Family trip to 'Chicago' better known as Chattanooga.

For some odd reason my 3 1/2 year old has decided that Chattanooga's real name is Chicago. We have gone rounds over this but in the interest of speeding him into the car we are just going with it...for now.
Saturday we decided to travel the 1.5 hours to Chattanooga and explore their wonderful aquarium. It is two separate buildings full of fish, reptiles, birds and butterfly's...what could be better?

 All was going well, we found a parking spot on Market street (which is full of resturants including our fav. Panera) and meter's are free on the weekend. Score! We bundle the kids up, of course the temp. has dropped 20 degrees today, and off we go in the the double stroller. Given the amount of walking we anticipate today I am not about to try and wear baby C and then get stuck carrying J all day as well. Anywho, we get there, show our pass and we are off! We pet the stingrays and remark on the birds, no sooner than we get into the butterfly habitat we have to run off to find a potty. Great, I can see where this day is headed. J and I spend the next 15 minutes in the bathroom discussing the finer points of why he needs to hurry up and begging the cleaning man to hold on we are almost done. Finally I give up and shuttle us out of the stall. As we are washing hands I catch a glimpse in the mirror of...the urinal! I was in such a rush that I had hearded us into the Men's restroom which explained the dirty looks I was getting from the Janitor! Oops...we quickly run out to meet the rest of the family red faced.


It takes us the better part of 3 hours to see the aquariums and habitats...and by this time lunch has worn off. We decide to head up Broad Street to get barbeque for dinner and we walk right past the Moon Pie Factory store. Well of course we have to head in! They are definately not organic, or healthly, but they do sell miniature versions that are perfect for splitting and made for BIG time excitement! J got his chocolate one in his own bag (after he paid on his own) and held it like it was an olympic medal during dinner. I don't think he could have been any happier on the drive home than he was...eating his big 'ole chocolate moon pie, drinking milk and watching Cars 2...oh to be him.

 Of course he was begging to open his shark umbrella but who can see to drive with a shark in the back seat? :)

What is this blog for anyway?

I have been putting off this first post for 2 weeks now.  Of course I rationalize it because 'there just isn't time' but in reality I just didn't know how to start.  So now I have done it, I started.  Its a rambling disjointed mess...but it is done :)

The whole point of this blog is to help other people with kids who find themselves in the same boat as I do...What should we do today?

Let's face it, no matter how cute the kids are eventually we all find ourselves desperate to get out of the house, to distract those adorably annoying kids for an hour or two until the next meal.  Usually a quick run to the store or an errand is enough to quiet the crazy for a bit but (for me at least) I find that a somewhat large outing is required...usually falling on a day when my oldest is home all day from preschool.  The luxury of living in a large city like Atlanta is the vast array of places to take the kiddos but laziness means we usually go to the same 5 attractions.  While I love these places I would like to branch out and explore...I have exhausted online searches for new places but the reviews seldom address things like toddler appropriateness, changing tables and healthy food options.

I can't complain, at least I get suggestions for places in Atlanta.  When I go to visit family in Central Kentucky I am rewarded with next to no options online.  Luckily I know people who suggest things but what do you do if you are driving through and want to spend a day?  What do I do when we make the annual 12 hour drive from Atlanta to St. Louis?  To help with this dilemma I decided to start this blog.  A place where I can recommend and review places that I have been and a place for others to leave their recommendations and reviews as well!  

So, grab the kiddos and hit the road...just make sure to let me know what you did today!