With all the traveling Chris has done lately and Lisa’s trip with Mimi and Stacy Leia asked when she was going to get to take a trip so we decided we should all go on a fun family trip to Chattanooga, TN. Leia was so excited to go! She talked about it for a solid week and counted down the days. Unfortunately, before we left Lisa and the girls started getting cold like symptoms and weren’t feeling that great so instead of getting up early Friday to hit the road we slept in a little but still managed to get up to Chattanooga before lunch to check in to the hotel. Within minutes of getting into our room Leia told mommy I am sick :(. About 10 minute later she said she felt fine and wanted to go have fun so off we went opting to do the free attractions just in case Leia got sick again. She did great all afternoon. We started with lunch and learned to play tic-tac-toe as we waited on the food, visited Coolridge Park to ride the merry-go-round and play in the fountain, then grabbed dessert before heading back to the hotel to swim and relax. At bedtime daddy and mommy were surprised/relieved at how well the girls went to bed – the long day and short naps in car may have had something to do with it but we were thankful. At 12:30 Lisa awoke to the sound of Leia sick again 🙁 :(. Lisa woke Chris to help clean up and care for Princess Leia. The light sleepier Ivy was awake within seconds but did great watching all the commotion as we cared for big sister. It was not fun cleaning up blankets, lovey and stuffed animals in the hotel sick but we did it. After getting new sheets and everything clean we got everyone settled for the night again. Daddy and mommy were pleasantry surprised again at how nicely the girls went down and prayed that Leia felt better in the morning.

On the way to Chattanooga

In the room waiting on a key before Leia got sick

Love how quickly kids rebound as we entertained ourselves waiting on lunch to arrive

Fun at Coolridge Park

Quick stop for a sweet treat

Saturday morning Leia woke bright and early. After going to bed late and a eventful night mommy told Leia we had to rest more and rubbed Leia’s back until she fell back asleep but she was up again at 7:30 (eastern time, our bodies were still on central time). Daddy and Ivy slept in till after 9 so Leia and mommy quietly played to let the sleepy heads rest. We headed to breakfast before starting a long fun day at the aquarium and Discovery Museum. Ivy liked looking at the fish a little but Leia was not impressed at the aquarium and said she rather go back to the hotel to rest. Mommy and daddy told her we should try the other museum first and she perked up there. Both girls enjoyed playing in water tables, building arches with blocks, creating art, playing house and doctor, exploring other exhibits and more. This was the best children’s museum we have been too. The girls did not want to leave so we closed the place down. in hindsight we should had tired the kids out at the hands on museum so Chris and Lisa could had enjoyed the aquarium more. This trip was the first time the girls noticed that we drove over the bridges with water under us so we walked down by the river after the museum closed to let the girls have a closer look. It is inspiring to look at the world through a child’s eyes and rediscover the wonders of the world. The girls passed out on the way back to the car so we took it easy the rest of the day grabbing a quick dinner and playing in the hotel room before calling it a night.

The girls loved looking out the window at how high they were

Tennessee Aquarium
     

Hands on museum

The girls liked these blocks and building arches of course Ivy thought it was more fun to crawl on them

Art time – always a favorite

Parachute fun! It was difficult to get a good picture of Ivy while I was holding her

The girls LOVED this kitchen. It was an awesome full kitchen just their size

Cracked me up that Ivy looked like she was putting a little boy in the oven

Ivy thought she was big climbing up to do the slide by herself!

Fun in the doctor office

In the traveling tree top exhibit

Ivy sat and listened to half a story before losing interest

Wish we could put the video Chris got of the girls up

The girls loved the tents!

All aboard

Ivy loves to find the babies

Girls playing checkers

We found this room as we were leaving. I think the girls would had played there longer if they could had

At the bridge enjoying time by the water

Within a few minutes by the water the girls were out

They got just enough energy to be carried to dinner

and play before bedtime

Sunday, we had planned on going to the Incline Railroad but Leia said she just wanted to get home and it was raining so we headed to sweet home Alabama stopping at Mimi’s house at the girl’s request for lunch and a little play but ended up spending the night with cousins Sara and Katie. The girls loved the girls’ spend the night party there! We got to swim after dark with the light on, have a movie and popcorn night, and all the girls got to sleep in Mimi’s bed with her. What a great weekend full of fun memories!