The Minivan Argument

And I just had to post this before I took a break from updating... Soon after Nathan and I found out that we were expecting our third child -- we realized that we were gonna need a new car that would hold two carseats and a booster! And thus came the start of the "minivan arguments." Now, I totally understand that for a family of five that a minivan is a great choice -- however, I am not that "minivan" mom! :) (No offense to anyone who is!!) I told Nate that I am sure they are great cars, but I am more of the "SUV Mom" than the other. I mean come on....I'm not even 28 years old!! :) Well, we didn't buy a car until we officially found out that there was only "one" baby on board -- so on August 1st, it came time. Nate kept on with the "van" comments until I told him that if we bought a minivan, then I got to keep his truck and he could take the van to work -- and thus, I introduce the newest member of our little family.

My new 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe!!

(I love you Nate!!)

Chattanooga: Wrapping it Up!

And here are just a few various shots of the boys over the weekend. We really did have a great time and are looking forward to the next time that we can all get away -- however, I'm sure that will be when we are a family of five!!!

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Oh - and on our way home Zachary surprised us with some news that was the best thing Nathan and I have ever heard him say -- and it immediately brought tears of joy to our eyes -- that story is coming up soon!

Chattanooga: The Aquarium

Our last adventure in Chattanooga was to visit the Aquarium. We had never been before so it was a very neat experience. If you have never been, it is definitely something to put on your "Family To Do" list! It's hard to get good pics in the dark, but I will post the ones that turned out the best.

Petting the sting rays and sharks.

Zachary made friends with the penguins! :)

This picture still gives me the creeps to think about!

And this friends is why I do not do oceans!!!

Such a sweet big brother!

And this little friend was actually in a cage! Not like the one we found in our bedroom the night we got home from the trip! Yeah, more of that to come!

Chattanooga: TN Valley Railroad Museum and Train Ride

One of our favorite adventures for the weekend was a trip to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum and Train Ride! This activity was for both Nate and Zachary -- Zachary loves trains and totally enjoyed the train ride -- and Nathan loves history and the way that trains work...so they both won! This was a real neat experience as we got to learn about the ways that the railway system used to be, we saw an actual turntable still in use and we went through one of the oldest tunnels still active in the railways system today in America. I'll get into more detail as we come to the pictures...

Waiting for the train...

Zachary was so excited....Eli wanted more breakfast! :)

Zachary with one of the "conductors" as he calls them!

Zachary also thought it was really neat that they stamped our tickets....though it took us a few minutes to explain to him that his hole punches wouldn't reveal any words at the end of the ride. (Anyone seen The Polar Express??)

Here is some history on the turntable...

So the train loads this ramp and the machine turns the engine around so that it can now go the opposite way on the tracks! The man told us that prior to some smart engineer thinking -- the train engines used to be turned around on these ramps by four VERY STRONG men!

There she goes....

Here is inside their shop....a lot of history and stories to be told from these old trains!

Heading back...

And here are some shots from the tunnel...This tunnel was completed in 1858 and was known as the pre-Civil War Missionary Ridge Tunnel, a.k.a. the Chattanooga, Harrison, Georgetown, & Charleston Railroad Tunnel. This is definitely not a place for a claustrophobic person!!

Look close -- this is a pic you won't see everyday -- the light at the end of the tunnel! Ha!

And we made it out!