Walnut Street Bridge

Lookout Mountain and downtown Chattanooga

Delta Queen

Tennessee Aquarium

Coolidge Park

Market Street

Views from the Walnut Street Bridge.

Walnut Street Bridge

Lookout Mountain and downtown Chattanooga

Delta Queen

Tennessee Aquarium

Coolidge Park

Market Street

Views from the Walnut Street Bridge.

Words of Wisdom

Upon receiving only one sucker today after school instead of two. " You get what you get and you don't pitch a fit"
Willow Whisler

Spring Fever

This has been one crazy spring. We have been working and hiking and playing and everything in between. Mostly, we've been getting ready for the end of the school year. Kindergartners are not exempt from the crunch; unfortunately, but we are taking it in stride. Willow has a firm grasp of the kindergarten curriculum and is ready to move on to first grade material. Brandy and I are very proud of her. She is modest at home and doesn't flaunt her skills to others, Brandy will have that taken care of in no time I'm sure.

We have planted tomatoes and sweet peppers in our garden again this year. We had some luck with our plants last year and I can't wait. We have also planted some new herbs to accompany the thyme, rosemary and chives that are blooming right now. The garden smells wonderful already. The garden belongs to the kids as well, they had a hand in every planting and even planted some of their own. Willow planted Black-Eyed-Susans and Hayden had a hand in the Zinnia's. The garden is our family project and it is a great way for us to spend quality time together.

We have also been visiting the YMCA here quite regularly as a family and our thing is swimming. Willow is a swimmer now and Hayden isn't too far behind her. I enjoy dragging the kids around as fast as I can and Brandy has been seen doing laps. Family time at the Y has really been a great way to spend time together as well and is great excersize to boot. I have also used Y time as a reward for Willow when she does well at school, so of course, we just about go everyday. We have missed a week or two because of some visits from my family and Easter week the kids went to Memphis to stay with my parents. They had a great time and are now asking when we'll be back in the pool.

We have been doing our hiking at hotspots around town. The Chattanooga Nature Center is our favorite right now and I could spend an entire year writing about all the trails there. I'm sure here in the next few weeks I'll have some great hikes to write about. It's a wonderful place to visit even if you don't want to hike.

I'll keep you guys posted but for now it's all about school and yard work. Fun, fun, fun and I mean that.

March is Moss Month

I had a most wonderful weekend with the husband. Alright, so it rained and it was a bit chilly too. Not exactly the right weather for camping. The fly fishing gear never got packed and the camping equipment didn't even get touched. The brakes were put on the fishing trip in a big way and an impromptu plan B was formulated quickly. Plans changed and I have to say they changed for the better. I am so glad it rained!

So, with one backpack for the both of us we set off to Gatlinburg. Our hotel room and two tickets to the aquarium awaited us. Our plans of fishing and hiking all day turned into sleeping and walking through a nice dry aquarium. That certainly didn't sound so bad, in fact, it was exactly what we needed.

The aquarium was worth the drive by itself. I am biased but honestly the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga is better but it is worth seeing. The best part was the shark tank. It is an amazing underwater walk and I loved it.

We even got a little hike in between the rain. It was a beautiful hike just off the main road in the Smoky Mountain National Park. It was an unplanned hike and we grabbed it quick before it started raining again and I couldn't tell you where. Yeah, I'm horrible : ) The only thing that really made an impression on me was the moss. It was everywhere. Lovely and green everywhere.

March is moss month and it is pretty obvious that it is it's favorite month of the year.
Green as green could be. Emerald green carpets and lovely to see. Yep, the moss is loving the weather!
Anyhoo, I didn't mind the rain and to be honest I'm glad it rained and I loved seeing the moss sparkle. It put a little sparkle in our lives.

The Everyday

Life has taken a busy turn these days and I haven't had much time to update. I'll give all my family and friends a quick rundown on the happenings here. Not many chances to travel or leave the city but we are sneaking in a hike or two despite it. Nothing to write home about though.
Willow has had a busy school year and we have just now settled into a nice routine. The routine is being challenged all of a sudden with end of the school year chaos. Two field trips, a birthday party for Dr. Seuss, and lots and lots of reading. Willow is reading level 1 books (See Jane Run type books) Willow also has her first boyfriend! He was found out when he came out of the school carrying Willow's things for her while his brother sang the old standard " Willow and so and so sitting in a tree. . ." Oh, the horror of it all.
Hayden is potty trained and is out of the diaper and for good. He has a solid month or more of no accidents and I couldn't be happier!! FREEDOM!!!! He is also a very good little helper and loves helping me wash dishes or prepare meals. I think he might have a knack for all things culinary. We will see where this new curiosity takes him. . .
Brandy and I have started a new project. We are clearing brush and ivy from our backyard. This summer I am hoping the kids will be able to turn over rocks and explore the urban forest in our backyard. The ivy is everywhere and it is a menace as far as I am concerned. It's a lot of work but will be worth it.
We are also planning a fishing trip this weekend and I am really living for that event. It will mark Brandy and my 10 year wedding anniversary. We will be pulling out all of the fly fishing gear and camping equipment for this one and I have my heart set on a nice little plot right next to the river. I am hoping for a new camera too (wink-wink.)
All is well in Whislerville! More to come this spring and hopefully some really good pictures too!

It was on the bottom of my tea package. . .

. . ."Nature. . . moves the heart, appeals to the mind, and fires the imagination - health to the body, a stimulus to the intellect, and joy to the soul." - John Burroughs

So, I tip my tea cup to you, Nature! Yummy, good tea too : )