Cumberland Splash Park

So there's a bunch of splash parks in Nashville... This was a Nashville Metro Park they just opened right by the Titans stadium... along the Cumberland River. (Like... you park in the Titan's Stadium parking lot.) Carter had mixed emotions. He LOVES playing in the water... but isn't the hugest fan of getting sprayed in the face... and this place's water streams were as thick as a fireman hose... and were really powerful... they'd knock the buckets out of their hands. For the first hour and a half we were there it was all smiles and splashing when the fountains were off... but then they'd turn on and Carter'd be stuck in the middle and would be screaming and crying... then I'd have to rescue him... over and over. By the end he had finally realized the shooting water wasn't going to kill him... but it took a lonnnnng time! His cute little friend Charlize was so sweet with him and would give him hugs and hold his hand... and they'd climb the stairs and toss the ball back and forth... I am so glad she was there!! ;)

Steeplechase!

We had the opportunity to go to the Iroquois Steeplechase races while here in Nashville! My friend Cassi and her boys came to visit us (ok, they came to visit their dad/husband... but I can pretend;). It ended up being a great time... the  boys just thought the horses were awesome. If you dont know, the steeplechase is the horseraces were they jump over the gates and sometimes thru trenches. We thought we might not get too close just paying for the cheap seats... but the boys were able to get right against the gate and the horses were only 10-15 feet away! We could feel the rush of the horses and they thundered by...

So in awe of the horses...

 WE were SOOOOOOO underdressed! Turns out they all dress Kentucky Derby style .... women in sundresses and huge fancy hats... alot of the guys wore dress shirts with shorts.... we also saw a lot of suspenders, bowties and vests... and cigars... and pastels... meanwhile we are in jeans and Carter is rockin his Bob Marley shirt!! (stole some pics off Cassi's website... sorry! I wasn't daring enough to snap pics of the outfits!)

 

Plus Cassi, who is a wonderful photographer... snagged these pics of Kestlee... and I love them!!

My Date with My Kiddos...

So a few weeks ago I spent the whole day out and about with just me and the kiddos... and we ended up having a great time with just the 3 of us! Opry Mills was doing their grand re-opening extravaganza... So Carter meet KungFu Panda, the Lion from Madagascar, and of course... BROBEE from Gabba Gabba (and flex). He was of course completely confused and a little scared... but of course as soon as we started walking away he starts whining to go back... 

 Kestlee got a new teething toy that she loved (and we've already lost)... They were making free animal balloons so Carter asked for a snake... and he poked everyone we walked by with it... It got awkward when I kept saying... "Carter! be careful where you poke your snake!!!" Then realized that is words of wisdom for years to come ;)

 Opry Mills has a Rainforest Cafe and Carter LOVES the Hippo that is outside the restaurant... He's fascinated by it. Now every time I go to that mall I try to avoid that part of the mall or we will spend 15-20 minutes mesmerized by the Hippo.  

There's also a big aquarium... and he loved climbing up and talking to all the fish. There was also a free photobooth thing where they make a flipbook for you out of a bunch of pictures... and facepainting but C was too scared... and free cupcakes and smoothies... a fashion show... etc.

 When we came home he started loving on his sis like usual... "babbbbyyy seeeeester....

 I loooovvvve baby sisssster"

She loves him too... so very much.

And to cap off the day a little mattress sliding. 

 Man... kids can be hard work but I wouldn't want to give them up for anything... I absolutely adore them when they are not driving me crazy ;) 

Antique Archaeology, Grand Ole Opry, Centennial Park (Gma's 1st Visit to Nashville)

 My mom helped me do the 3-day drive to Nashville with the kiddos... and stayed for a few days after to explore Nashville! We love the show "American Pickers"... and one of their stores is about 10 minutes from us... it was so great to see the neat stuff they bought off the show...such a awesome store!  We didn't have to wait when we went... but this past weekend when we drove by, there was a line AROUND the block to get in! I think they make all their money off the T-Shirts they sell there...

 

 Carter spent the whole time playing with one of Elvis' mics... (oops). None of the workers acted like it was a big deal and it wasn't easily breakable... so.... we let him play. He was just singing away... He begged me to sing with him... so I did...(I mean... it was Elvis' mic!)

 

 Had to keep dragging Carter away from this Antique DonaldDuck... he was $2500... Please don't touch the duck C!

 Motorcycle!! ($3800)... don't touch the bike!! Elvis guitars... Not For Sale... Don't Touch!! (This was the key phrase of the store.... Don't touch!!

We also made to the Ryman Auditorium... the old Grand Ole Opry... It was a neat place to see.

 

Johnny Cash's boots!

 

 

 

 We also went to Centennial Park which is one of the biggest parks in Nashville... there's a big train...

There is a lifesize replica of the Parthenon... something about it being a gift given to Nashville or something... (I dunno, when it starts to get to detailed on historical stuff I kinda loose focus;)

 There's this big jet... Carter thought was really cool... I don't have any pics but there's a big duck pond and they ducks are the most well-fed ducks ever. Its a huge pong with tons of ducks... but they get fed so much they just don't even care... it was so wierd!

My mom's friend Scott Bernard, who plays with Kenny Loggins (yes, of Footloose fame.. and she is a super-fan) lives in Nashville, he and his wife came down to show us downtown Nashville and he was kind enough to show Carter his REAL guitar.... Carter was impressed (He likes guitars)... He even let him strum it... which is a pretty big deal I guess cuz it's an expensive guitar... (I don't know the difference... but it looked perrty).

Anyhew... it was fun to start of the summer exploring Nashville! Lots more to come as I'm finally starting to catch up on my blog!