2010 March 27, Saturday, Grandkid discovering the Natural Resources of Florence

I took three of my grandchildren to the Hall Memorial Native Plant Garden at TVA.
Where we saw the Iris Crostata, Jacob's Ladder, Bloodroot, Solidago caesia, Sessile Leaf Bellwort, Oakleaf Hydrangea, Ohio Spiderwort, Wild Columbine, Purple Phacelia & others. 
The grandchildren listened patiently as Mr. Rose told them about all the wildflowers. 
We left the garden and went deeper into the woods to see more wildflowers. 
The grandkids love walking in the woods. I am sure some of the information stayed in their heads.

A group picture at the end of the hike. 

Walking deeper into the woods, looking for wildflowers

The grandkids wanted to explore the TVA Waterfall. As we were walking along the banks of the Tennessee River, we saw many birds. We could see the TVA Dam,  the Marriott Hotel, River Heritage Park, and the Tower 380 Degrees Restaurant. 

Standing on the banks of the river

the backdrop of the Waterfall 

We stopped at Domino's for a pizza and took it to Deibert Park. 

After we finished eating, we walked the trail to learn more about our environment. We stopped at the pond to watch the turtles pop their heads up out of the water. 

Watching the turtles

Watching for the Turtles

We walked deeper into the woods, where we saw signs listing the different creatures, plants, and trees we might see.

Some of the signs that we saw were: muskrat, loblolly pine, Rufous-sided Towhee, Caroline Wren, ticks, Great Blue Heron, black cherry tree, dogwood tree, bluebirds, sweet pepper bush, cardinal, gray squirrel, and many others. 

The grandkids discovered some of the metal art displayed in the park, bringing a bit of culture to the park. 

Discovering Art 

The grandkids enjoyed playing on the train, monkey bars, swings, horses, tire swing, and seesaw.

We stopped at my dad's to wish him a Happy Birthday. It had been a full day for all of us. 

Riding the train 

Swinging 

  

2008, April 7, Monday, Having fun in the park with grandkids

I picked up Sierra, Montana, and Nevada at their grandmother Clanton's house.

I had packed a picnic lunch of peanut butter sandwiches, bananas, fruit bowls, and Mountain Dews. 

We ate lunch at St Florine Park, and when we finished, we walked the trail.

About midway through the trail was a hill of loose dirt

The kids wanted to climb atop the dirt hill, and I said they could.

They said Grannyncameme up, so I did.

We walked around on top of the dirt pile and up and down several times. 

The kids loved this area. 

We walked around the park and I took pictures. 

I took the kid's picture standing on a bridge next to a statue of an alligator.

Nevada 

Sierra 

Montana

We saw, sitting on a stump, some tin statue-singing frogs, which intrigued the kids. 

Along the walking trail, we saw a face carved into a tree; it had large marble-like eyes.

I took pictures of the kids everywhere in the park. 

When we finished walking, the grandkids played on the playground.
Deibert Park was the next place we went to. 
We walked on the trail, and there were signs everywhere about the animals one might see along the way.

Sculptures in Deibert Park

Sculptures in Deibert Park

The kids and I got very hot, so our next stop was McDonald's for an Oreo McFlurry. 

Next, we went to Loaves and Fishes, a thrift store in Muscle Shoals.
I let the grandkids pick out five books each and two movies. 

We stopped at train Tressel on the Colbert side of the Tennessee River.
We walked to the end and back by the time we finished, and Montana's long curly hair was glistening with sweat.

Our next stop was River Heritage Park, located next to the Marriott Hotel.
The kids played on the castle and the train playground equipment. 

Stopping for a pose

Having fun at River Heritage Park 

I made pictures of the kids playing, and when we were leaving the park, we stopped at the waterfall in front of the Marriott hotel.  

My granddaughter called and said she needed someone to pick her up at school.

For dinner, I baked a potato, and the grandkids dressed it with cheese, bacon bits, and sour cream.

For dessert, I served strawberry pie.

