Memphis has a Fire Museum...and you should go

One of our favorite things to do when we are in Memphis is to ride the trolley. I think I have talked about how much fun it is and for what a great price. We always ride on the riverfront loop that goes down main street and then cuts across and parallels the river. Each time we ride, we see the large lighted sign advertising the fire museum. Well, a few weekends ago we decided to check it out and it was great.

They had so many interactive exhibits. The whole museum is practically hands-on. Holt got to put on a fireman's turnout gear, drive the firetruck and operate the hoses. The actual history aspect of the museum was great too. We will add it to our list of fun places to go.

After we left the museum, we rode the trolley down and ate at the flying fish and then moseyed on over to the peabody so Harper Ann and Holt could see the ducks. I took Holt up to the rooftop so he could see where the ducks live. He was not impressed and I don't think he was excited about being that high up.

Harper Ann's first trip to the Peabody

In full fireman's gear

Using the hose to put the fire out on the screen

Harper Ann likes just hanging out

Looking out for the fire museum

3 month photos

Sweet Feet
She looks so much like Holt

She loves her Daddy

Napping

My Hero. Those Batman undies have superpowers.

Three months goes by almost as fast as three years

Holt's first dove hunt

Every year Jonathan has a dove hunt the opening weekend of dove season. It is always fun to get all of his friends from high school and college together. This year was extra special, since it was the first year Holt was really old enough to get up early and go "hunting." In terms of actual hunting, the morning was a bit of a let down, but for sheer entertainments sake the morning (and weekend) was a complete success.

Holt was, as always entertaining. He was in and out of consciousness on the way out to the field and it wasn't until he got to ride in the back of the truck that he really woke up. He walked, kicked clods of dirt and scouted birds for dad, for all of 10 minutes before he said he was done hunting and ready for breakfast. Fortunately Jonathan's Dad was there to take the kid to some food. Once Holt left, aside from Daho forgetting to put his safety on and shooting the ground (thankfully not someone), the morning passed as they usually do, with talk of football and hunting and other things I am glad Holt wasn't around for.

The weekend was great from start to finish. Matt and Carley came from Fayetteville, AR and Daho and his newly wedded wife Emily came from Baton Rouge and Bacon and Lisa and Brian and Sarah drove down from memphistown. The usual suspects were there too. Friday night we went to Crawdads and stayed up way past my bedtime (was college really that long ago?) then Saturday we had a full house over to watch Alabama take care of VT. We loved getting to put the guest bedroom and pack'n'play to use and wish Matt and Carley lived closer, but are certainly thankful that we can pick up right where we left off when we do get together. We can't wait to meet the new little Hill in March. A few photos from the hunt below, thanks to Carley for the use of her camera and for getting the pictures mailed to me so fast.

Watch out for Daho Holt.

Matt - "If that is an XL then Daho shops in the Junior's department"

Every good hunter needs a good scout.

The ride in the back of the pickup was fun for Holt , but terrifying for me
(I have irrational fears re: big machines)

Friends, Family and Football (can I get a Roll Tide?!)

The Dove hunt brought some of our dearest friends to visit. Matt, Carley and Jake came to visit and share the good news that they are expecting again. Holt was glad to give pointers to Jake on how to be a good big brother. Holt also gave Jake pointers on how to roll tide and Jake tried to teach Holt how to call the hogs. fortunately Holt would have none of that, but we did enjoy watching SEC football while the boys goofed on the couch.

They are such awesome parents! Good big people make good little people.

Sweet little boy...he is going to be such agood big brother

The same weekend as the dove hunt, my mom came to visit. My cousins John and Stephen and my Aunt and Uncle (Papa and Mamie) came to visit too. We enjoyed an afternoon on Sunday at my grandmother's house visiting with some of my favorite people. It makes my heart smile when I think of Holt running around chasing John from room to room or about Papa "talking" with Harper Ann and encouraging me to be a less bossy mom. It is nice to have a family that I can share genuine laughter and joy with.

I am sure it was funny

She changes a little every day

You reach a point in your life when a few years go by and you don't change that much. Jonathan and I have clothes in our closet we wore in college, we may not want to wear them anymore, but we could if push came to shove, and I certainly have shoes that I can still wear. This is one of my favorite things about little little ones, they change every day. There is always something exciting and new and she has already outgrown some clothes. It's a good thing the cubs are going to miss the post season since her cubs onesies are officially too small.

Harper Ann is talking and holding her head up for extended periods, she is also smiling a lot more now. Something that makes her smile more than anything else is her cubs mobile. It has little bears in pink baseball uniforms and plays take me out to the ballgame. For whatever reason, she loves that mobile, it almost makes her laugh out loud. She is destined for heartbreak.

Chatting away

Sweet smile

Her thighs got stuck on the way out.

On her way to sleep.

Tummy time.

She loves those bears

They make her so happy

Watching her big brother

She is going to outgrow that basket soon

She is getting so strong

Siblings

Holt has been a great big brother and we have established a new routine. A bit of a chaotic routine, but we make it work. A few pictures of Holt lovin on his sister.

Telling her secrets...I have a feeling these two will try to keep a lot from us over the next 20 years

Teaching him who's the boss.

Harper Ann is much fairer skinned than Holt.

That is a smile.