My kind of 4th

Family style that is.  That's how we celebrated our 4th of July!

We actually had plans to travel to visit some great friends in St. Louis---but Emma (our Jack Russell) got a bit sick (bacterial infection...real nasty) and we had vet appointments and meds to give her and we just felt we couldn't be 8 hours away if something should happen.

So my dear hubby surprised me last Saturday morning with a trip to Chattanooga...an hour and 1/2 drive away. What a great treat and fun time!  It was our first real "family" vacation...just the four of us...and it was an awesome time to reinforce the family bonds we've established.  It was a time for the kids to really play and learn to almost work together and a chance for Adam and I to enjoy the kids in a easy atmosphere.  Yep...my kind of 4th!

So being the first time we'd visited this city we decided to do some exploring!

Sadly the only way I can get the two of them together in a photo is if I confine Sammy in his stroller....

We were on our way to the Aquarium.  What a fantastic place and one I would love to visit again!

Awww...love this one!

And we call him "the boy with no fear".  He was ready to dive in and play with the stingrays!

You can always tell when it is nearing lunchtime with these two...look at those  faces!

Sammy is ready to eat his fingers...

But Simone tried to give a good smile...pretty girl!

So what could I do...?  I had no food so I stored them in a cage until I could find some fresh fish to satisfy them!

I love that they all climbed in this tube inside the starfish/crab exhibit!  Simone went in without a backword glance and Sammy just crawled on in after her!  I sent Adam to make sure it was safe for the little one, and I snagged this photo.  The kids played on inside there for 15 or so minutes just laughing and giggling.

The tanks were just incredible, filled with fish, sharks, rays and turtles.

I would've sworn we'd brought some live fish back with us as my two kiddos barely saw dry land whenever we were back at the hotel!  They just loved the pool!

Look at her swimming without her floaties.  And trying so hard to keep her face dry!

We also visited the Chattanooga Choo Choo and took a trolley ride!  Simone was very excited and insisted she sit on a seat all by herself...being that she's such a big girl now and all!

Sammy really was equally excited but he skipped his afternoon nap and just couldn't keep his eyes open.  The movement of the trolley didn't help much I suppose! 

But he woke up in time to see the trains and I'm glad because he really liked them!

So although we missed seeing our friends (umm...I didn't miss that 8 hour road trip...just saying) we had a fabulous time together.  Yep, my kind of 4th!

J