"weekend" getaway to Knoxville

The Monday night after Maclyn's 1st birthday party, we loaded up and made a quick trip to Knoxville to meet up with our dear friends Tim and Lindsy and their kiddos. We hadn't seen their family in a long time and were well over-do for a get together. We got across-the-hall hotel rooms and made plans for the zoo and a fun children's museum. Plus a lot of laughs, re-visiting of inside jokes that we have had for years, and loving on each other's babies. Between the 2 of our families there are 7 kids! It is awesome but I won't lie, we scared people when we walked into restaurants! Haha!!! Despite all the kids and different age ranges, they were spectacular and got along great. They, for the most part, entertained each other so that the four of us could have conversations, laugh, and reminisce.

The kids thoroughly enjoyed the hotel room, and being just across from their buddies!

Knoxville Zoo!!!!  (with 7 kiddos!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The zoo had a pretty awesome splash pad. There is nothing better than watching a bunch of kids being kids in a splash pad on a super hot day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        
We made it!! No lost kids (though there were some close calls) and no lost items (though there were some close calls) and everyone was still smiling! What a fantastic time!

After some rest and some so-so "Mexican" food, swimming in the hotel pool, and more fun conversation we went to sleep and woke up for an adventure at a children's museum. From the outside-looking-in, the museum didn't look like much. But it is truly a hidden gem in Knoxville and all of the kids enjoyed it, including us grown-ups!                                        

An attempt at a group picture....or should I say, multiple attempts. Haha!

After the museum we went downtown and ate lunch and then went to an old pharmacy soda fountain for ice cream. I found this fantastic selfie on my phone of Keagan and Kennedy!

 
Finley and Grey...nearly birthday twins if his mama hadn't been 2 weeks overdue before she birthed him!!  (missing Cayden...the third in the birthday trio)

 

When we left Knoxville we promised the boys that we would take them to Dave&Buster's in Nashville before we headed home. This stemmed from Josh gushing about a work meeting he had there months prior and the boys just HAD to try it out! They had a blast and as a bonus, Dave&Buster's is in Opry Mills mall, so Maclyn and I got some shopping in!!