tennessee

Over spring break (yes, I'm playing major catch-up here.  Aren't you excited?), we went to Tennessee to visit my grandparents and my sister and her family.  Both sets of my grandparents live in TN, and we had planned to visit both, but my grandmother (Dad's mom) recently had surgery to remove some cancer in her jaw and she wasn't quite ready for visitors.  We totally understood, but were very bummed of course.  We drove, and it was a long trip - 12 hours - but DVD players and snacks help, a little. Our original plan was to stay 2 nights with each grandparent, and 2 nights with my sister, but then we changed it to 3 nights in each place.  It ended up being nice that we were able to extend our stay in each place.  My mom's parents, Papa Joe & Mama Ruth, live in Alamo.  It's a teeny little town just outside of Jackson.  Lots of farmland, a little grocery store, a salon, and a Dairy Queen.  That's about all there is, folks.  It's where my Mama was born and raised!  It was David's first time visiting that part of Alamo, so it was fun for him to see where my mom grew up and and where we spent every single Christmas when I was little.

When we have to make our 12-hour trips, we leave our house around 4am so that we can get to our destination before dinnertime.  That way the kids have time to play and stretch their legs for a couple hours before bedtime.  It's hard getting up that early in the morning but arriving in the late afternoon to our destination is great.  This was about 2pm, and the two little ones crashed.  Anderson NEVER naps, so I was a little surprised.  This was Evelyn's second nap of the day.  Camden?  Well he's way too old to sleep.

Papa Joe & Evelyn.  I love this man!  Isn't he the cutest?

Papa Joe & Camden

Papa Joe drove the boys around on his gator.  The kids absolutely loved it, of course.  And just FYI, that is not their house behind them.  It's a storage shed outside.  Just FYI.

Anyone who knows Evelyn knows that she LOVES dogs.  LOVES them.  She doesn't always like to be right up near them, but she does love them.  This pic is a little blurry, but JR (their Bichon) and Evelyn were good buds the whole time.  He was a great entertainment for her.

I just love this picture!  Evelyn with her namesake, Ruth Evelyn, and Papa Joe.

So, after Alamo, we were SO excited to head to Nashville!  We loved Nashville.  We've been there before several times, mainly just passing through, but never stayed for an extended period of time.  We loved it!  Such a fun city.  We went to some cool parks with the kids, and I'm sure there would have been TONS to do with just us adults if we hadn't had the little ones.  Maybe in 17 years. :) 

We loved staying at Bonnie & Jeff's house.  They had just moved into their house from a house down the street, and this house was just absolutely beautiful.  They live in Five Points (East Nashville), which is actually very similar to Raleigh's Five Points, for you Raleighites (is that a word?).  My sister should be an interior decorator.  She has such an amazing, eclectic style.  Totally opposite from our house style, but it totally works for her and her house is so fun.  They cooked us AMAZING meals while we were there, which still makes me laugh because Bonnie could not cook, at all, until just a few years ago when she really tried her hand at it.  We ate very well (and very healthy) while we were there.  

Well looky here... Evelyn and another dog.  This is Martin.  Sweetest dog EVER.

I love this picture of the boys and Matty & Mikey in front of downtown.  These boys get along so well... it's great to have cousins so close in age.  We just wish we could see them more often.

My sweet babies.

David captured this pic of Evelyn and I walking.  I love candid pics!  Especially ones that I am in, which is NEVER.

Me and my cute big sister.

We went to Centennial Park one day when the weather was amazing.  I had no idea it was such a beautiful place!  There was so much green space, a huge playground, and lots of neat things to see. 

The Parthenon

Our family... love me a good family shot!  If only Evelyn was smiling... then it would be perfect.  Oh well... I'll take what I can get!

Did I mention that Evelyn loves dogs?  I didn't?  Oh.  Well, Evelyn loves dogs.

Hey, sweet babies!

There are so many pictures that I wanted to take but never did, but I won't dwell on that.  We were just too busy having fun.  Can't wait to make this trip again!