Chattanooga

This weekend, we took a little break from working on the new house and took a road trip to Chattanooga for the LBMC family weekend.  We left extremely early on Friday morning so Derek could squeeze in a work meeting before we headed to the Aquarium!!  Hayes really enjoyed the ocean part but took a nap in his stroller while we were in the river section.  My camera died right as we got there so unfortunately I had to make due with my phone...

Afterwards, we headed to the stadium to see the Chattanooga Lookouts!!  Hayes was ready to go in his baseball outfit and hat...

Saturday morning, we got up and went to the Creative Discovery Museum in downtown Chattanooga.  Hayes really enjoyed the "Little Yellow House" and splashing in the river water!

Our New Home

I'm so excited that we have officially moved into our new house in Meadow Lake!  Our new neighborhood  is actually the same neighborhood that I lived in up until the sixth grade.  It will be so fun when Hayes is old enough to go to the same elementary school that I went to!  Derek and I love older homes and are excited that Hayes and Neyland will have a big yard to run and play in.  I can't wait to make so many memories here...

5304 Williamsburg Road

6136 Brentwood Chase Drive

Tonight will be our last night at our first home in Brentwood Chase!  It is so bittersweet but we are excited for the next phase in our life.  We have had so many fun memories in this home.  I will never forget how excited Derek and I were when we closed on the home.  We got our keys and raced home from work to start moving in!  This house was not only our first home as a married couple, but it was also Hayes' very first home.  I will never forget all the crazy Neyland shenanigans that took place in this house or all the various weekend projects that Jim helped us with!  

Thanks for all the memories Brentwood Chase!  We will always fondly remember our little 

"Brentwood Bungalow"...

Breakers

"Breakers" is the name of the trip I go on each year with my best friends from UT over Memorial Day weekend.  This trip was actually my first time to be away from Hayes!  I had been so consumed with getting everything ready for him while I was away, that I actually forgot my camera!  (which is why i'm just now getting around to writing about it...) Thankfully, my friends took some great pics so I was able to steal them to put on my blog.

This year, Sarah Wilhite planned our trip to Port St. Joe, Florida.  We stayed in a beautiful house that had porches everywhere for us to hang out and relax.  While we were there, we threw a surprise baby shower for our friend Stephanie and even went horseback riding on the beach!  

Even though I missed Hayes so much while we were gone, I really enjoyed the time to myself to relax with friends and regroup.  I'm truly so thankful for these girls!

Below are a few pics of our trip:

Thanks Sarah Wilhite for planning such a great trip!!  I can't wait see where we will be next year!!

To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.
--- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Shipwrecked

It has been so hot outside lately that we really haven't been able to spend very much time playing outside.  So today, we decided to try out one of those indoor playgrounds with our friends Christy, Gaines & Will!  Below are some pics of our morning at "Shipwrecked"...

Playing in the ball pitt with Will...

Driving the car...

Gaines driving the ship!

Banging pans in the kitchen...

Such sweet brothers...

Grocery Store time!

Loving the cars...

The "ship"

4th of July Weekend

Hayes had a great first 4th of July weekend filled with lots of fun events!  The first was the first annual Belle Rive II 4th of July parade on Saturday morning.  Gran Melin went all out and decorated Hayes' stroller which won 1st place in the stroller division!!

Neyland got dressed up for the parade as well...

With Papa Chuck and Gran Melin...

Climbing a full flight of steps!

Ready to go...

After the parade, we got ready and headed to Audrey Hicklen's 1st Birthday Party!  Hayes had a lot of fun outside on the swing...

And in the bounce house...

with the birthday girl, Audrey!

Hayes went down a slide for the first time...

and had a lot of fun playing with all of Audrey's new toys...

Here is me and Kim with our tired babies...  Happy Birthday, Audrey!

On Monday, (the 4th) we grilled out at my parents house.  Hayes had a very traditional 4th of July meal complete with a hot dog, baked beans, watermelon and apple pie!!  He gobbled it all up and had a great time!  

Happy 4th of July!!