Port City Adventures Part 1

On Wednesday we drove down south for the state bar meeting.  This time we were going to do boy things like the Battleship and Fort Conde- things Julia would find scary.  We decided to take Tucker and Marc and leave Charlie and Sissy with BB and Poppy.  They had a great time, and we did too.

We got in town just in time to go to our favorite- Lambert's.  :)  We got there at five and had to wait an hour and half for a table!  It's ridiculous, but we ended up buying toys in the gift shop and having fun while we waited.

It's worth the wait!

That night we got back to the hotel and swam until almost 9:45!  It was very unusual for us to let them stay up late, but so much fun!

Thursday morning we got up and had breakfast in the gorgeous hotel restaurant.

Then I took the boys to see Fort Conde.  We have read about it several times- last year in Marc's Alabama history book and in Mounds to Missles, which I've read to Marc and Julia all summer.

I have to say Marc loved this!  It's so cool to see something in person that you've read in about in books.

After Fort Conde we walked over to the History Museum of Mobile.  It was interesting, but Marc was sad that the section on the CSS Alabama was closed.

Learning how the civil war submarine was propelled-

After the museum we went walked to the Exploreum.  It was free with our science center membership.  They loved making rockets and launching them.

 Walking along we found free Tuckers for sale....

We walked around downtown looking for a fun place for lunch and the first one we came to was this cool place called "Dumbwaiter."  Marc was mortified when they asked if we had a reservation and I said, "no, but could you work us in,".  He kept saying "we are underdressed- this is not a place to take children- mommy this isn't appropriate."  And I kept saying, "what are you talking about it's just a lunch spot."  And then someone walked up to the man at the table beside us and said, "Mr. Mayor- so good to see you!" and Marky gave me the I told you so look.  :)

We got back to the hotel and swam all afternoon.  Tucker was thrilled to be JUST tall enough to slide on the slide!

Everyday at 3:45 the drummer and flag man come through the pool area and paraded the children out to the cannon to fire it.  It looks like the Pied Piper has come through....

He gave a great history lesson on the history of the hotel (which was a used as a civil war hospital) and the bay.  Did you know the phrase "Damn the topedos, full speed ahead!" was said during the Battle of Mobile Bay?

After the cannon firing we got cleaned up for supper.  An artist came and took Tucker's picture to later draw for us.

We finally saw Daddy.  He had been in meetings ALL DAY.  He took us to Gambino's for supper and then when we got home he wanted to go swimming.  We went for a sunset walk and swim in the bay (and pool).  :)

A wonderful end to a wonderful day with my boys!