Fun with the Friedman's

While I was in Chattanooga I got word from my good friend, Tara, that Wayne was taking the day off on Friday for them to have a little family getaway over the weekend. They had planned to go to Gatlinburg, but decided to come to Chattanooga instead and visit the Creative Discovery Museum. I had planned to take Taylor up to visit Tara and the kids on Thursday, but it worked out even better this way for us all to get together in Chattanooga and I didn't have to do any extra traveling.

I called Daniel the night before to tell him what our plans were. During this whole week while we were in Chattanooga he was at home getting Taylor's Big Girl Room ready. He and Bud painted the walls and all the trim and Bud painted the bookcase. It looks really good and I'll post pictures once I get all the stenciling done and get the curtains hung. So, anyway, I called Daniel to tell him about our plans and to see if there would be any possible way for him to take the day off on Friday to come up and spend the day with us. The plans were to meet up with the Friedman's after Taylor's nap. Daniel had so much to do that he didn't see any way possible that he would be finished in time to come up on Friday. I was a little disappointed, but I wasn't going to let that spoil the fun. I knew that he was working hard to get Taylor's room finished.

On Friday morning I got up and called Daniel. When we got off the phone Taylor woke up and wanted to see her Granddaddy, so Mama took her into the bedroom to wake him up. Just then Daniel called me back to ask me to unlock the front door. I was a little confused at first and then I saw the car out in front of the house. He had come up early to surprise me! I was so not expecting it. He had gotten up extremely early to get there around 7:30. I was so shocked that I just couldn't believe he was there. This is not the first time that he has surprised me like this and it never gets old.

We had hoped to meet the Friedman's at the Creative Discovery Museum and all go together, but by the time Taylor woke up from her nap they had already been there a while and were getting close to being through. Later Tara told me that she was expecting to spend all day there but the kids get through it in about 2 hours. I think there are more things to do for older children, so in a way I was glad that we didn't take Taylor. We did end up meeting them in the parking lot and taking them to Coolidge Park by the TN River. We had great fun there watching the kids play on the unusual playground equipment. They also had fun climbing the cement animal fountains (which weren't running) and riding the carousel. Although our meeting was short it was really good to get to see them. Since they live in Knoxville now we only get to see them usually about once a year - twice if we make special arrangements - so we really cherish our time together. Here are some pictures of the kids playing together.

Hannah and Taylor playing with the bells and chains.

Isaac and Hannah play while Taylor looks on.

Taylor and Naomi havin' fun.

Tara and Hannah exhange "I love you's" through the tube.

Here are some pictures of the kids on the animal fountains. All the animals are positioned in a circle and during the summer there is water shooting out of their mouths and up from the ground in the middle. Kids come out in their swim suits and run through the water. Of course, the water was turned off during the wintertime.

I was surprised that Daniel actually got Taylor to sit on this turtle and pose for a picture. I would have thought she would have been scared.

The carousel in the park is really neat because all of the animals ar exotic animals and are hand carved and hand painted. At first Taylor was a little bit skiddish. Daniel did get her to sit on a horse for about half a revolution though.

Is Taylor ticklish?

Saying "Good-bye".