Meeting up with the Harris Family for dinner

Today we had a nice day shopping at the mall so that we'd be close drive to meet up with our friends for dinner at a local Japanese restaurant for dinner. Feels like we've known The Harris' forever, we have been in touch via e-mail, FaceBook, and Blogs for a few years now, so it was especially nice to finally meet them in person.

My camera decided to act up, well I'm sure it was no fault of the camera more like the operator, but for whatever reason it wasn't working until just before we left ... UGH!

Here is Auntie Sam, with Sakura and beautiful Kaori who is just a year older than Sakura.

Mommies and their girls

I was VERY surprised that Sakura let Auntie Sam carry her - she's usually pretty reserved and would typically cry for one of us, but she went right to Auntie Sam (notice the tenative look on her face).

The girls playing around the tree at Starbucks

Gathering a little pine straw.

Kaori and Sakura playing together.

Daddy's turn .... Sakura ♥s sticks this trip she discovered lots of sticks, rocks, leaves, etc. and loved every bit of it.

Always the most fun with Daddy twirling you around.

The girls were having a BLAST!

As you can tell by their expressions.

Thanks for making the drive to meet up with us Harris Family - We ♥ You guys and hope to meet again somewhere!!!

A day at the Tennessee aquarium and carousel

Indoor activities are always nice when the humidity is about to kill you :) Today we headed to Chatanooga, Tennessee to the Tennessee Aquarium and then to a really cool OLD (1894 I believe it said) carousel at Coolidge Park (LOTS of pictures).

Beautiful view from the aquarium

The plants and flowers were breath taking.

Sakura and Daddy checking out the tidepool which had stingrays

Can I touch him Daddy?

Sakura couldn't quite reach, but Daddy did pet the stingray...so did Mommy and Papa

It says he doesn't bite, so I let Sakura stick her hands in this shark (to dry them off). I counted - all fingers were still present and accounted for!

Beautiful butterfly exhibit

Sakura watching the butterflies, she "flaps her wings" just like they do!

Hungry butterfly - this was a BEAUTIFUL butterfly, the inside of it's wings were the brightest blue, I waited for two different ones to open their wings, but they weren't cooperating with me!

Sakura's new spot to carry/wear her sunglasses, look closely

Daddy and Sakura made a friend at the aquarium, the gentleman standing beside Daddy and Sakura was blind (see cane), and he was asking Dean to describe all of the sharks to him - then he would ask if one was coming this way, this lasted quite a while. The man in the lighter blue shirt ended up "talking" to the gentleman, but thankfully he didn't make him leave - because we saw him later in another area having someone describe what they saw. It was sweet!

Time to feed the sharks!

I wish I could remember the name of this amazing thing, I took several pictures of them, they were SO cool!

Who doesn't love a clown (fish that is!)?

Another favorite of mine, Seahorses!

Dwarf seahorse - SO cute!

Sakura wanted NO part of being "inside" the aquarium, she wanted DOWN MOMMY!

What did Sakura ♥ at the aquarium - the same thing that is Mommy's VERY favorite!

Hmmm...what is it, captivating Sakura's attention, she about climbed over the exhibit wall!

Otters!

Cool frogs!

How cute is he?!

Someone couldn't take it anymore .... Sakura crashed just before the last few exhibits.

Here is what she missed - never smile at a

Scary little thing!

We walked around the shops, etc. then headed over to Coolidge Park for the carousel!

Daddy and Sakura heading to the carousel

Still VERY tired - Sakura rode a horse first ...

Trying to figure out the mechanics???

A kitty cat (meow, meow, meow)

A piggy (oink oink as Sakura kept saying)

Everyone was BEAT and SOOOOO hot, I think this was our hottest day, the humidity about killed all of us.

As you can tell by the sweat covering Sakura's hair and the sweat beads across her nose!

Browsing around Blue Ridge, Ga

We took a "bad" situation and made the best of our trip, we made it a vacation, did some sight seeing and had a very nice time visiting with family we don't get much time to visit normally. We couldn't have asked for a better week - well the weather was plain HORRIBLE, us Arizonan's aren't used to humidity and humid it was! I don't know how ANYone lives in that - UGH!

Today we went to Blue Ridge, Ga. did some sightseeing, shopping, lunch and then back "home" for a nap for Sakura then up to the cabin to have dinner with Dad, Jane and Uncle Joey and visit with Big Papa.

Blue Ridge lake

Sakura posing for Mommy by the sign - down an alley, I just thought it was cute :)

They even have BEARS in Blue Ridge! These bears were gentle.


We went into a toy store ... Daddy found something he thought Sakura would like so we went outside to wait for Daddy to pay, and I told Sakura to sit on the bench that Daddy was bringing her a SURPRISE! She was SO excited! Everytime she sees these pictures, she says "Prize Mommy" - funny!

Anxious for Daddy to come out and see her "PRIZE" - Gramma Janie was peek-a-booing her.

MORE bears in Blue Ridge!

Stopping to smell the flowers - notice her hair stuck to her head! It was HOT and miserable!

Finished dinner, and making the walk to Great Grandpa's house - that's my Dad's house being built, don't know how Gramma Janie does it living in a TEENY tiny travel trailer so long and managing, but she does and even managed to fix dinner for us a few times! She's the BEST!

Papa, Sakura and Gramma Janie (yes backpack is ON for the walk)

Visiting with Great Papa