Thanksgiving Weekend

For Thanksgiving this weekend we spent the actual day and Turkey Dinner with Husband's side of the family. Only one of Husband's brothers was able to make it, but B-10 and CW had a blast with the older cousin (the younger was sleeping most of the day, sweet thing).

This was the first holiday that the boys were with Husband's family, and it was so wonderful. They behaved well (as well as little boys can behave) and the family was so welcoming!

Then it was off to Chattanooga - just Husband, the boys, and me. We are spending the weekend on our own little family vacation to our favorite city.

We got in pretty early last night, the swimming pool was still open and the boys got in a good 45 minutes worth before bedtime. This morning, we had breakfast - the back to the pool for another 30 minute swim - before heading out to the Chattanooga Zoo. This was our first time to visit the Zoo, notice the four monkeys in the picture:

Okay - there's only three monkeys! ;) I was very impressed by the care that was obviously being given to the animals here. It's a very small zoo (and I live in a city with a very LARGE zoo), but it was well laid-out and was teaming with zookeepers taking care of the animals. We were able to get very close to the cages. One of the chimps even came all the way up to the glass, right next to me, and attempted to communicate (if anyone knows what a head nod and a kissy face means - ring me up!).

After lunch at Krystal's we drove to the Chickamauga Battlefield. This was exciting for the boys, because not only could they run around and play on cannons/cannonball pyramids/monuments, they were also able to have their National Park Passports stamped.

I know, at this time in their lives, it's still hard to understand exactly what history they are looking at. But my hope is that as they grow older, and we study more indepth during their homeschooling years, they will be able to make those connections to the places they have already been. It's so rewarding to know that the time we spent learning today was family time and school time.

After that drive, the boys were ready for dinner, which I cooked back in the room (I LOVE staying in a suite). Then we went swimming again (for over an hour this time), before coming back for baths and bedtime. They are doing so well together. Currently B-10 and CW are under the covers watching a movie, their stuffed animals stuck between them, watching quietly.

The other special thing about this trip, is that it's the first trip with our new Travel Pet. Jonah, the clownfish, has been with us since our first family trip to Chattanooga in Feb of this year. When Husband and I were on our honeymoon, we added a new pet, christened "Lightening" by B-10.

Here they are posing beside the breakfast centerpiece. Aren't they cute!

It's off to bed for me, hopefully the boys will sleep a while in the morning (neither had a nap today). I can't wait for tomorrow's adventure!

~Lone Butterfly )i(