The Greats

Both my grandparents have birthdays in January, and each year I give thanks that we are able to celebrate another birthday with them. They have been married for 66 years. They live independently in their own home. The make regular trips to the beach to visit my cousins. At 94, my grandfather still walks his dog daily, rakes leaves, and plants tomatoes. What did my grandmother do on the day before she turned 88 this year? She renewed her driver's license despite the objections of her family (being obstinate is a family trait).

They have lived in the same house my entire life. The basement was a playground for me, my sisters, and cousins when we were younger, filled with old furniture and the backseat from a Jeep that made the perfect child-sized couch. At night we would argue over who got to sleep on the cot in my grandparent's room. Breakfast was made to order, but usually consisted of a pancake as big as the frying pan. There were endless games of hide and seek, Barbie parades, and attempts to hog the enormous JC Penney catalog in order to choose gifts for upcoming holidays. And also a few non-approved activities like unsupervised hair-cutting. I was very jealous of my cousins who lived closer and would sometimes stay with my grandparents on weekdays while their parents were at work. Who doesn't love to watch The Price is Right with their lunch?

Grandma Beau meeting Sarah for the first time

Therefore, I celebrate with glee that my own children can visit their great-grandparents on weekdays. Sarah and Max are completely at home at Grandma and Grandpa Beau's house.  (Beau is the treasured dog.) Max immediately heads to the cabinet for a handful of Nilla wafers and drags the boxes of Legos to the den. Sarah is content to play patty cake on Grandma's lap or ready to race the dog for a chance at his biscuit. Both children inevitably come home with some type of goody - Grandma keeps Max stocked with his weekly ration of Animal Crackers, and last week Sarah received a beautiful set of embroidered pillowcases that match the ones she made for me during childhood. But the greatest gift is that my children are able to know and have a relationship with their great-grandparents. I know how rare and special it is to have such an opportunity. For that, I will be forever grateful. 

Grandpa still has the dance moves!

With Max and Cousin Avery

Destination: Chattanooga

2012 Richards' Travel Guide to Chattanooga

Overview:

Chattanooga, Tennessee has been rated as one of the most "livable" cities in the United States. It features a historic downtown, scenic waterfront, and boasts an impressive list of citizens who call it home. We invite you to join us on a journey to this fair city by the river!

Getting There:

Chattanooga can be reached by car, plane or train. When traveling with multiple children, the Richards' Guide recommends using the largest car available in order to accommodate toys, games, sleeping bags, fans, breast pumps, bags of food, high chairs, pack and plays, strollers, movies, and books. Suitcases of clothing are optional. The ride time is best spent playing innumerable games of I Spy punctuated by coloring, reading, sporadic napping, and not-quick-anymore stops for bathroom and eating (but ONLY at participating Chick-Fil-A restaurants).

Accommodations:

Chattanooga offers many fine establishments for lodging. The Richards' Guide prefers Brinkley House, a four-star bed and breakfast that is becoming quite popular. A new location offers convenience to major roads and attractions. You will be greeted upon arrival with a welcoming committee led by Auntie Beckers Brinkley herself.

Food: 

Restaurant recommendations can be found at the end of this chapter. However, if staying at Brinkley House, you will have access to superior dining in an exquisite setting. Mama Brinkley continues her reign as head chef and offers home-cooked goodness that will delight any palate. Do not despair if your four-year old refuses to partake of her delicious concoctions - it simply means more for everyone else! If you are lucky, Daddy Brinkley may stop by to provide dinner entertainment with his delightful rendition of Peek-A-Boo Napkin.

Save room for a scrumptious dessert! 

(This the four year olds will eat!)

A side of Cat with dinner is optional for a surprising twist on a classic meal.

Attractions:

Chattanooga is well known for the song, "Chattanooga Choo-Choo", and trains are an integral part of the city. Take a ride on the Chattanooga Express!

Here comes the train!

Get off the track, the train is coming through!

Whoo, whoo! It's comin' round the bend and under the bridge! Whoo, whoo!

The Creative Discovery Museum is another local attraction that offers hours of fun for all ages with interactive displays, experiments, and several opportunities to get messy!

