Road Trip to Chattanooga

Erik and Robbie had a TV interview at a news station in Chattanooga for their book, The Guardian.

So we decided to do a family trip and I ask Sarah to go with us. We left after church on a Wednesday night and got their in time for bed. Erik and Robbie got about four hours sleep before they headed out to the news station. When Erik returned we were still sleeping. We got up and headed out to Sticky Fingers to eat. 

Kaleb and Sarah

My sweet family.

After our yummy lunch, we headed to the Discovery Center. The kids loved it! We can't wait to go back. 

Kaleb on the boat. 

Kaleigh just excited to be playing. 

She loved the water table and was drenched the whole time. It smelled just like bleach and gave me a headache, but the kids didn't seemed bothered at all. 

Sarah and the kids acting like monkeys. 

I took Kaleigh the the toddler play house area. It was adorable full size kitchen for kids. Kaleigh loved it. However, Sarah was with Kaleb and this SANDPIT is where we found them. I love sand everywhere for days. This was probably his favorite spot. Digging up dinosaur bones. 

Kaleigh soon followed. 

Explorers. One day our kids will be super proud of this picture. 

Sarah and Kaleb, two super scary dinosaurs. 

Another one the kids will LOVE when they are older. Sarah MADE us do it. PROMISE! ;)

Sweetest boy in the world. Beekeeper.

Kaleigh swinging on the roof. 

So while we were playing, some workers approached us and ask if we would like to be in a short musical. So I signed my sweet family right up. We headed over to the stage area and Erik, Kaleigh, and Kaleb, and three employees got suited up. So they played music and the bees acted like the were pollenating with the flowers. It was pretty funny. My hubby looks super cute in his flower headband and he was super thrilled that I volunteered him. He is the BEST daddy ever!

The stars of the show! 

We headed back home after a fun day in Chattanooga. It is such a fun city with so much for families. We can't wait to go back and stay longer. 

Wilson County Fair

Lebanon TN, is known for it's fair around the country. It is the main attraction every August. I LOVE the fair. The food, the rides, and PEOPLE WATCHING(convinced it is the best on the planet), it is too much fun! Kaleb and Kaleigh both love rides, so we decided to pick a night to go to the fair and take the kiddos. We picked Tuesday night and we met the Perry family and got there early to avoid the traffic. The kids were beyond excited. I love to see kids just beside them self excited! The kids wanted to ride the first thing they saw. 

Maddie, Ashton, and Kaleb. Kaleigh wasn't big enough. :(

But she was big enough for the train ride. Super safe seat belt, rope across the lap tied to the outside of the cart! WOWZER! 

A very excited Kaleb.

Poor Kaleigh, we bought her a $25 arm band and their was NOT a lot she could ride. I don't understand, all the kiddie rides are the same. You buckle up and go around in circles. Some she could ride, but others she could not. Hopefully, next year she will be taller. We walked down one side and then in the back of the fair was the kiddie area. So we hung out there for a while, before Alex started crying for food! ;) 

Kaleb, Ashton, and Maddie on the Wacky Worm.

Ashton and Kaleb on the Scrambler. CHEESING!

After they rode several rides, we had to get Alex some food so he would stop crying. So we headed toward the Midway. The kids ate corndogs and we got twisty potatoes and chicken on a stick and sweet tea. The kids were fueled, Alex was happy, so we headed back to the rides. 

Kaleb

Kaleb's favorite ride. It was a hang glider.

Kaleigh Grace

Kaleigh, super happy to be riding!

Kaleb on the drop ride. They probably rode it six times. It takes my stomach too much. But they were laughing and screaming.

Wishing she was taller. Bless her heart. It is the story of my life! ;)

Cooling off after a hot and fun filled night! 

The Perry family had to leave because they had school the next day, but us homeschoolers where still partying. We meet another family from church, the Cheuvronts. Kaleb and Cason rode a few rides together. Tiffany, Hadyn, Kaleigh, and I shared a funnel cake! YUMMY! Then they left due to school the next day. 

