Traipsing About Tennessee - Part 4

What a week of fun we have had!  I looked at Danny and said, "I believe it is Friday.  I wish we had more time!"  To which he replied, "Good thing it is Thursday!"  Yay!

Thursday we were all moving kinda slowly.  We went to a playground on base for a playgroup.  The boys made good friends and built a huge camp fire.  Too bad we didn't have any marshmallows . . . or fire :)  Then we headed to the library. My children are like me in that they love books and could spend all day here.  It takes no less than 30 minutes to narrow down their choices to a load I can carry home.  It was almost lunchtime and we still needed to buy groceries.  Low and behold, it was 101st Days.  I don't know anything about it except the library serves fruit, Chex mix, and cake.  We all had a fruit snack to hold us over.  Thank God for the little ways he smiles on us!

After grocery shopping, we spent the afternoon together making more memories.  We had picked up a packaged mix for Shoo Fly Pie.  I had convinced the boys they needed to catch flies so we could make it.  The only one brave enough to help was Huck, my little chef.  He is still convinced the molasses was fly syrup.  :)

My cute helper!

Huck said this is his "chef smile".

We also met new neighbors!  I don't think anyone wanted to come inside for dinner.  The shoo fly pie received rave reviews.  "This is the best stuff I have ever put in my mouth!" - Jonah

Friday we went to Land Between the Lakes.  We had heard great things, but I think we missed something.  Either that, or we are spoiled by our sweet North Georgia mountains!  We hiked about 3 1/2 mosquito-y miles around a lake.  It was flat which was nice on such a hot day.  We found a beaver dam the lake and we could hear the beavers inside!  We also spotted a good number deer but our crew was pretty loud and kept scaring them off.  Eli kept spotting the cutest little frogs!  It was pretty swampy but, we were together and had a great picnic when we were finished. I had also let the boys make their own trail mix. Big win for Mom!  These boys love to picnic.  I need some new picnic friendly meals.  It is hard to keep things cool for long in this heat - even with a good cooler.

Off we go!

The beaver dam!

Found a chair!

Benaiah had to rest too!

Goofy Huck!

She stays entertained watching her brothers hike!

There was also I stop where you could ride a 3 mile loop and see elk and bison.  Most were in the tree line but one big guy did come out to say hello!

Too bad today really was Friday :(  That means we better fill Saturday and Sunday up to the brim with fun activities!

Traipsing About Tennessee - Part 3

Nashville, here we come - two days in a row!

 

Tuesday we headed south to Tennessee's great capital.  I really do like the city and that is saying something because I hate big cities.  There is such a variety of activities offered.  There is something for everyone!

For our first stop we visited the Hermitage - the home of Andrew Jackson.  The museum is letting active duty military in for free during 2015 and all our children were free - score!

I have to say, this was the best historic tour for kids I have ever been on.  Each of us got a handheld device into which you punch numbers as you go along the trails.  The kids had to keep their eyes peeled for blue numbers.  When they punched them in Poll, Andrew Jackson's pet parrot, gave them facts about what they were seeing in a easy to understand, humorous way.  Another plus was that not a single worker was snobby about us bringing the kids.  We have been to quite a few tours where this was not the case.  I believe in giving them a love of history at a young age and my kiddos were very well-behaved.  So, two thumbs up Hermitage workers for playing along with the boys and helping them learn more about our seventh president!

Trying on the tour guides hat!

We were able to tour the house, the garden, the slave quarters, spring house, well, and much more!  We even took a mile and a half trail out into the old fields.  Unfortunately, it started pouring on us, but that ended up being one of the highlights of the boys' day, so I guess it was worth getting a little damp :)

Benaiah was happy to have all that space to run!

Cool dudes in the garden

Has no idea who Andrew Jackson is :)

I was very impressed by how much the boys learned!  Then again, what boy wouldn't be interested in a guy who was a POW at the age of thirteen, got shot in the chest in a dual and still won, and put toilets in the White House?  Forget the Trail of Tears, his questionable marriage, and slaves.  Andrew Jackson rocks in their book!

Next up was Centennial Park.  We found the oddest cement half boat to picnic by.  Really strange but good for pretending and climbing.  The boys also tried out petal swings, and Eli had to get in a swing or two with his golf club.

Huck with his feather find!

Happy girl!

In Centennial Park is a life-sized replica of The Parthenon.  They also are letting military and their dependents in for free so in we went!  The lower floor has an art exhibit and a small scale version of a crane (which was great for my crane loving boys).  Then, we ventured upstairs.  We walk in, and Jonah sees the doors that lead back outside.  "That is one big closet!" he whispers.

Yes, one big closet, but wait until you see the person who wears the clothes.  At this point, the boys were behind a column and had yet to see the 40 foot statue of Athena.  When they turned around and saw her in all her golden bigness they did a double take.  It was quite a sight.

As God would have it, our Bible lesson that night was on the golden calf that the Israelites made, so we were able to tie it right in.  This was Juliet's favorite place.  She squealed and heard the echo all around.  Soooo, she kept squealing!  Thankfully, everyone thought she was cute.

After a quick (and sweaty) stroll around the park we scooted on over to the Bicentennial Mall.  This is a park that sits in front of the capitol building.  Among other things, it has a huge map of Tennessee on the ground, an amphitheater, and 31 fountains (one for each of the counties in Tennessee).  Best part?  You can play in them!!!  A perfect way to cool off!

Got to see the train move! Happy Huck!

We were planning to go play at the zoo playground, but on our way it started to storm. That's okay, we were all pretty tired (not that the boys would admit it).

We went back to Nashville on Wednesday to visit the Adventure Science Center.  This place is amazingly awesome but also overwhelming.  What happens when you take four active boys to a building filled with hundreds of exhibits to touch and explore?  They all walk together to the first exhibit, read the educational information, and do the activity without arguing over who gets to push buttons or go next - NOT!  They all run with wild abandon in four different directions!  So, once we reigned them in and I let go of my inner teacher we were able to see and do so much!

All the sight and sounds kept her entertained!

Watch out!  B has his license!

Eli the paleontologist!

Huck climbing a cross-section of skin?!?!

Building atoms!

Family picture!

Parachutes!

Riding with the Frizz!

Huck could lift a while car!

Since we missed out on the zoo the day before, we went there to see the historic farm and get out the last bit of energy we had on the playground.

What will we get ourselves into next?