Nooga.

Nooga.
Current mood: happy

I was fine up until arriving in Chattanooga, which was when I could feel the butterflies in my stomach.

We arrived in Etowah and met him at the McDonald's by our hotel. He hugged my mom first, then said to me "I don't shake hands, I hug." to which I laughed because it totally sounded like something I'd say. We hugged. Then we sat and let Riley eat an ice cream cone.

We went over to the hotel and hung out. About an hour later, my aunt Jerry called him and asked if I had arrived. We then made our way over to her house - which I met her & my cousins Tiffeny (19) & Katie (17).

We had a nice visit. Talking, laughing, taking pictures. (Tiffeny even said to my dad, "Nick, how did you make a pretty girl like that?", he said "that's all her mama." haha) Katie kept Riley distracted with a computer game.

After a few hours, we left - returned to the hotel room - Poppy in tow. We ordered a late night pizza. Poppy got a bit upset when he dropped a slice of his on the table. My mom helped him so he wouldn't get embarrassed.

After eating, Poppy said goodnight and left, my mom walked him downstairs - Riley said "Where did Wanda & Poppy go?", it was cute. We went to bed. Riley was SO extremely good for it to be her first vacation and her first night away from home. We all awoke around 8:30-9.

I called Poppy to tell him that we were all awake but the baby. About 15 mins later, while my mom was getting breakfast downstairs, she saw him sitting in the lobby. She said "I didn't expect to see you so soon!" he said "my daughter called me so I came on..."

My stomach was being icky, so everyone ate and Poppy & I drank apple juice & coffee. He sat with us until checkout time. He started wiping away the tears saying he wished he had more time with me. It was heartbreaking. I told him that I would send a bus ticket for him to come to my birthday party - meet my closest friends and family.

We then left, he kissed me on the foreheard and I told him I'd send for him in a few weeks. He said he was gonna miss us.

We then went to the Aquarium. It was very very nice - two buildings of exciting and interesting stuff. They even had seahorses, which I had never seen upclose before. The penguins were fun as well. Turtles were, of course, my favorite part.

After spending the day there, we ate at Friday's - got caught in a downpour, stopped to potty a few times and made our way home.

It was an excellent, excellent time. I adore my other family - who are all fun & full of sarcasm (like me).