We were supposed to spend a week at the beach this summer. First it was Navarre Beach, then The Oil Spill happened. So we moved it to Amelia Island, but Mike’s mom wasn’t doing so great, so we canceled that one as well. We were all pretty bummed–the girls were very much looking forward to a vacation. But it’s a good thing we never made it there.
If we had, we couldn’t have given Jim Bob and Holly a big fat “YES!” when they asked us to go with them on a little vacation to Chattanooga. The beach is swell and all, but the beach could not offer a reunion with some good friends. So Chattanooga it was. If you’ve been around here for any length of time, you’ve heard me mention Jim Bob and Holly once or twice. We’ve been missing them since they moved to Memphis. AND they went and had another baby (a girl!) that we had yet to meet.
After many, many IMs and phone calls, all the plans were made. So we set off last Sunday. Instead of going through every little detail, I’ve chosen a few (19) interesting pictures. If you’d like to see all 176 photos, go here.
We met up at the Tennessee Aquarium. It didn’t take too long for these three to become friends. (Again.)
We met Baby Janie. And yes, she was JUST this sweet and precious the whole trip. I think I heard her cry twice. Other than that, she was this happy, cooing, chubby little thing and I could have eaten her with a spoon.
I really like to take photographs of jellyfish. That is all.
The house we rented was not without its flaws. We spent a good half hour sweeping up dead fruitflies off the floor. Ew ew and EW. The refrigerator was broken. But! The owner very graciously provided us with a functioning COCKTAIL refrigerator. Which was PLENTY big enough for the food, milk, and most importantly, beer/wine we required. Actually, it was NOT big enough. We bought a lot of ice and got very creative. Also? When we tried to grill? No grill utensils. So Jim Bob literally risked his hands to grill our dinner. Using a kitchen spatula. It’s a wonder the tiny little thing didn’t catch on fire. The spatula, not Jim Bob.
The following day, we took the kids to Coolidge Park early. They played in the splashground for a few hours and then we had a picnic lunch. And also some ice cream. I asked for a waffle cone and would you believe they MADE me one? They did. It was divine.
Holly and Dylan riding a very ferocious looking horse.
We had some company during our picnic in the form of dozens of small birds. I think Avery had maybe two bites of her banana-peanut butter-honey sandwich. The rest went into their little bird bellies.
After Coolidge Park, showers, and naps, we drove through a downpour to get to the Children’s Museum. Lucky us, they had an exhibit called Grossology about all the nasty things the human body does. This little exhibit allowed you to squeeze a rubber thing that would then shoot out some nasty bodily odor. I think this was feet. The rest of the day, that “smell” kept coming back to me. Matter of fact, as I write this, I can smell it again. LOVELY!
Dylan climbed some (clearly diseased) skin with a little help from his dad.
Would you like some peaches? These were discovered in a cabinet at the house. I don’t know much about canning, but I’m pretty sure that once homemade canned peaches are opened, they should probably be refrigerated. Am I right? I totally am.
Our last day in Chattanooga brought us to Lookout Mountain and Rock City. This is me on the Incline Railway. You can’t tell, but my hands are sweating. I don’t like heights. Not at all. We’ll get back to that little phobia of mine in a minute.
This? This is my preferred vantage point for “scenic views”. Safely AWAY from the edge.
Annnnnd this is Zoe attempting to stand on her head. While on a large boulder. Jim Bob was laughing at me for being so nervous in Rock City, but when you have these hooligans to chase around, it can’t be helped.
Here’s Avery making me nervous on a ROCKY BRIDGE OF DOOM. I feel certain Mike took this picture because my hands would have been so sweaty I would have dropped the camera.
But amongst all the doom and imminent peril, there was also THIS. And it totally makes up for the gray hairs I acquired on this day. Zoe has told me many times that Dylan is her best friend.
Holly has SEVEN STATES coming out of her head! Or is it SIX STATES? I’m not sure, but I know it must be shouted at all costs.
When I was a kid, my parents took me to Fairyland Caverns inside Rock City. I do not remember it being so creepy.
Seriously? These little girls are going to eat me in my sleep. Probably while I’m falling off a large cliff. I JUST KNOW IT.
And that was our little trip in (barely) less than 900 words. We had SO much fun and we’re really looking forward to the next one in 2012. Nashville, baby!
