So a little getaway to Tennessee was the perfect way to celebrate the official end to the summer season.
Lauren still travels really well.
We feel well seasoned in traveling with a little, although with each stage things change slightly.
We now stock up on Daniel Tiger episodes and save them for the flight only.
Pack plenty of snacks.
Stickers & Crayons.
This is our equation for a pretty successful flight.
Lauren is still a 'lap child' and will be until we hit two and have to purchase an additional ticket. However with a growing belly and a growing girl, that additional ticket is looking pretty good. We got a dose of it on our flight down and the extra room was kinda nice.
I did discover a new hurdle with this next phase,
keeping her seated and belted when necessary, when the lap is not an option, and she really doesn't want to be.
Our long weekend was a busy one that started out at the lake
with lots of sun, jumping, boat rides, tubing, and even a popsicle.
Lauren loved the water, like couldn't get enough of it.
I credit that to swim lessons.
After our little fish was finished swimming, we went for a boat ride and a McQuinn family tube ride.
Lauren was such a fan that she went to sleep about 2 minutes in.
Our boat ride continued and so did Lauren's nap.
The rest of our weekend was filled with fun activities out & about in Knoxville and right in Papa & Grandma's backyard.
Especially this one...
After seeing Lauren on the 'air track' at gymnastics, my mom found a little bounce house.
It was blown up daily and Lauren loved it.
Especially on the last day, when the hose got turned on and it became a water bounce house.
I am now on the hunt for a bounce house.
We celebrated Football Time in Tennessee.
Since Lauren has outgrown all of her UT gear, Papa & Grandma took her to find some appropriate game day attire.
Meet Otis.
He's a Bluetick Coonhound, which also happens to be the UT mascot, Smokey.
While my dad is an avid Vol's fan, he did not get a Smokey dog to show his devotion.
Otis belongs to Tyler and is on an extended dog sitting trip at Grandpa & Grandmas
as Tyler secures a better living situation for Otis {think apt to house}
... because Grandpa & Grandma are really good at that extended dog sitting thing.
We would know.
Other highlights of our weekend included:
Brunch, at one of our favorite Knoxville restaurants.
I can't get this place out of my head. There is an ahi tuna salad here that I'm obsessed with. I had it delivered to the hospital when I had Lauren.
Sadly, I have been racking my brain with what special meal I'm going to have delivered this time around.
I've yet to come up with anything.
Lauren would like a cake pop delivered.
Zoo Trip
with all her favorites.
Giraffes, elephants, monkeys, gorillas, lions, & tigers.
We even got to see some zebras.
And there was no trauma.
We made some progress since our Memorial Day fiasco.
Ice Cream
After our hot zoo trip, we cooled off with a shake, a first for Lauren.
She liked.
She also liked running off that shake in Grandma & Papa's backyard,
which is a great feature of my parents new house.
The Reading Chair
Before this weekend, this chair did not have a name.
But it appears Lauren left her mark on it and there was a lot of quality time spent here.
Did I mention he is a rescue who's former name is Clet?
It was a quick and busy weekend,
as they all seem to be,
but this one was full of memories.
One of my favorite things about traveling with Lauren is seeing things through her eyes.
The older she gets, the more she takes in. The more she notices. The more she talks about when we return home.
Especially when we visit our parents and families.
This is the beginning of those special memories that she will have forever.
And it's pretty fun to see it through her grandparents eyes as well.
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