Eek! My goal was to upload pictures every night while we were in Nashville and update the blog every couple days so that I wouldn't have to do this huge post. Obviously that didn't happen so here I am puttering through a massive post.
My sister and her family moved to Nashville a few months ago after my brother in law started a surgical residency at Vanderbilt. Josh and I are on a rotating schedule for the holidays and this year it was Christmas with my family so we decided to invade Ben, Bethany and Charlie's new city.
Quinn's first solids: Papa's sandwich. Just kidding.
We are bad parents. We don't buy our kids presents on holidays. This year we decided our family Christmas present would be an iPad. Our plan was to introduce it to B on the airplane, to entertain him on the flight. It worked like a charm. Our flights went as well as can be expected. Not a peep out of either child on the flight from Sea to Chicago. Quinnie was a little fussy while taking off on the other flights, but really both kids were troopers.
B fell asleep as the plane touched down in Chicago. Which meant he wanted to be carried from one gate to the other, only by me. Josh and I have decided that we can't fly anywhere without help. And if we do we are going to have to buck up and pay the fee to check our luggage. My parents were on both flights with us and helped so much lugging our bags, carrying our kids or fetching us food.
As we were descending into Nasville Branson was excitedly looking out the window and starting yelling "There it is! There it is" I asked him "what?!" And he replied "Charlie's house!" Love that boy!
Quinnie getting acquainted with Uncle Ben.
Quinnie getting acquainted with Uncle Ben.
B catching up with Uncle Forrest. Our kids seriously have the best Uncles and Aunties in the world. We don't get to see them often enough (that goes for the Uncles and Aunties that live near by too) but I love how my kids warm up to them quickly every time we do get to see them.
EEK! I totally see my life in this picture, and while I love my nephew, I am so thankful that I do not have a one year old between the two kids I have. Messy room, two kids on my lap, B "cheesing" for the camera...life is good.
Ben has been eyeing a "Buy One, Get Two Free Sale" at a boot shop downtown. He took advantage of his brother in laws in town and they each got a pair of cowboy boots. What a fun night. One of my favorite quotes was "Ya, you want ones like that, they already look dirty!"
Charlie is full of hugs, my son is not, I love this picture and the fact that B didn't run away or worse yet push him to the ground, then run away.
Branson wanted a cowboy hat, how could we resist.
The troop our first night out.
We tried a couple different times to tour the Capitol, but they were closed for the holidays.
We went to Franklin, an adorable little town not far from Nashville. The best part is that Josh's cousin, his wife and their two kids live there. No pictures, but a fun night catching up with them.
Charlie and Branson were troopers exploring all the shops with us in Franklin. We came to find out that Branson sat so nicely in the stroller because he wasn't feeling well. He caught a cold and we spent the remainder of our trip battling that. I was concerned about Branson spreading his sickness to his cousin with a baby coming a week later and tried to be diligent about disinfecting all the things he touched. As I was busy chasing B around with disinfectant wipes I turned around and saw Charlie drinking out of Branson's cup! Then the next day Charlie was sharing pacifiers with Quinnie. You get the idea...
Opry Land Hotel was fun to explore.
A Poinsettia tree in the lobby.
A Poinsettia tree in the lobby.
Charlie liked Shrek as long as he was in Grandpa's arms.
Josh and I in front of the tree at Opry Land
My kiddos took advantage of the long stroller ride to get in a nap
We are trying to teach B about giving. This year we gave gifts for the giving tree and Josh also took Branson to pick out a Christmas present for Charlie. B loves truck, specifically monster trucks, so he picked out a nice little monster truck for his cousin and on the way out of the toy section these monster truck caught his eye. Josh says his face lit up when he saw them and he pointed them out to his daddy. Josh asked Branson if he was going to get that for Charlie and B replied "No, for Branson!" Josh is a sucker so he snuck two in the cart. One for each of the boys.
Christmas Day! We were all together for about 24 hours.
Christmas kisses from Charlie.
Charlie loves Quinnie. When ever you can't find him, just look for Quinn and he is probably right there beside her. He likes to climb up on your lap when you are holding her, but don't be fooled it is not because he wants you to hold him it is so he can be near Quinnie.
Auntie Holly with Quinnie the mummy. It was cold when we went to The Hermitage. With young kids and the cold weather I didn't explore as much as I would have liked. Maybe we will go back on a future trip, but it was great to learn a bit about Andrew Jackson. Branson even got to pick cotton.
Dad, Ben, Holly, Josh and I went on a tour of the city and stars homes. So much fun! Big thanks to Mom and Bethany who kept all the kids at home so we could enjoy our time. One of our stops was at the Ryman Auditorium. Original home of the Grand Old Opry.
Dinner at Monnell's. Yummy Southern food served family style.
On the way home we searched out a kids area in O'Hare airport. It was awesome. The Chicago Children's Museum has a play area themed after an airport with a control tower airplanes and even luggage to weigh. Branson loved moving the luggage around. It worked perfectly for him to run off some energy then fell asleep as soon as we got on the plane.
Branson showing Charlie his new toy
Branson loves to play in cribs, Charlie hates his crib so they had some bonding time in Charlie's. Bethany told me that her son wasn't cooperating to get a good picture, but here is the evidence. I think my child is the uncooperative one.
Remember what I said about B and his monster trucks. He never puts them down. Josh went shopping for a few little toys for B on the airplane and found a school bus monster truck. I know this sounds like no big deal, but I learned out the hard way that it is. First of all he found it in my bag the night before we flew out. I wish I would have seen his face when he came across it because he loves school bus monster trucks. Well...we lost it. I have been searching for a replacement and I finally had to confess to him that it was gone. Poor guy.
Remember what i said about us not wanting to travel without help...here is proof. Thanks to my dad and the rest of the crew for helping out.
There you go. A quick recap of our trip, great to be together and to see where my sister is living, can't wait to go back, but until then cherishing the moments that we had all together. At one point on Christmas Eve Ben walked into the kitchen where we were cooking and said "It is Chaos out there and it is great!" I think that statement pretty much sums up our trip.
Just one last picture because i can't resist this face
Just one last picture because i can't resist this face
