What An Experience!
It was super fun, exciting and educational. It was also loud, crazy and super chaotic at the same time! When you take hundreds of excitable 5th graders to another state and set them free (ok - with chaperones), it can be a bit nuts. But, I know it is an experience they will always remember. (I still remember my sixth grade field trip to the Everglades. I was a Miami girl.) I was very impressed with the chaperone turnout. So many parents came along, Bri was the only kid assigned to me - score!
We had to be at school a little after 6 in the morning. The kids had their shirts on and they were all smiles even though it was quite early...
Ready to get going on the bus selfie...
This was our bus...
After driving about an hour and half to Chattanooga, we all arrived at the Tennessee Aquarium.
Bri's teacher managed to gather up the kids and get a group shot of her class. This was pretty much the last time they were all together like this that day (except on the bus)...
Bri hung out with her buds Sean and Andrew the whole day...
We had arrived a little early to the aquarium, but of course about 10 minutes after we got there, it started to rain. So, we all had to gather under a large umbrella-like structure to keep from getting wet. Luckily, the aquarium opened a bit early for us so we could get out of the rain...
Then it was time to explore...
We started on the River Journey side of the aquarium (Bri's friend Parker and his mom hung out with us too)...
Bri took a bazillion pictures with her phone...
I had to get Bri in front of the Chinese Mountain Stream (I get a picture of her there every time we go)...
Then it was time to move on to the Ocean Journey side of the aquarium...
There is a butterfly house in that section of the aquarium. I bought Bri a stuffed animal at one of the gift shops, and it attracted a butterfly...
Bri with all her buddies...
Looking for Waldo...
Shark cage!!!!!
One of our favorite sections - the jellies!!!
After almost two hours at the aquarium, we had to go back to the buses and shuttle off to the Riverboat restaurant. We were going to eat and then take a riverboat ride...
Bri and Parker...
We had a nice buffet of lunch meats and cheeses to make sandwiches.
After lunch, there was a slight hiccup in the boarding of the riverboat. A large barge had blocked where the riverboat was supposed to dock and pick up guests, so they had to figure out what to do. The riverboat docked somewhere very close by. That confusion delayed us by 20 minutes and touring company had us all gather in a very small area (the gift shop) during that time. It was bit claustrophobic and chaotic, but we survived.
Onto the riverboat...
Me and my gal...
A frozen slushie on a warm day...
Enjoying the ride...
We got off the boat (it was a shortened ride due to the delay and the fact we had to get to the Imax movie).
And it was time to watch an Imax movie...
It was a movie about Wild Africa. Bri promptly fell asleep about 10 minutes into it. She was pooped.
I woke her up right before the end and told her she pretty much missed the movie! She thought it was pretty funny.
(Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get a discount for the shortened boat ride or for my kid sleeping through the movie. Heh.)
Back onto the bus to head home. Bri was not super thrilled with the movie selections for the trip (The Little Rascals on the way there and then Diary Of A Wimpy Kid on the way back), but I told her it was better than nothing.
As we drove home, we saw this...
The clouds were getting darker and darker and then it started to pour.
We got back to the school about 6PM. With all the parents that came along and all the parents that came to pick up, getting out of the school was a bit nuts. But with some creative driving, I got us out pretty quickly - lol!
I was totally drained by the end of the day, but I really enjoyed my time with my girl and with a few of the moms that chaperoned the trip with me. I wouldn't have missed this trip for the world!
Hugs from her language arts teacher...