We rode a few more rides with some family and then called it a night! The kids were whiny all the way home, because they wanted to stay longer. They are so mistreated and deprived! ;)

Oh! I almost forgot the landscape shot! 

Landscaping around the game booths and food vendors. Not sure it adds much, but someone did!

Monkey Joe's

What kid doesn't love inflatables? We have Pump It Up in Mt Juliet, they have strange hours and they usually have preschool play times and school age play times. So it doesn't work out for us, b/c my kids can't play at the same time. There is Crazy Clyde's in Lebanon. Kaleb loves it there. The are open all day and they have a HUGE slide and a toddler area, so it is great. But I like to try new things and Monkey Joe's  is close to Hobby Lobby, JoAnn's and a mall! So we joined the Perry's one day for a full day in Rivergate. We went to Monkey Joe's and the kids loved it. It was super clean. They have several Toddler only areas, big kid fun, food, games, and internet. It is really nice. I also noticed, when taking the kids to the bathroom, that kids with special needs get in FREE!! Kaleigh was already free or half price, can't remember, but Kaleb will FREE next time too! I LOVE free stuff! Here are some pictures of our FUN!

                                                             Kaleigh Grace needing help.

 Kaleigh Grace loving life!

 The Best Buds, Kaleb and Ashton.

 Kaleb finally brave enough to go down the slide on his stomach.

Ashton is too cool for school.

The girls, Maddie and Kaleigh sliding!

Someone thought it would a great idea to break out the wallets and let the kids ride and play games. 

 Kaleigh on a jet.

Kaleb on the train. 

Kaleigh and Maddie waiting for skee ball. 

After our fun time at Monkey Joe's, the kids wanted Cici's Pizza for lunch! I would rather take a beating than eat that NASTY pizza. But it was all about the kids and I sucked it up and went. Well, no of us could eat. It was SOOOOOOOOOOO NASTY and stinky and the food was just NOT edible at all. So we went shopping instead. We went to Hobby Lobby and Joanns and then back to the Perry's to play! It was a fun day and we can't wait to go back to Monkey Joe's!

Mad's Cupcake Party

Last Saturday was Maddie's birthday party. It was a super hot day, so I am glad the majority of the party was indoors. When they came in they decorated their candy bags. The candy bags would hold all the "loot" from the pinata later.

After bag decorating they were off to decorate cupcakes. Kaleb was outside running with Ashton. Below is a picture of the super cute decor.

Maddie's mom, Courtney, made the girls a personalize apron. Kaleigh's was zebra print, of course! She ask Kaleb if he wanted one and he relied with great manners, "well, no!". We will have to continue to work on that. But the girls aprons turned out too cute.

Here is a picture of all the girls posing with the aprons on. Not sure what my child is doing.

Kaleigh grabbed the cupcake and started eating before she decorated it. She must have been hungery or it could be the fact that she loves sweets.

So I helped her out with the icing and then gave her some marshmallows for decorating, but she chose to eat them separately. Below is a picture of her loving life.

After she had demolished the cupcake her sweet daddy fed her ice cream. She can't even keep her eyes open when she eats ice cream. I guess it is just that good. 

Here is picture of the birthday girl enjoying her cupcake! These pics make us moms proud! ;)

 The adults enjoyed Maddie's cute birthday cake! Here is a picture of Maddies with her cake as we sing Happy Birthday to her. She looks shy but I think she enjoyed it!

 Not long after that the boys came in to decorate the cupcakes. They must have worked up an appetite playing hockey. Kaleb only eats icing, but he put it on a cupcake to make it easier.

Sweetest boy ever. Even if he does say, "I hate shopping" and "I am bored" a 100 times a day. 

He wanted to put icing n his face for picture, so whatever! You are only a kid once!

After cake and ice cream, the kids played limbo and then headed outside to the slip n slide. 

Courtney dragging Kaleigh down the slip n slide.

  Kaleb sliding trying to make a big splash. Probably not going to happen until he gains some weight.

After the kids finished up they were ready for the pinata. They all lined up and took turns swinging. The loaded up on candy and toys and then it was time for presents! Probably Maddie's favorite part. 

We had fun! Hope to celebrate many more birthdays with Maddie!