Roof-top view of Chattanooga

Fun and Games

Hunting for Dinosaurs

Spectator Seating

An Electric Experience!

Are you ready to get wet?

There are also many great walking tours to help you see the city and all of its attractions!

Religious Life:

Home to various religious groups and denominations, Chattanooga has a flourishing religious life. Try out  Concord Baptist Church for a taste of Christian love and learning. If arranged in advance, you can attend the Sunday School Class of Auntie Beckers and witness her teaching talents firsthand. Only a few spots are available and they are in high demand so book early!

Conclusion:

The best reason to visit Chattanooga? The people. The citizens of this city are gracious hosts, providing Southern hospitality mixed with pure delight at your presence. Spend a few days in Chattanooga and you will leave with more than a few souvenirs - you'll leave with a set of friends who treat you like family!

Old Friends

New Friends

Best Friends

Enjoy Chattanooga!

Legal Action

All parties involved in the action titled 'Max vs. The Thumb' agree that the final settlement will include a green bike once it had been determined that the plaintiff (herein referred to as Max) has successfully and willfully broken all contact with the defendant (also referred to as The Thumb). If a green bike is not available for purchase by any established means (such as physical stores, online retailers, etc), then a different color may be substituted pending approval by the plaintiff. The defendant agrees to remain connected to the plaintiff, but will under no circumstances seek to endanger the well-being of the plaintiff through nefarious means or to offer comfort in exchange for resuming physical contact. 

Signed this day of January in the year of 2012.

Max agreed to the terms and became "thumb-free" from his first night without Pelt. After several weeks clean, he received his settlement package. And there is no stopping him now!

Sarah and Mommy are going to need a jogging stroller to keep up!

There goes my heart riding down the street....

Playing Dress-Up

The Commodore Club event offered a great chance to play dress up - for Mommy and Daddy! 

Putting on our dancing shoes made us feel like a young couple in our 20s again!

Three of a Kind

Don't they say good things come in 3s?

Happy Double 3, Daddy!

Baby-locks and the Three Boxes

Once upon a time there was girl named Baby-locks.
She wanted to try some boxes.

The first one was too big.

The second one was too small.

But the third one was just right!

9 Months

Dear Sarah,

God has blessed you in so many ways, not the least of which is with the gift of contentment. You are content almost all the time - content to participate in activities, content to observe others, content to be in the presence of your family. We often tease about you being happy to be ignored, but I truly think you are just happy - period. As a person who strives for contentment (an obvious contradiction), I am grateful to see you possess this quality effortlessly.

Sarah, you are Mama's girl these days. You track me as I move around the room, and your face is crushed if I walk in and do not immediately pick you up. Once you are in my arms, you proceed to twirl my hair nonstop. A new trick is to lean in towards my face until our foreheads are touching and stare deep into my eyes. Are you developing a psychic connection or trying to head-bang?

And that sweet head is crowned with soft wisps. For Christmas you received a plate set with the verse "There was a little girl who had a little curl right in the middle of her forehead" - a sentiment that is perfectly fitting!

At your 9 month check, you weighed 17 pounds, 14 ounces (45%) and measured 27 inches long (25%). Bananas are your favorite and you go berserk if someone eats one without offering you a bite. You open your mouth over and over like a little bird. Despite gobbling down solid food, you are a petite girl all over. When I finally took you shoe shopping, your feet were so tiny that you needed a 0-6 month size Robeez with a strap to help hold them on!

You have finally begun to scoot around a little more and can pull up. To soothe our concerns about your immobility, the pediatrician reminded us that crawling is not a developmental milestone that they assess because not all kids do it. He seemed confident that you have enough muscle strength based on your ability to sit (clearly achieved) and pull up. Frankly, it seems to be more a matter of desire. When we put your toys out of reach, you either pull the blanket to make the toys come to you or bend like a yoga master to get what you want. Clever baby!

Nine months seems so close to one year. I already find myself holding on a little tighter as the end of your infancy looms closer. You will always be my sweet baby!

Love, Mommy