Thanksgiving in Alabama

Tanner's soccer team was invited to play at a national tournament in Alabama at the end of Thanksgiving break. The team decided to go so we made the drive over. My parents and step-sister decided to join us for warmer weather. We spent the week in Alabama/Florida with them. The tournament was fun too! Tanner scored a bunch against really talented teams. The team as a whole didn't do too well but we were pleased with Tanner's playing.

We spent a day at the Naval Air Museum on the navy base in Pensacola. We went several years ago with just Ashton, I think. But the kids loved it. After that, we drove all the way around Penscola/and the island to Fort Pickins. It's a battle fort used in the Civil War. The kids had a blast climbing and exploring the fort.

Near the rental house was the Gulf State Park. Right along the gulf coast but also with lots of woods/forests. We went geocaching and hiking there a couple times. Lydia found the sand. Not too long after she got up, some deer crossed.

Another day, we went to Mobile and visited the USS Alabama, a battleship, as well as the USS Drum, a submarine. You could tour both of them. The battleship was massive and the littles only lasted for part of it. Tanner had a great time learning all about the history of the battleship as well as learning about Fort Pickins. He could have stayed all day.

In the town we stayed in, there was a tea restaurant that held Teddy Bear Tea parties. My step-sister and her family wanted to do one so we all went. Gemma and Lydia had a blast eating small treats and drinking lemonade with their stuffed animals.

My kids adore my parent's dog, Molly. Her birthday is sometime in December so Lydia requested to celebrate it in Alabama. Molly went along with it. The girls were so happy.

We headed to the beach along the gulf. My kids thought the water was too cold whereas the northern family loved it! We played in the sand a bunch and collected bags and bags of seashells.

All in all, it was a great trip. The kids did awesome on the drive to and from. It was about 9 hours away. Good practice for our road trip next summer.