Than and I were out of town last weekend. Literally as soon as Than knew Kyle and Becca were coming back to California, he was on the phone asking if they would babysit for us so that Than wouldn't have to travel alone for this long weekend. I do feel more bad for Than when I see what his life is like when he has to travel. Being in the airport all the time is just not fun. And then getting a rental car and driving two hours to a teeny tiny town in Tennessee is not that fun. But, when you get to do it with me along for the ride, it makes it a little more bearable. :)
Our Relief Society has been challenged to read the Book of Mormon this summer. I am behind but got all the way caught up (and now I'm behind again. Agh! Summer.) but I read this on the plane and thought it looked like a good recipe for success.
You know when you see a waffle house, you've hit the south.
And Oh! The miracle of technology. I was feeling very guilty about going on this trip just because I have been gone a lot this year between china and women's conference. It's not like I haven't had enough "me" time but it is good to be able to spend some time with Than because we really don't get to see each other enough with his busy job and church calling. But the kids were fine like they always are and Becca is just wonderful with them. WE are so lucky that she has been able to step in and fill this role for us. We owe her big time when she has lots of babies!
Sewanee, Tennessee is a beautiful place. It amazes me that people spend so much money on a small private college, but even I would consider it since the location is so amazing! (okay, not really. But it was super pretty!) The buildings are all old and stone and it looks like you are going to hogwarts or something. It's pretty cool.
A client of Than's took us out while we were there. He showed us some super delicious restaurants and took us on two great hikes. It was raining while we were hiking, but I think it made it even a little more magical.
My favorite color is green for a reason!
It's funny because in Sewanee, they talk about being "on the mountain." And it is a mountain....I guess. But not a big mountain. But it is for Tennessee! Here is the view from the top.
This is a war memorial looking out on that valley.
I don't take a lot of pictures of food, but this was one of the best burgers of my life!
Next stop.....Nashville!
We hit up the country music hall of fame. Her is my bestie's guitar. ( I heart Taylor Swift.) It is really interesting going back in time in country music! I love the history of it all. After wandering around for a few hours, we hit up Motrelles. It was a very home town cooking restaurant and it was delicious. All southern. Nothing healthy. You sat around a table of 14 people. Everyone has the same menu and it comes out in these bowls and you just pass it around the table like you're at grandmas house. Our meal included biscuits and gravy, corn muffins, cucumber salad, coleslaw, mashed potatoes, cheese grits, sweet potato pie, pot roast, green beans, fried chicken, ribs, corn casserole and banana pudding dessert. It was amazing! Best fried chicken ever. I would weigh 300 pounds if I lived in the south.
We had to walk our food off a little and so we headed back downtown and ran into a taping of a new GSN gameshow. No, Than did not get asked to be on the show. :)
We took a tour of the Ryman Theatre which was home to the Grand Ole Opry for many, many years before they built opryland.
Before we found our hotel, we hopped into a Honkeytonk and listened to a band. Everyone we heard sing was really good. It's next to impossible to break through I would think. There is a lot of talent out there. It's just unfortunate (read: not really unfortunate) that we don't drink. It's pretty much what people do out there. :)
Bucketlist item: GRAND OLE OPRY! We've always wanted to go, and this was the time. And it was totally fun! I would totally go again. The atmosphere is amazing and it has such a rich history and the music is so good! I'm a fan.
We got to hear Little Jimmy Dickens, an opry legend. He's 94 years old. Still hilarious. Still playing his guitar. Still singing. And still wearing amazing suits. I liked that guy.
We decided to be real adults and hit the town at night. Than found a line dancing place and we hit it up. We were pretty much the best line dancers around.
Sunday was a driving day. We found a cute little ward along the way that was friendly. I loved the green hills and barns and sky. Our country is beautiful. Even from your car on the freeway.
Next stop Louisville to tour the Louisville Slugger Factory. But I will tell you that Louisville leaves something to be desired. It reminded me of Detroit a little. Not as run down, but still a little sketchy. But we did have some delicious fajitas for lunch. And when I say delicious, I mean HUGE!
And I found Kaylee's dream car. It's a limo turned pomegranate. It was pretty amazing.
Unfortunately, you couldn't take pictures inside the factory, but it was interesting seeing how it all is made. And they were making Buster Posey's bats when we were there! We got to hold some classic bats and see who prefers what. It's truly a science.
He's my all star.
Last stop, Lexington Kentucky.
Our view from our balcony.
Than had to work, so I just got to chill. I updated my blog and read. It was quite relaxing.
Then rush to the Cincinnati airport and we were headed back home.
I was so excited to see this little girl and give her a big hug!
Everyone was happy and healthy and happy to see us. It's always good to be home after a trip. I love my kids and I'm happy that I get to be home with them everyday and that I don't have travel for work. (No offense, babe. But I'm really glad it's you and not me!)
I had some strawberries waiting for me in the garden.
And none of our peaches or nectarines. NONE. I almost cried real tears. Some stupid animal ate all of them and I'm still so mad about it. That was all that remained. And I ate it. I'm seriously so mad about those stupid animals. ARGH!
I got some hair chalk for the kids and we had a little chalk party.
Maren learned how to cheese it up for the camera. There is also the squinty, closed eyes smile which is also a winner. Here she is helping me with the dishes.
I took the kids to the library for the first time all summer. We've just been so busy. But they love going and I just need to be good about returning the books!
We hit up Chipotle for dinner before the swim meet. The kids needed some more chips and guac so I asked Pacen to go and buy them and he wouldn't, and neither would Cam or Claira but of course Gentry would!
Maren was wearing the dress mom made and I needed some pictures of her in it. It's one of my favorite treasures.
On Thursday Cari invited us to go bowling. Kids bowl free all summer! And it's the only time we've been. But it was awesome. My kids are natural bowlers. It's just in the genes.
The crew.
We actually did bowling, picked up dinner to go at El Molinas, got slurpees and then went to concord produce all together. It was quite a sight. Especially when I waited in line to check out while my kids were all running around crazy....eating ice out of the soda bin (gross!) and Maren was eating a banana...crazy, unloaded all my produce and then the chick was like....Oh, this is a cash only line. There should be a sign. Guess what...no sign. I reloaded them into my cart and waited in the second line. Glad we got out of there alive.
We all felt like this afterward.
But really glad to have good friends to play with.
