Our Summer Staycation

So we had our summer vacation planned for quite some time. We were going down to Pensacola to visit family and then heading over to Destin and my hometown Fort Walton Beach. But as the oil spill crept closed we got worried about our long needed and wanted beach vacation. It was not recommended for pregnant women and little children to be in the areas where the oil had reached, and since our family fit both those categories we felt it was better not to go down there right now. The whole oil spill thing makes me sick to my stomach! It is so sad to see the families and animals it has affected. So we didn’t go there, but we stayed here! I planned out the entire week but things changed as we went along. You know it hasn’t rained much at all until this week it decided to become a flippin monsoon. So there went our pool days. Oh well.

On Monday we planned to go to Ripley’s Aquarium in Gatlingburg. We have been there numerous times and were so excited to take Makayla for the first time. It took us 2 hours to get there just to find the Aquarium was packed! The entrance to start the exhibits was at a stand still, and we couldn’t even stand near each other. Boo-hoo! Tim got us a refund and we went home. On the way home we talked about how it wasn’t such a bad day because we were together as a family. So true…family time is the best time! And at least we had some yummy pancakes and the Pancake Pantry.  

Here is Makayla..she is glad to be out of the car!

Here is Tim in line to get our $ back!

 

Tuesday, we went up to the school to work in my classroom and then went to visit my parents.

Thursday was awesome! We went to the TN Aquarium in Chattanooga! It is a place not to be missed! ! I will never forget the excitement and wonder in Makayla’s eyes as she saw all kinds of animals for the very first time. It brought tears to my eyes. My very favorite place at the aquarium was the butterfly exhibit. The penguins were pretty neat too! We will definitely go again and next time we will probably stay a few days. There are so many things to do in downtown Chattanooga. Knoxville definitely needs to take some notes.

And finally, Friday we went to the pool. Makayla loves the water, but likes to be held close when she’s not in her float. I was so busy slathering sunscreen on my baby girl that I totally forgot to put any on me! And of course Tim would’ve refused it anyway. I got home later and thought to myself, “Good no sunburn here!” only later to see this dark pink sunburn show up on my back and shoulders…arg! My skin is so mad at me right now. Tim and I dropped MG off at Nana and Granddad’s and then went to see a late showing of ‘Inception’. By late I mean 8:30 P.M.…lol. It was a good movie, but they could have left out the cussing.

So that’s about it! Nothing elaborate about our staycation but we had a nice, relaxing time together. We captured many memories on camera and in our heart that we will always hold dear.

God Bless,

Shawna 

Picture at the TN Aquarium