Strawberry pie is Montana's favorite, and he ate pie until he said Granny, my stomach is about to pop.

Hannah and Sierra went outside to ride scooters.
My grandson, Jake, came over to pick up his sister, Hannah. 

He was hungry, so he ate a potato with all the trimmings.
After Jake and Hannah left, I took the other grandkids to Ron's, where they played with Ron's Star Wars Dolls. 

We got home, and later that day, the grandkids' mom came to pick them up.  

I spent the day with grandkids climbing a dirt hill, hiking, picnicking, walking trails, playing in the park, reading signs, and making memories. 

2008 ~ Monday, April 7, Spending time with Grandkids

I went to Teresa Clanton's to pick up the grandkids, Sierra, Nevada, and Montana. I had packed a picnic lunch because I was taking the grandkids to St. Florian Park.

I made peanut butter sandwiches, each with a banana, a fruit bowl, and a can of Mountain Dew. 

After everyone finished eating, we started walking the trail. About halfway around, the kids spotted several piles of loose dirt and wanted to climb on top, so I said okay.

The kids climbed up and said, "Come on, Granny, you can do it," so I climbed up with the grandkids.

Climbing the dirt pile

We walked on top of the dirt pile and went up and down several times. 

We started walking the trail again, and I took the kids' picture standing on a bridge next to a statue of an alligator.

Nevada and Montana are pointing to the alligator.

We saw some tin statue-singing frogs sitting on a stump, which intrigued the kids. I also had to take their picture there. 

Nevada is pretending to blow a horn like the frogs

We walked a little further down the trail, where we saw a face carved into a tree. It had large marble-like eyes, and the kids loved it. 

I took pictures everywhere in the park with the kids. 

Nevada and Sierra are posing in front of the tree with a face

We stopped at the playground, where the kids played on the equipment.

Taking a break 

Montana is pointing to a frog.

Sierra posting

Nevada is a frog

Montana is standing on a tree stump.

Next, we went to Deibert Park, where they played on the playground, and we walked through the park, reading the signs about the animals and plants.

Reading the park signs

 We stopped along the fence line to take pictures of the metal sculptures.

Nevada and Montana posing at the metal sculptures

Sierra and Montana posing at the metal sculptures

Nevada and Montana posing at the metal sculptures

Nevada, Montana & Granny posing at the metal sculptures

Nevada and Montana posing at the flower gardens

We saw a family of turtles at the pond.

Turtles are walking next to the pond.

I took the grandkids to McDonald's, where we each ordered an Oreo McFlurry.

I took the kids to Loves and Fishes in Muscle Shoals, where I bought each grandkid five books and two movies.

We stopped at the Traintrestl, which is along the Tennessee River on the Sheffield side, where we walked to the end and back. 

It must have been a hot day, because Montana's head was wet with sweat.

Walking down the Train Trestle

Our next stop was at Heritage Park, located next to The Marriott Hotel in Florence, where the kids played inside the castle, on the train, and on all the other playground equipment. 

Nevada and Montana are enjoying the playground equipment at River Heritage Park.

Nevada and Montana are enjoying the playground equipment at River Heritage Park. We stopped at the waterfall next to the Marriott Hotel, where I took pictures of the grandkids.

Montana at the Waterfall at the Marriott Hotel 

Sierra at the Waterfall at the Marriott Hotel 

Nevada at the Waterfall at the Marriott Hotel

Hannah called from school and asked me to pick her up, so I loaded the grandkids into the car and we rode to Roger High School to pick her up. For supper, I made baked potatoes with all the fixings: cheese, bacon bits, and sour cream. I also made a strawberry p.e, and Montana ate his fill of it. 

Hannah and Sierra rode the scooters. 

Jake came over to get Hanna., I made Jake a potato with all the trimmings. 

I took the grandkids to Ronald's, where Nevada and Montana played with Ronald's Star Wars dolls. 

Later that afternoon, Charity came to get the grandkids.