Chatta"hooga" Fun...

Last weekend we decided to have a little getaway with the kids to Chattanooga to visit the Tennessee Aquarium, The Incline Railway, and the Choo-Choo. Lately, traveling with our little ones has been a challenge, but isn't that the way it is with preschoolers and toddlers? We left Friday at lunch in the hopes that a nice snooze would quickly follow full little tummies. Well... Addie got the memo as usual and was asleep about 50 mins into the ride. As for Drew.... he fell asleep as we were entering the city limits of Chattanooga 2 hours and 15 minutes after our departure. We try everything to entertain him, food... books...DVDS... and nothing makes the ride better for this little boy. To look on the bright side of things at least he did not throw up in the car... but I know that is to come in the future.

Kyle decided we needed to stay at the Chattanooga Choo-Choo Hotel. The old Train Depot has been transformed into a wonderful and fun hotel that is perfect for families. Addie and Drew had a great time playing in the gardens and fountains.

Addie knows when we are in a different city on a trip because we cave to her wishes.

Drew giving us the "What you taking about?" look.

After an ice cream treat for Addie and four trips back to the room/car trying to find Drew's precious sippy cup... which was found in the trash can placed their by guess who.... we went on a trolley ride. Addie still thinks it was a train ride.
The trolley was used in the 1920s until the 1960s.

Our very nice conductor who helped us with all of our loot.

Addie in front of the "Train" car.

Catching a ride on the Choo-Choo.

Back to the kiddie rides before getting a bite to eat.

Another Chattanooga must for kids...

Not a mile I would like to hike ANY time soon.

After the Incline, we took the crew back to the hotel to take in a swim before hitting the hay. Our plan... to make Addie and Drew so tired, they would have to sleep. Well, another lesson has been learned. The pool was so cold, I could hardly stand in it. Drew did not like the cold one bit and was in and out, thus Kyle was chasing him around the pool. Little fish Addie was happy swimming in the Arctic waters. Kyle and Drew went in for a bath while Addie and I played around in the pool a little bit longer. Once Addie's lips were blue, I decided it was time to go get warmed up with a nice hot bath. By 10:00, Addie was sleeping beside me and Kyle was still wrestling our night owl Drew. By 11:00 all is well in the room and we are settled in for a long night's sleep right? WRONG!
Around 12am Kyle woke up from a dream saying "Sorry Drew!" over and over. He had a dream that Drew had fallen off the bed. Luckily, I was the only one that woke up.
Then around 2:30 am, Addie woke up wanting water and complaining that she was thirsty. This was my little blessing to get away from Addie. Before I could really get of of her pillow, she was throwing up in the bed. My guess for the vomit is drinking the pool water which has been an issue this summer. So here we are in the hotel with vomit in the bed (lucky for me at the bottom and on a blanket that can be taken off), Addie's sleeping bag and pillow that she must travel with at all times, and all over Addie. A quick bath (with Addie half asleep) and a pioneer style washing of blanket and pillow later we are back to bed until 7 am.
I told you traveling with our youngsters has been adventuresome lately.

After a great breakfast and a little exploration of the hotel lobby,
we were ready for the aquarium.

The pretty dome of the hotel lobby.

Addie and Drew playing in the telephone booth at the hotel.

The aquarium was great and Addie absolutely loved it! She just soaks up everything right now and can rattle off so many ocean and river animals.

Kyle touching the sting rays... Addie did not like to touch just look.

I loved the butterfly garden and Drew was fascinated with the mist that was spraying to keep the area moist and humid. As for Addie, it was a little to tranquil for her, so we quickly left.

Drew trying to catch a butterfly or pointing to the butterflies...
it is still a guessing game with him.

Addie's 1 minute observation of the butterfly.

The next floor had Addie's favorite animal of the day
PENGUINS!

Look how loving and still this penguin is for a picture:)

Addie finding Nemo...

Drew looking at the sea turtle with no back legs...

The shark that scared Addie really good coming from the corner...

