Chattown

Every few months we make the extra effort to get out of town for the day. For us, it helps us balance family and full-time ministry, so this past Tuesday we went to Chattanooga for the day. We surprised the boys that morning with the news and it was an extra bonus to celebrate Owen finishing 1st grade. WOW!

We grabbed some lunch at one of our favorite places and then headed over the the Creative Discovery Museum. We have a pass that allows us to visit children's museums around the area, so we were thrilled to be using it. WE stayed there about 4 hours playing and discovering. Below you will "hopefully" see picture and videos from our day. A HUGE accomplishment is that during a museum science show our boys were volunteers. If you know anything about our boys, our oldest relishes the stage but this was a NEW venture for Griffin. He was a champ! So with a warm heart that only a mom can have, I was thrilled to see before my eyes a child that doesn't do crowds, talking, and anything public, have the courage to try something new.

Enjoy the music that Owen made too!

You will also see the boys pretending to be a window stage and then of course, roll down a super long hill. We had a blast that day and Owen choose a harmonica for his "Job Well Done" gift, but he said, "I want Griffin and Tate to have one too, cause it wouldn't be fair." Oh, the tenderheart of the big brother. My hope is that it never changes:-)

10th Anniversary Trip!!

Chad and I went to Puerto Vallerta, Mexico for our 10th anniversary and it was amazing!! We had been looking forward to this get-away together for a few months now, and it was worth the wait. THe boys were WELL loved by my mom 1/2 the week and Chad's mom the other 1/2. I missed them and thought of them bunches, but they had such a fun week planned...so my thoughts were quickly settled.
We stayed in the home of a woman that lives in "PV" from Oct.-Mar, as do many of the 1/2 retirees that do the same thing. Her home was so quaint and artsy..I loved it. All the homes and restaurants in this area have windows w/out screens and most always have them open. We stayed in the "art district" so we were right around the corner from many galleries and local food. She had left us a packet of info of all her favorite rest. and places, so we did our best to try all things new. We had mango smoothies, black bean & corn tamales, fresh cranberry scones, limeades(at most meals) xcept when Chad had his Cokes:-), green drink (celery, spinach, parsley, pineapple- so yummy with breakfast), seafood burritos, and lots more seafood. PV is located in Banderas Bay in the mid-south part of Mexico's west coast. Fisherman we out super early everyday bringing in the fresh food. The local fare has alot of Spanish flare with "tapas", "crepas"and eating food I would eat for dinner...they eat for breakfast.
As for our time, we slept most days till mid-morning, read some, and then headed out for the day. Two days we spent reading on the beach and sipping drinks, one day we travelled north to Bucerius on a bus and I totally felt like I was on Amazing Races as we tried to figure out where to go . At one point after riding on a bus 15 minutes inland, we realized this was not our bus, and we jumped off and grabbed a taxi...crazy, but fun, another day we went south on the bus again to Boca. Once there, we got on a water taxi- ever heard of that? I hadn't. It took 30 minutes to get to Yelapa by boat and that is were I got to hold an iguana. It was amazingly soft! Chad and really enjoyed Yelapa because it was away from the city a bit. That is where we saw the waterfall and the young boys fishing. On Wed. night we did the "art walk" which all the local galleries open for showing and wine sipping. We had a blast, and we were very cultured by the art, people, food, and entertainment.
One of the many things I loved about PV was the nightlife on the "Malecon"-aka boardwalk. Families covered it everynight strolling together and spending time together. They totally value family and it was so evident! Later I will post videos of the Malecon entertainment.
Chad and I really savored our time together, but as I must admit, it took me a few days to get out of "mommy" mode. Once I forgot about eating 3 meals and snacks/day and the ordered bustle I keep at home I was able to really rest. And prasie the LORD my back held up with all the walking through town. We probably walked 3-4 miles a day, so I started my day with some stretching and I was so grateful to be able to do all we did.
So, cheers to 10 years!!! and we have already thought about a trip at 15 years, hmmm I think mtns:-) I told Chad we will want to soak up another trip then since we will be on the verge of teenagers;-)