Chattanooga Vacation Day 4: Packin' Up and Lots of Tears

On the last day, Aunt Karla, Uncle Gary, Ally and her boyfriend joined in the fun.  We packed up and headed for home after lunch.  It was a terrible ride home!  Anna cried most of it, it rained, and when it didn't rain, we got hit with some weird wintery mix.  The last 2 hours was driving in the dark with the weird mix.  We only stopped once and Anna had a bad diaper rash, but we MADE it, and we vowed we'd never take a trip again (at least without a van)!  We were so glad to get home, especially with the nice surprise we came home to! -T

Mae slept VERY well at night - you can see why a king-sized bed didn't  necessarily mean we had all the room we wanted when we slept

If I ever build a house for us - our bedroom will have a balcony - I've always liked balconies

Story time: Mae is very routine oriented.  When I didn't have a cup for her after she would brush her teeth at night, I grabbed this soap box that I dumped the soap out of.  It was only supposed to be for the first night, but when I tried to use a real cup the next night - Mae wanted the box.  It leaked everywhere, but it kept her routine. =)

She gave it a thumbs up

Mom and Mae

More story time: The night before this, I brushed Mae’s teeth and then started filling up the Jacuzzi so Lindsey could take a bath after the girls went down, plus Mae liked playing with the nozzles that she could reach.  I pushed the jets to make sure they worked and they did.  So, we waited and waited for it to fill while Mae played with the nozzles (I made sure it was going to be warm).  Once the water was above the jets Mae wanted to push the Jacuzzi jets again.  By this time, Lindsey was getting annoyed and wondered what we were doing.  She came to the bathroom door just as I was pushing the jet button.  I’m not sure what happened but water started spraying EVERYWHERE.  Mae went sprinting out of the bathroom and was terrified.  I was soaked and couldn’t stop laughing.  We'll leave out the part of the story where we started a leak downstairs.  When we took this picture to remember the incident - Mae started to cry as she wanted no part of the Jacuzzi ever again!

The Granddaughters

They all actually did pretty good with these pictures

Then they started to lose it

And once Grandma and Grandpa got in there, the focus was completely gone

This one turned out pretty well though!

Tender moments

This kept Mae happy on the ride home

Staring at herself for 6 1/2 hours didn't make Anna happy

Papa D and Grandma Weez had a GREAT gift waiting for us upon our return!

This closet previously was an absolute disaster to open and close with the two sliding doors that were previously there

As soon as it came in from the car, the Nativity Set instantly came out -  we wished Audrey was here to play with it too!

Chattanooga Vacation Day 3: Hangin' Around

This day was a day of just playing and relaxing.  Audrey and Mae and so much fun playing together especially with the Nativity Set that plays music; we heard music from that about half the day.  Watching those two was one of our favorite parts of the trip.  We took a walk down to the creek which was a disappointment because there was a big landing down there but you couldn't get to it.  So it was just a quick walk down a very steep hill, look at the dirty creek, and then go back up the steep hill.  It was good exercise for the day though.  We also played games, got in the hot tub, and went to the park.

Many of us didn't even know what the other side of the Nativity Set looked like until much later in the day because it was always being used

Our view down to the creek

This landing was fenced off so we couldn't run around and play down there

This was about as much space as we had to roam around next to the creek

Mae with the cabin way up there

Audrey did find a big stick to play with

Throwing sticks into the creek

A steep trip back

Grandpa kept telling them not to push the button to the music  again and when they did he would have this reaction

This is Audrey and Mae getting ready to initiate the Grandpa reaction

They loved it!

A little Jenga anyone?

It looks like everyone is doing their own thing

Game on!

Good job, Mae!

She was forced to do this - I'm not sure who was more upset about it - Mae or her mother

It all worked out fine though

A ride in the park

Aunt Kylee spinning with Mae

Madilyn and Uncle Ryan doing the running man

Again, Anna was just happy to be there

Disappointed it's dark - they loved chasing each other on the porch

Chattanooga Vacation Day 2: Christmas & Museum

It was the Spjut Family Christmas morning. We did our individual gift exchange in the morning where everyone had drawn a name.  We then got ready, packed some lunches, and headed to the Chattanooga Children's Museum.  It was a really cool place and the kids loved it (if the adults say they didn't love it too, they are lying).  In the evening, Grandma and Grandpa busted out their gifts for everyone.  It was a very full but very fun day. -T

"Christmas morning" (actually this was the night before, but it was still dark here so it seemed more "Christmas morningish" and I didn't have much in the ways of a bunch of people in a picture in the morning so this will have to do

Anna - ready for her first Christmas

Everyone loves Grandpa

Anna was too slow to the party

The cousins gift exchange - Mae looks as if she really didn't know what she was getting them

To: Mae/Anna From: Madilyn/Audrey

Anna was happy to just get the paper from the gift

Mae tried to thank Audrey with a hug - totally rejected.

Lindsey's magical gift from Amie - she has wanted this for awhile now

Who needs new toys when you have a "horse" already in the house!

Pushing the horsey

The Children's Museum - Aunt Kylee and Aunt Jackie bringing the fun

Grandpa trying to stay in the seat and balance to hold granddaughters at the same time

Anna wanted to play bowling with the Chess pieces

Mae was unsure about this water in the beginning; Anna loved it right away.   Eventually Mae warmed up to it and even starting drinking it

Aunt Jackie and Mae preparing for the slide

Good timing on the picture, Dad! (Yeah, I nailed it!)

She would need a little nudge from time to time but she grasped it

This was not easy for an adult to get up through

I was actually very surprised she just did this without help -  it was a long way down!

Happy!!! Nope, just "showing her teeth"

Just chillin'

We pumped this lever to get water to come out down the funnel; it excited Mae that she would bounce and forth  - I got a good shot of her hair on the bounce

Shooting the water up

Possible Mae's favorite part - you would push a button to have that specific instrument join into the song that was already playing - Mae directed it 

We were here awhile

Grandpa and Mae dancing

The other side of it

Mae and Anna are going to put on a play

Nope, Anna doesn't think it's a good idea

Something is spooking Aunt Kylee out behind the puppet show - from her reaction I thought it was nothing less than a tarantula 

It was just the creepy eyes

Madilyn and Audrey DID put on a play - I got to be the stage guy doing  the sun and clouds...Madilyn should write plays as the 2 or 3 she came up with were VERY entertaning

Mae thought she would bow even though she really didn't want to be in it

Playing with Aunt Amie

Mae and Audrey as if they were bees

Busy bees

Across the parking lot is the home of the FORMER AA Reds Affiliate Chattanooga Lookouts (currently the Dodgers AA affiliate)

Up in the tower

In the tower with Grandpa

Anna got a nap during the afternoon and was happy

She wouldn't do this bubble toy when we first got there, but like I said, she got braver during the afternoon and by the end was willing to do it

Mom feeding Anna

The gifts then started up again - Mae (and Audrey) absolutely loved this gift!

Telling Aunt Kylee how excited she is for the music playing Nativity Set

Anna liked hers too

But again, mainly the paper

I wanna say it might be too big for her for another month or so

Mae helping Mom

Anna's just happy to be there