Memphis in May!

We had a crazy, busy few days celebrating one of our favorite weekends in Memphis in May. I just love this time of year in our city!

We kicked off our weekend early at BBQ Fest on Thursday night. My cousins Frankie and Margaret were in town and staying with us for a couple nights while they visited friends and enjoyed some BBQ, so they went down to the river with us. We got a later start than we wanted to because of the kids swimming lessons, but we still managed to hit 4 friends' tents. We had 8 on the original list, but we just couldn't make them all and attempt to eat and visit.  It was a nice night.

Margaret took this pic of me, Frankie, Russ and Brian
to send to their kids to make them jealous! Ha!

The weather was pretty awesome!

Catching up with one of my sweetest friends, Shana!

I took off work the next day and spent it running errands and doing things around the house and that night we laid low and visited at the house with Frankie and Margaret.

On Saturday morning, we said goodbye to them and headed to Tyler's last soccer game of the season. Pop Pop was also in town this weekend and he met us there. It was raining, so they went indoors to the gym, which was a bit of a disaster since the kids aren't super proficient at dribbling just yet. They would kick the ball and it would fly across the gym floor to the other side in 2 seconds. It was also picture day at soccer. Tyler wasn't really having a great day, so the pictures were a bit of a disaster. Honestly, our whole family was having a "moment" that morning all around. Just keeping it real! Ha!

After soccer, we headed back home in an attempt to regroup. We rallied and decided to continue with our plan to head downtown to visit the Bass Pro Shops headquarters that opened in the Pyramid a few weeks earlier. The city has been all a-buzz since its opening and all we have to say is, it's about time! The deal the city made with Bass Pro to turn the abandoned Pyramid into their headquarters has been going on for years and I think Memphians were starting to think it would never happen. I have to say, it was done right and we were very impressed with the final product.

It's hard to believe that this is the same place where we watched Tiger basketball and early Grizzlies games in college! The inside had ponds with fish, ducks and alligators. Of course, lots of 4-wheeler type ride-on "toys" and boats...and the kids had to sit or get in every. single. one! They have the country's largest free-standing elevator that takes you to the top of the Pyramid to look out on 2 observation decks of the city. There was a long line to ride up to the top, but surprisingly the line moved really quickly and we only waited about 20 minutes. There is a cool bar/restaurant up there that wasn't open yet. There was also a restaurant downstairs with an aquarium and bowling alley inside. It was a lot to take in! The kids had fun, even though Tyler wasn't cooperating the best.

Getting a pic with everyone looking was impossible...there was just too much to see!

Caroline was freaking out at all the ducks. She was quacking
 at them so much that I thought she would jump in at one point!

She really warmed up to Pop Pop this visit which was sweet to see.

Looking up at the elevator 

The view from the top!

Everyone got their own cup with lemonade or tea at the top...Caroline was OBSESSED with mine!

Our free picture that they took for us, It was $10 to ride to the top and that included
  the pic and drinks for everyone. And the kids were free. Not a bad deal!

This bear was something that Caroline picked up to play with during the wait for
the elevator to the top. She almost shoplifted it when we left...Russ carried her
out holding it and I snatched it and ran it back inside. There was so much going
on in there that I bet there was a ton of legit shoplifting happening.

Of course there was taxidermy everywhere...my worst fear! It didn't bother me too bad
this time. I don't know if it was because I didn't feel closed in. Or because it was so
small in such a large space that I felt I had the ability to "get away" or what. Ha!

We all were exhausted from the activity and took naps to recover. We woke up and were trying to decide on whether to go to the Redbirds game or not...I had tickets through work, but it had been a long day already. We went and it might have been the most enjoyable Redbirds game we've been to as a family yet. The kids were MUCH better behaved and Tyler seemed to really enjoy the game. It was Pop Pop's first Redbirds experience and he caught a shirt that they throw up into the stands. Russ was ecstatic because he caught his first ever foul ball, too! The Redbirds almost had a no-hitter (and won) so the game flew by, too. There were fireworks after the game, so we decided to stay for those. Tyler LOVED them and kept saying "this is so awesome"! Caroline was scared and buried her face in either mine or Russ' shoulder, but she never cried. Secretly, I think she liked them, because she would look up and watch them for a little bit before burying her head again. We'll see what happens on July 4th. We of course all crashed when we got home.

Excuse the mouthful of food from Little Miss...she will hold
food in her mouth for days before she chews it up!

Giving rocks to Pop Pop

And to Mommy...

Then blowing them up! She loves this right now.

They both wanted to be in my lap a lot during the game.

And there were lots tickle/hugging it out moments..Ha!

Tyler with Daddy's foul ball! He almost threw it back before we told him we got to keep it!

The beginning of the fireworks...they were much more impressive than this...

Sunday morning was spent at church and then I enjoyed a little Mama time with one of my besties, Jennifer, at Pitch Perfect 2. It was pretty darn cute, I have to say.

Another exhausting, fun-filled weekend in the books!