Anniversary / Trip

Well, I haven't flown in over a year ... and I have NEVER flown with an infant. What an experience! Everything but the baby had to go through the x-ray machine (stroller, car seat, etc.), and one time Michael was asleep - so I had to move him around a little so the man could see there was nothing between the two of us! Other than the bulkiness of getting through security - everything was fine! Our flight was on time, getting the rental car was uneventful, our suitcase was there, and we headed out!
We headed to downtown Nashville and picked up a burger at Wendy's to split - because we really wanted better food, but didn't have time. We found where John needed to be, we ate, John headed out, I nursed, and then Michael and I went to find the hotel. Too early to check-in, but there was a Lifeway Christian Store across the street (actually there huge main office was there too) so we went to browse! That is where I found the perfect anniversary gift for my husband! I also picked up a new cd that was on sale! We had nothing to listen to in the rental car, plus I thought it would be a good souvenir of our trip! After our shopping ... Michael fell asleep in the car, so I did some sight seeing! We later picked John up and headed to the hotel. We unpacked and stretched out a little and got a plan for the evening. We headed out to the Gaylord Opryland Hotel to look around. On the way we decided we wanted fish for supper, so we went to ... Cock of the Walk - one of our childhood favorites! Fried fish and fried pickles - yummy!

After dinner we made it to the Opryland: hotel, mall (like Grapevine Mills - but larger - I think), and of course Opryland. We only went in the hotel, but it is MASSIVE! The other two Gaylord Opryland hotels in Grapevine, TX and in FL will fit inside this one in Nashville! There is a riverboat ride inside and over 2,000 rooms! I couldn't believe! This is where the picture below was taken! I saw these horses and had to take a picture for my daughter that loves horses sooooo much! This was outside a little shop inside the hotel! The inside shopping area of the hotel reminded me of the French Quarter in New Orleans.

We finally headed back to the hotel with a tired baby! The hotel was out of cribs, so Michael got to sleep on a chair! Thank the Lord he doesn't flip and flop much!!!!!!

Saturday morning we took our time. We had the wonderful cinnamon rolls that are on the breakfast bar at the Holiday Inn Express! We hadn't had those in a while! I looked up some info on the internet, so we could head out! We did some sight seeing and went to historic downtown Franklin, TN. What a beautiful place! We ate lunch at McAllister's deli and then headed to the airport. We stood in line - where someone had left a guitar case! So, they brought in the bomb sniffing dog before they would remove it! How eventful! We flew stand-by on an earlier flight so we could get home before bedtime! I wanted a picture of Michael on his first plane trip - this is what I got! We were landing in Dallas and he was finally conked out! Whew!

Everyone survived at home - all because of some sweet friends and a worn out aunt and uncle! Thanks to everyone that helped us out! We had a great time!

Our 11th Wedding Anniversary

This weekend we spent Friday night in Nashville partly to celebrate our wedding anniversary. While we were there, I found this neat framed poem for our anniversary! How appropriate ... so I wanted to share it with you!

I’d Marry You Again

With tiny tears that glistened,
my eyes were fixed on you,
and thinking of the life we’d
share we softly said, “I do”.

Our hearts were knit together
from the time that we first met,
and memories were gathered
that we never will forget.

While daily living life with you,
you saw the real in me,
and still you chose acceptance,
a loving mystery.

With many happy times gone by
and others when we cried,
some days we’d share so endlessly,
while other days we’d hide.

With all the ups and downs
we’ve had in learning to be friends,
I know that in this heart of mine,
I’d marry you again.

by: Anne Petersonterson

Can you tell the tuxedo needs some adjusting?

Our garden is growing ...

Our garden is growing ... we usually overcrowd our seeds ... just hoping something will come up! Not very smart ... hugh? So, with my clippers I thinned out our row of pea plants and let the kids pull the pods off! They thought that was sooooooo cool! Shelby and Jack went to work, but Grant didn't like the smell!

Two peas in a pod!!!!!!!!!!!!

