We've been busy soaking in the summer days. I've gotten behind (as usual), so forgive me if this post is lengthy.
In January I started going to a MOPS group in Madison. It didn't take too long to figure out I didn't fit in. I felt like I was in middle school again. I did make one friend, Ashley, and she brought her two kids over one day to swim for a bit.
Colt Man was being Colt Man, aka antisocial, but Avery had fun playing with Piper and Chase.
I can't even believe how much Avery has progressed this summer with her swimming. Even before swim lessons she decided putting her face under wouldn't kill her. Then one day she just jumped in all by herself! She wears herself out jumping in, swimming to the steps, getting out, and doing it all over again. Proud Mommy!!
The Saturday before the 4th of July we went into Fayetteville to watch the fireworks. For such a small town they were great! On Monday Daniel took the kids to my mom's for the whole week! You would have thought I would have a relaxing week, but I was bored! I missed the kids and didn't know what to do without them!
Swim lessons came and went in a flash! She is such a little fish!
Daniel has been working in Paducah the past few weeks, and the kids and I went to visit one weekend. It was fun to be back where we used to live what seems like a lifetime ago.
Acting like they knew what was going on, I wanted the kids to see the Ohio River. It was so hot, but we stopped to snap a few pictures at the river.
You can't go to Paducah without crossing the bridge over into Metropolis, Illinois, home of Superman.
Super Colt
Super Avery
Such fun! I was shocked at the amount of tourists there were that day.
We stayed at a nice hotel and Avery had a blast in the pool. There was a family there swimming and we were all laughing so hard at Avery jumping in the water. She has no concept of a belly flop and swore it didn't hurt. She did it a million times.
The next week Meme, Beth, Jack, and Tate came to visit. Meme came a day early and we went to get the kids' hair cut. This was Avery's first haircut!
She looks like such a big girl! She is ready for school!!
We went to Ken's for dinner, and the next day Beth and the boys came. Beth and I were going to the Jack Daniel's distillery in Lynchburg, and we went to Ken's for lunch. Can you tell I like Ken's? The distillery was so stinking cool. I could bore you to death with the amazing facts I learned. But I'll just bore you with one. Jack Daniel's whiskey is taxed by the bottle. Each barrel house is taxed about $14 million. There are around 87 barrel houses. Our tour guide said, "If you want to keep the economy strong, drink whiskey."
This is our wonderful tour guide, Wes. He was amazing. Here he is getting the best part of the tour ready...the tasting!! We got to go into a barrel house. In the first section we weren't allowed to take pictures because whiskey is flammable. I don't really know how this area is different.
Wes had us take two small sips to taste it and warm up our throats. Then we could shoot the rest. I chugged mine and was drunk, and I looked over and Beth had opted out. Lightweight...
One more cool fact. One Friday of every month every Jack Daniel's employee gets a free bottle of whiskey. Where can I get an application?
Jack and me. The man was only 5'2". He never married, but was apparently quite the ladies man. There was a whole list of women who claimed him. He also left home to work when he was six and learned how to make whiskey when he was seven! That was such a fun tour, and I will definitely be going back.
The next day we met everyone at the Space and Rocket Center. There was an exhibit called Kids' Play, or something like that, but it wasn't really for my kids. It was a bunch of scientific things you could try. They still had fun.
We went outside to see the rockets and they had this fun ride for the kids. Avery and Tate loved it! My kids were done, but Jack wanted to go to the Davis building. Beth and Jack stayed and we went back to the hotel to swim. Later we met Peepaw, A, and Sarah Grace at Rosie's and had a ball! We had so much fun with everyone!
It's amazing how excited I am about the garden, and then how quickly I'm over it. Kinda like football season. Our garden is a hot mess, but we've gotten some pretty good stuff. Today I went out and picked 5 watermelons I thought were ripe. I got about a bowl full of halfway yummy watermelon. I don't know when to pick them!
I was so excited!
About an hour later, with a dirty counter full of millions of black seeds, this went out to the burn pile. Oh, well.
Well, the next time I post I will have me a little kindergartener. I am excited to get into a routine and start some things with Colt, but we will miss sleeping late, swimming, and all the fun things summer brings.
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men."
Colossians 3:23
