Memphis Bound

This post is about...ahem...two months late.  But better late than never, right?  Back in July, Darin got a surprise phone call from the same lady who asked him to do a summer workshop for teachers two years back.  And, surprise, she wanted him to come back.  When he did it two years ago, the kids and I (who were a mere 2 years and 3 months old) went too.  We made it into a 2.5 day mini vacation.  You see, one of the benefits of having a husband who is good at what he does is that when you're called again, you get to do it all over again..but this time with kids who can actually enjoy a little more.  His workshop was in West Memphis, so that's where our hotel was.  We got to stay in the same hotel.   In fact, we even got to stay in the same exact room…which if you remember from two years ago was amazing. 

And had this........ (insert sounds of angels singing). 

With the kids being almost two and a half and 4, they really got to enjoy themselves unlike the trip prior.  Having your oldest who had just turned two and a 3 month old who nursed every 3-4 hours was, well, difficult. 

We actually did the same exact things we did two years ago.  Zoe was so young she didn’t remember anything.  And, well, Ethan did this the whole time. 

We visited the CMOM – Children’s Museum of Memphis.  That is the best museum for little ones.  It has such great hands on things that provide learning and just pure fun.  They had several new things that had been added on that weren’t there two years ago…an airplane exhibit, watching how a boat travels down a river, and a shopping center where you take a child sized basket, go get you own items, and check yourself out.  It even prints out a receipt for you of what you spent on your items.  That was probably my favorite exhibit of the whole museum…one of theirs as well.

                  Children's Museum Adventure

E-man shopping his little heart out.  Shredded wheat...what taste.  Blah! Yummy!

Checking out

Below is a picture of two years ago of Zoe.  So many changes!

One day we visited the Memphis Zoo.  That’s just fun all the way around.  Plus, the day that it went, it was pretty overcast which meant that the temperatures were really quite nice.  We took our double stroller…which by the way is the best invention…and it allowed them to freely walk or ride when they wanted to.  They saw lions, and tigers, and bears…oh my! 

Zoo Time!

 This particular monkey harassed us kept us company while we ate.  There is glass on the other end of that by the way.


Please...give me some too!



Ummm, no thank you

Baby giraffe - 11 days old

One day we went to the Botanical Gardens.  I must say, gardens in the dead heat of summer, in a drought, with 105+ degree temperatures, and with 100% humidity don’t make for very pretty foliage.   But they do have a great kid’s area, and that is primarily where we spent our three hours.   They have a giant tree house with a slide and big bridge, a water area where you can wade in the water, several different hands on areas, and my personal favorite, a rainstorm simulator which begins with some low rumbles of thunder, followed by loud claps of thunder, followed by sprinkles, followed by an all out downpour.  Both kids loved that.  They also were pretty surprised that there were fish as big as the ones that they got a chance to feed. 

Botanical Gardens

Having to leave the rainstorm area

It's raining, it's pouring!

Giant Earthworm



Feeding the "giant fish" as the kids call them



I think we need to this way, mom. 

 This year we stayed an extra day so as not to have to travel right after one of our “adventures”.  So we stayed three nights, four days.  Just long enough to call it a great vacation.