A few weeks ago we visited family in Chattanooga. We LOVE going up and this time it was a crazy and FAST mini visit but with two very touristy stops. I am nothing if not a wonderful tourist. Seriously. I take pride wearing my camera around my neck, asking directions and reading all the reviews of “must-do” things in each city. Since Jeremy called Chattanooga home for a very long time but he said that he had never ridden the Incline Railway, I was practically drooling at the idea. And when I say “practically” I mean…yes, I salivated. all down my chin.
If you go to Chattanooga, you absolutely must get your picture with one of the murals. They are painted all over the city and are SO good. Some of them are HUGE. Note that you also do not need to be huge – exhibit A:
Another place you have to go is Champy’s. It’s totally got this casual bar atmosphere going but we see people there in suits all the time and once we even saw the Mayor of Chattanooga there….Weston threw his sippy cup at him. Yeah. Sorry about that.
Warning about the bathrooms though – if your husband goes in, he will come out with a pick up line. All the waitresses that have been hit on have posted their “tip receipts” with the best pick up lines on the bathroom wall. The girls bathroom isn’t nearly as funny.
Our friend Dan introduced us to it last time we were in town and they have incredible chicken and this appetizer that Jeremy and I love. It’s sausage and cheese and pickles. It’s spicy and delicious and makes you want to question the point of all other food….because why would you eat something else when you can have THIS?!
After a thorough gorging of the Champy’s, we headed to the railway. It goes up Lookout Mountain and has been going up this steep incline since 1895. That’s NUTS. That’s one hundred and twenty years (yes, I used a calculator) and is still going strong.
Weston liked the tracks painted on the ground. He likes little details like that – things that are orderly and repeated. He notices and thrives with that kind of repetition. I love seeing those personality things develop in the boys. It’s like the beginning of a really great TV series when personalities are really being fleshed out. That’s my children right now. They are growing into themselves
I had this cutie as my partner on the ride up the mountain.
The view on the way up was pretty cool. You definitely don’t want to look down out the side windows though. #mistake
Once we got to the top, we really got a feel for how high the train took us. And yes, both LJ and Max were asleep when we got on the train so they rode in their carseats.
Pretty cool, huh?!
It was a really great little spot. We felt like the kiddos were very safe (sometimes you go to these things and cross your fingers) and they loved it too.
Only wish we had brought quarters. (just a boy looking at nothing)
Another family had paid for the viewfinder thing and then left the top early so we let Will hop on and he said that he saw “lots of weally awesome stuff”.
I guess Max and I took the photo 
LJ experienced his first life-saver candy. Moment for the history books.
The best family photo we got on the entire trip. I’m being completely serious. I love it. I might actually frame this one!
Once we got to the bottom, we hit up Clumpies. It is some of the yummiest ice cream in all the land. Bowers are ice cream people through and through.
Weston is a fruit flavored man. I love anything with chocolate and nuts. Jeremy likes ice cream in phases. Right now he is a chocolate chip cookie dough fan. There was a time when mint chocolate chip was his favorite. When we first met, it was vanilla with chocolate syrup. I should make a chart so I remember.
Will and LJ are both vanilla guys. Also…sprinkles.
I didn’t realize Jeremy was taking pictures of me nursing until after he got this shot and I became weirdly awkward in the photos. It’s kinda my favorite thing ever. Max is a very sweet nurser….he gazes fondly and sometimes takes breaks and just looks up and smiles. He is also my biggest baby to date. He likes to nurse and sleep and loves his brother’s silly antics. He was such a surprise but now I can’t imagine our family without him. He really is so DELIGHTFUL. That is the best word for him. A complete delight.
That evening we got ready for cousins and Will built this epic farmyard scene with Jeremy. It looks just like the cover of the box. He was very proud and asked me to take his photo. You can imagine my excitement when he said “I built all the wood things and now we have to take the pictures”. Yup. That’s what we do baby
Will had not seen Asher in a long time but these two are definitely family. They had a blast getting all dirty and sweaty and playing HARD.
Some of the littles with their dinner…meal of champions.
Their other cousins also arrived and the noise level went from a seven to a twelve. All the kids were SUPER excited to play and eat smores and make more noise. It was awesome.
This little gem is Darby! You haven’t seen her since this old post! She really has grown and apparently now she loves BABIES
So that wraps up one of the big events we did while in Chattanooga and I can’t wait to tell you about the other place too! It was perfect for our little boys and it will make you want to add Chatty to your list of “must-visit” places. Can’t wait to share those photos!
No comments:
Post a Comment