A New Way to Post!

This is a new thing I found ... you can actually hear my voice ...
AND ... I can post from my phone while I am on the road! :)
HA! This is crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Helpmate First: You know you're a MOM when...

Helpmate First: You know you're a MOM when...

Happy Mother's Day!

The weekend begins ...

Friday: Daddy calls on his way home from work on Friday to ask what I had going on tonight! The usual! "Well," he said, "I intend on giving you some 'mommy time' this evening." I told him I would take him up on it!

At dinner we gave Michael his first baby cereal!

He wasn't sure about it, but he is getting the hang of it now! I did help get everyone settled before I left for a couple of hours, but it was good to get out ... and the moon was beautiful!
Saturday: Michael and I ended up sleeping in ... until around 8:45! I couldn't believe! Daddy cooked breakfast, pancakes or course, and we had a family morning! Shelby, Michael, and I went to a baby shower in the afternoon. Soon after we got home we headed out to dinner for my "Mother's Day" celebration! My choice ... we went to Macaroni Grill!

Waiting patiently on the steps at Macaroni Grill!

We have learned our lesson over a couple of "out-to-dinner" nights ... if you are a family of 6 ... CALL AHEAD! We waited for over an hour for a table - and we arrived there at 5:45! We made the most of more family time ... as you can see in the picture below! We ate calamari, pizza, chicken strips, lobster ravioli, and some WONDERFUL bread! Plus some good mac-n-cheese for Jack (some of which landed on the floor) and some tiramisu for Daddy and Mommy and ice cream for the children (which Grant's bowl hit the floor when he was finish and broke into MANY pieces - he was heart broken and embarrassed). With all of that - we actually had an enjoyable time! Can you believe! Michael slept through almost the whole meal! We came home and hit the bed!

Sunday: My family took good care of me today! We had biscuits for breakfast and had everyone dressed to head to church on time! I was given some special gifts that I had been wanting! Some to make being a "mommy" less stressful (a lock for the back yard gate) and some to make being "mommy" more fun (garden clippers and a blender)! We had a special morning with some special cards!

The Lord has blessed me with some precious children!

Thank you, Lord!

Our family of SIX! WOW! Thank you, Lord!

Please continue to give me the strength to be the mommy you would have me to be! Lord, thank you for sweet "mommy" friends You have blessed me with - I look forward to fellowshipping with them in the near future! :)

MandyBee: A wonderful story . . . .

Our sweet, LONG time friend, Mandy, is engaged! Read this wonderfully romantic story here! We are soooo excited!

MandyBee: A wonderful story . . . .

Ben & Danielle: A Couples Shower for Ben & Danielle

An update on the wedding fun!

Ben & Danielle: A Couples Shower for Ben & Danielle

A visit with Nana!

Nana with her grandchildren!


We had a great visit with Nana this weekend. Since neither of us have been traveling - we haven't seen her since Christmas weekend. What a treat! More pictures to come.

Our cousins!

My children LOVE their cousins ... we miss you guys! See you soon!

Ben & Danielle

Had to share ... check out this new blog ... Ben & Danielle

Spunky's Contest

I had to enter the contest! See below!

Spunky is giving away a Benz Microscope and Apologia Biology Set this week. Click Here to get the details.

New Orleans

Being a Louisiana girl ... I had to post this ... it made me smile!

"Mommy & Me" Tea

Mommy & Me

Shelby and I had a wonderful time at our "Mommy & Me" Tea on Saturday. My sweet friend, Tamra, planned a wonderful time for a group of us to share at the Into My Garden Tea Room in Plano, TX! I was able to talk about one of our favorite books, Keepers at Home, and encourage us all to spend time training our daughters in the skills that we find important in our Christian lives, and some skills just to make a "well-rounded" person! :) Here are a few pictures from our tea, if you would like to see more - click on the flickr button in the right margin or click here.

The girls sitting down for tea!

Cait and Tamra

Shelby

Ladies having their lunch.

The girls' plates!