stopped, we went miniature golfing since we weren't able to go last time we promised the kids we would do it this time. We gave each kid a ball and putter and let them go. We didn't keep score. It wasn't crowded at all because of the weather. So there was no one miniature golfing except us.

Hayden

Payton

Brenton

Kennedy

Then we went to the paddle boats. Jon took a group of 3 kids and I took the other 3 kids. Boy could I feel the burn in my thighs.

Connor, Kennedy, Jon can't see Payton

Brenton, Hayden, Talmage

Next, we headed to the beach. I didn't take any pictures while at the beach because it kept raining off and on the whole time (and I took some last month when we went). We made sand castles and swam a little in the lake. This part of the trip would have been better with a little more sun. Oh well, we still had a great time.