Going back to visit the peguins one last time before leaving...

Playing outside the aquarium in the "creek"...
next time we will be more prepared.

On the road again...
this time with children that are so tired they slept from Chattanooga to Dickson.

The play date...

One of the good things about being off during the summers is Play Dates. Addie loves friends coming to visit. Her most special friend Aubree came to spend the day a couple of weeks ago. When I told Addie that Aubree was going to spend the whole day with us you would have thought I had told her she could eat ice cream for dinner for the rest of her life. And this is what is so funny and special about this little friendship. They see each other all the time but every time they see each other it is like it's the first time in weeks.

Addie and Drew waiting for Aubree to arrive.
(This is where I learned an important lesson. Don't tell your four year old her best friend will come over when they wake up. Because if your four year old is like my four year old, she will wake up extra early... like 6 am... and expect her friend to be here when really she isn't supposed to arrive until 9.
I should know better.)

Once Aubree arrived, we played birthday party, princess and the castle, and Dora. After that lost its zing, we headed outside for fun with the slip n slide, swings, and sprinkler. Aubree is a nut when it comes to the water and was a joy to watch.

Cookie break on the carport.
Drew can already get in the middle of the girls.

Secrets between friends

A play date at Addie's house is not complete until
we share our pjs and bake some kind of sweet treat.

This is when the only problem of the day occurred. Addie wanted to eat her cookie inside because it was "too hot" and Aubree wanted to eat her cookie on the steps outside. So how do these friends compromise and do what they want. Addie eats her cookie inside next to the back door. Aubree sits on the steps outside and eats her cookie and the two friends talk to each other through the french door. It was so cute and so telling of these two little people... you just have to love them.
After the sweet treat and movie, we headed back outside for bubbles.

Growing up I had a lot of friends but I never had a friendship like this one at such a young age. Yes it is a "built in" friendship since Aubree's mom and I are friends, we were preggers together, and these two little girls were thrown together from the get go. But when you watch the two A's together, it is something special... they are in there own little world and I hope it lasts forever.

What's Drew up to?

What can I say about my little man?
He is growing up way.to.fast.
He is all toddler and is keeping us on our toes this summer.
I cannot decide if his nickname should be Rover or Bruiser? I think Rover would be good because that best describes how he just wonders around with his cowboy swagger where ever he goes... but then Bruiser is also fitting because Drew can get bruised, scraped, or scratched in a matter of minutes where ever he is... in a cozy bed full of pillows or outside in a briar patch... does.not.matter. He will get hurt.
The lessons of boyhood are coming out in full force.

One big change that happened this past week.
We gave up these lovely items.

After about three months of pushing a sippy cup, Drew finally made up his mind about the bottle. It figures, since I just bought new ones two weeks ago. So no more bottles to wash at night which makes me really sad. Looking around the house the baby gear just keeps getting pushed into the attic. Again my baby boy is growing up too fast.

17 Things you might not know about Drew...

1. He is 15 1/2 months old.
2. Drinks out of a Mickey Mouse Sippy.
3. Can tell you how old he is holding up his finger.
4. Can out sleep any teenager... about 13 hours in a row if we let him.
5. Likes loud noises like lawnmowers and weed eaters.
6. Likes to "vacuum".
7. Likes to eat whatever you are eating and can drink from a straw.
8. Can tell you what a snake and dog say.
9. His favorite books are Pirate Pete and Humpty Dumpty.
10. Likes to dance.
11. Can stay outside all day if you let him. Loves sand, salt water, dirt, and grass.
    
12. Likes to throw things in the trash can.
    
13. Some examples: Addie's mermaid puzzle, diapers, the peanut butter jar lid, remotes, and whatever else I have not found missing yet.
    
14. If he is upset, Addie sings to him and almost always it calms him down.
15. Likes to play with remotes. I have caught him twice pulling them out of the drawer and when he sees me watching, he quickly puts them back... with a smile.
16. Likes to chew toilet paper.
17. Has a killer smile and uses it a lot.