Chattanooga 2010

We took a weekend trip to Chattanooga last weekend. Brian wasn't able to take off work for Fall Break, so we decided to celebrate it a little bit early and take a short trip. We had a great time. The weather was beautiful and so were the views. Brian is a little bit of a history buff, so we had to see all the civil war sites and we went to the Tennessee Aquarium. Here are a few pics.



This was at Chickamauga/Chattanooga Miltary Park





There was all kinds of monuments to commemorate the civil war soldiers.



Swimming lessons.. she's getting there. Forgot the lifejackets and had to buy them at Gander Mountain on the way there. You always forget something.



Dalton can swim, he just hasn't learned to float when he stops swimming. As soon as he stops, he sinks!!



The Aquarium was cool. I thought it was better than Gatlinburg's.






This was a really cool area. This was the site of the battle that was fought on Lookout Mountain.

 


The views were awesome, but it made me weak in the knees. We decided not to venture Rock City since we got the same views from this area, plus it was free, can't beat that. We did miss all the gnomes at Rock City, oh well!

 




When we left, this was the scene on the moutain.  I can see why the battle was called the "Battle above the Clouds".

Hope you enjoyed the history lesson.  Since we had to take a day off school to go, we decided we would make it educational as we could.  It was good weekend getaway!

Of course all good vacations must end with someone getting sick.  Olivia got a terrible stomach virus and has missed all four days before fall break.  She is better today thankfully.  I'm so glad no one else caught it.  We were lucky! 

Fair Day

The kids were so excited to ride in the parade. We had bought lots of candy, but still ran out before the end of the parade. It was so much fun spending time with friends and reminicing about Fair Day when we went to school. I don't know of any other counties that do this. Everyone at work didn't know how to react when I said I was taking off for "Fair Day" at school.

The Guys

All the Girls (Emma Grace, Lilly, Olivia and Alyssa)

Good Friends

More good friends and Candy!!

Dalton won 1st place in Coloring!!!

Olivia's school poster won a Blue Ribbon!

Mamaw Helen rode in the parade and went to the Fair with us.  The kids are so lucky to have a great grandparent that loves to spend time with them.

Girls had fun riding all the rides!  It was hot, but they stuck it out.  They were all so tired.

Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day weekend was spent doing things like above and enjoying the beautiful weather.  My dad came over and we roasted marshmallows and just sat by the fire.  It was great.  I will miss all the swimming and summer activities, but I really love fall weather and all the fall activities.  I love going to pick out pumpkins, buying new fall decorations and preparing for Halloween.  Bring on fall, I'm ready..      

Picture Day

Well, I only have one participant in the picture day picture.  Dalton decided to get dressed at Granny's before school (he had some extra snooze time while Olivia was getting ready), so he had "no photo available".  Hopefully she will get to school looking this pretty. 

Even Braver Little Girl Story

Well, I have a follow-up story from Olivia's ear piercing that most definitely rivals the first.  I noticed soon after we took the picture I put on the blog that one of the earrings was higher than the other.  Well, I told the lady at Claire's about it and she said that unless you really stare at her you couldn't tell it, but if I wanted it repierced that I needed to take that earring out, give it 24 hours and come back and they would do it.  Everytime I looked at her, I noticed it, it drove me crazy.  We happen to be in BG on Saturday and Olivia agreed to let the lady take the earring out and go back and have it repierced on Sunday (it took a long while to convince her this was the best thing and I had to promise her just about anything to get it done).   The only thing she wanted was for me to hold her hand when they did it.  I could tell she was nervous, but she was a trooper and sat up in the chair and had it done.  I never thought one little trip to Claire's would turn such a crazy ordeal....  I think she will thank me in years to come when her earrings are perfectly straight.  I'm sure she forgot about all the stress of the weekend as soon as she showed the girls at school this morning.... 

My Brave Little Girl

Well, I underestimated Miss Olivia.  She was ready and determined to get her ears pierced, so we went to the mall when I came home from work this afternoon.  I've never seen a more brave little girl.  She never once even showed a hint of being upset.  I was very proud of her.  This smile lasted the rest of the night.  

Good job Liv!! 

Fishing Anyone??

Well, my two kids love going fishing. This tickles both my husband and Dad to death. They love going down to the pond and getting dirty with all the worms and everything. Olivia got a new pole (she graduated from the Barbie pole to a real fishing pole) and she caught the first fish of the day with her new pole. Didn't get a picture of the fish, but did catch a few pics the next day when they went back for more.

Sweet (especially because he was getting Olivia's pole untangled)

Go figure, not a bit scared of a worm...  teeth pulling and getting her ears pierced she can't handle too well. 

On a side note, Olivia lost her second tooth and Brian pulled it with no problem.   Also, we ventured to the Mall on Saturday and Olivia almost got her ears pierced.  Almost.  I blame Brian, he was joking, talking about how big the ear piercing guns were and the sounds they make.  Never allow Dads to go to Claire's and offer any encouragement on ear piercing.  Dads have issues about ear piercing; I think it's a sign that their little girls are becoming young ladies.  Can't say I blame them too bad...