Mexico Beach Vacation

We had a great time in Mexico Beach, Florida, this year. A short trip, just 4 days, and Mom and Zoe came along too.













We rode the waves, built sand castles and mermaids.






We went to dinner at Toucans and played on the swings.










We had mostly great weather. A storm blew in one day and at first I thought we could just wait it out on the beach. I mean, we're already wet! But it was a hard rain, cold, too, so we ran inside and just watched from our covered deck.







Zoe didn't like the ocean, so they dug their own swimming pool.













This little crab was so cute, and so willing to be photographed. But his outgoing nature only led to his downfall. We watched helplessly as he became lunch for a sea gull.








On the way to Killer Seafood.







Our last morning, just a few minutes on the beach while Dave loads the car.

Six Flags

Once a year we make it over to Six Flags. The girls love to go, even though they won't get on most of the rides. They loved the swing and got to see the guy from all those commercials.



And anything with the possibility of getting soaked is a must do. We rode Thunder River twice, and the girls were thrilled to get stuck under the waterfall. Me, not so much...












Somehow I managed to get Casey to ride the Mindbender with me, but that turned out to be a huge mistake. She was terrified and has vowed never to ride anything like that again. They flat out refused to ride the Scream Machine. But Dave just had to try the Ninja, even though he has to go it alone. And there he is upside down! Can you hear the screams? Not Dave, the girls, standing right here beside me...

4th of July Weekend

Friday our guests arrive! Todd, Hector and Cole are here for the weekend. Cole loves the new hammock...

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Saturday we went to the Atlanta Botanical Garden to see Moore in America, very large sculptures, many of mother and child.

There are still a few Chihuly pieces here.

Cole loves the flowers. Too much...

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I'll just take this chocolate tree with me....

In the orchid house

Cole is ready to get the splashy place

Finally! We get to the splashy place that I promised would be here. It was worth the wait!

Whew!

Chattanooga

Mom and I took a day trip to Chattanooga to see the Jellies:Living Art exhibit at the Tennessee Aquarium and the Hunter Museum. Here is a link for more information http://www.tnaqua.org/exhibit_jellieslivingart.aspx

The exhibit features several different jellyfish at the aquarium along side works by glass artists like my favorite guy Dale Chihuly.

These are examples of his Macchia.

And these are upside down jellyfish, which is their proper name, not just what I'm calling them.

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Several other kinds of jellyfish and these pieces by Stephen Rolfe Powell and Thomas Spake.

The Hunter Museum is uphill from the aquarium, so we headed up to see their Chihuly, a chandelier called Laguno Murano. We weren't allowed to take any pictures, but they had this poster outside to tease us.

Also this horse which I was certain was driftwood but is actually bronze.

After admiring the chandelier we continued on the museum tour which we found out includes a second Chihuly piece.

And my new favorite painting, Dragon Falls.