Just When We Thought Our Luck Was Changing...

...our satellite technician sticks his foot through our ceiling in the kitchen. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

Chattanooga-A Visit to the Choo-Choo

The first thing I think of when I think of Chattanooga is the Chattanooga Choo-Choo.

So I wanted to make sure to visit while we were there.

What's not to love about a free exhibit of trains. Kids love trains!

And so do moms and dads!

The girls liked the dining car and wished we could eat there. But it was not dinner time. Maybe the next visit we'll do that.

You can even stay in one of the train cars like you would a hotel. But I don't think I would like that since two little girls might try to get in your train car...

Chattanooga-Tea for Ten

One thing I have wanted to do with the girls is visit a tea room. We had one in Crestview, but we never got there.

So when Alex's aunt told us that several of the ladies were going to a British Tea Room in Chattanooga and asked us to join them, I jumped at the chance.

I think the girls were just as excited about riding the "bus" to get there.

We had a wonderful lunch of finger sandwiches, scones (which were heavenly!), biscuits (cookies) and of course, tea. And maybe some milk for the one that didn't want tea.

The girls are asking to go again the next time we are in Chattanooga. I think I will find one a little closer. Or maybe we will institute afternoon tea when we get settled in. Now, I'm off to find a scone recipe...

Chattanooga-A Walk Around Town

After a delicious Thanksgiving lunch, we headed out with some of Alex's immediate family for a walk.

We were staying in downtown Chattanooga so we headed out around downtown.

The girls loved looking at the store fronts all decorated for Christmas. They really enjoyed looking over Santa's list. After not finding her name, Lillie concluded that it was the naughty list.

Tomorrow, tea for ten!

Chattanooga-Thanksgiving Day

I have so many pictures from our time in Chattanooga that I am going to split it up. I am also waiting on some pics from other people so I hope those filter in before I am done.

The first night we had a reception to just get everyone who had arrived together. We got there and just had a good time seeing everyone. After a light buffet, we talked some more and the girls and I headed up to bed.

The next day we got up late and watched the parade before meeting for pictures and lunch. Pictures took a while, but finally we made it to lunch. Then of course, more talking and playing.

And what Thanksgiving celebration would be complete without wrestling?

All total there were 49 (if I counted right...still waiting on the group photo). Alex's dad had a total of five siblings (one is deceased) and this was a reunion of sorts of his living siblings and their families.

They used to meet somewhere every year until about 1999 when Alex's grandmother was too ill to travel. Since then we met a couple of times until she died in 2005. After that we met in Amelia Island twice and a few time for weddings in various places.

This group is so much fun to be around. I love to listen to them all tell about Thanksgivings past and the fun times they had. I told Alex someone needs to record them sitting around telling all their stories. I truly look forward to spending the holiday with them.

We eat, play games, tell stories, eat some more, visit neat places, and of course, watch football!

This last picture is from Amelia Island 2007. I'll post the 2009 pic when I can get it.

Check back tomorrow for our walk around Chattanooga after our big meal.

Christmas Memory Monday

This is my first post for Christmas Memory Monday. If you want to join in, simple leave a comment on my blog and post your memory on your blog. If you don't have a blog, just post it in my comments.

I have so many wonderful memories of Christmas as a child. It's almost like I have a video camera recording playing in my mind sometimes because I remember so much from Christmas.

We had ornaments that we put on the tree every year, and I still use some of them on my tree. We had very few other decorations, but what we had bring back so many memories for me when I see them. We always travelled to see my grandmother in North Alabama where it was so wintry looking.

I think the key to all these memories is consistency. Consistency begets tradition and tradition warms my heart and soul.

This first memory that I'll share came to me a week or so ago when I was making peanut butter balls.

My mom didn't do a lot of holiday baking, but one thing she made every year was peanut butter balls.

One of my favorite things to do was to watch her roll the balls and then dip them in chocolate. My brother and I both would sit there while she did them all.

And of course we begged to eat them...and she always let us have one after they were hard.

I can still see the picture my dad took of us in our pajamas at the kitchen table just drooling as she dipped them all in chocolate. I wish I could show you the picture to go along with this memory because it does make it sweeter. But it is packed away somewhere in Atlanta. If I find it before month's end, I'll post it later.

So, what sweet memories do you have of Christmas past? I would love to hear them!

Menu Plan Monday-November 30

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving week full of family and good food! We had a great time! I'll be trying to blog this week about our trip to Chattanooga to be with most of Alex's extended family (there are a LOT of them!).

This week we are closing on our house and moving in so I'm not planning a menu. We will be eating out some and having sandwiches or other meals from the freezer.

But I did want to comment on something from last week. We made the cinnamon roll turkeys and they were a huge hit! The girls had fun making them and they were yummy!



For actual menus, head over to I'm An Organizing Junkie.