Nashville

What a terrific trip to Nashville. Scott had to go to The Opryland Hotel so we decided to bring reinforcements and gave the trip to my parents for Christmas. He was only there on Friday for about 3 hours so we were all mostly together. We stayed at a great VRBO house right on a golf course. I think we were around Nashboro Rd area. It was really about 15-20 mins from anywhere you needed/wanted to go!

There were a few inches of snow on the ground. Just enough to play in and make it fun. Of course the kids loved throwing it at Nana and Ben loved hearing it crunch under his feet.

We did a lot of eating! and not pictured but a lot of playing cards, including UNO and rummy!

A perfect snow angel made by Lillee

We headed over to the hotel for Scott's conference. We were able to see our newest Georgia Court of Appeals Judge, Chris McFadden for a minute. We had some yummy burgers then Papa, Lillee and Bax headed out on the boat tour of the hotel. It was so strange to see the marks on the columns of where the water had been during the flood. The hotel had to undergo like 186 million dollar renovation. WOW! It was a grand hotel. I'm sure we didn't cover half of it.

Nana and Ben stayed onshore and smelled the beautiful flowers in the gardens. I loved the red double begonias. There were huge bromeliads and colantia.
There were rare moments of scattered grandchildren bliss. I'm sure my parents need a vacation after this trip! I heard somewhere the other day that a time away with children is called a trip. A time away without children is a vacation. AMEN!!!
Not one of Scott's artsy pics but proof we were here!

THE BIRTH OF BLUEGRASS

If you click on this pic and look closely this is Nashville's finest. It was one of our highlights from the trip! This man is on music row shooting a bird. I'm not sure if that's so nice to poke fun of a homeless man but it certainly was entertaining for a minute. Bless him.

Tootsies Lounge

The CMT building!
Here's another highlight. While we didn't have tickets or an interest in a tour of The Ryman, we did pass by and see a huge bus, lots of black suburbans in a motorcade, many dignitary looking people. My mom of course rolled the window down and asked what was going on? The governor's inauguration! Wow - we stepped right into the middle of that one. This was before he went up to the capital.
Celebrity ish
Beautiful architechture! The Customs House
Lifeway Christian Store. We started to stop and get some new Sunday School literature!
My mom loved the cross on the side of the building!
A friend of ours in Griffin suggested eating breakfast at Monell's. It was by far outstanding. It was in Germantown in the middle of nowhere!
We were seated at a large table with another couple. It was a lot of fun getting to know them and share an excellent dining experience!
Fried chicken for breakfast? Delish!

Low in cholesterol! My favorite was cheese grits. They were phenomenal! Mixed with some apples. Mmmmm.....definitely worth stopping by if you're ever in Nashville.
Next stop - Adventure Science Center! It was an amazing museum. The kids loved it! Not as much as Scott like the African movie playing in the planetarium. Ben lasted oh, 16 mins!
Then he headed to The Magic School Bus!
Nana piled in the ambulance with all three!
We were in the human body section where we learned all about digestion and......

POOP! Pretty disgusting!

Lillee's favorite part - not sure what to think of this???? Learning how to get around in braces/wheelchairs.

BEETHOVEN

MAD SCIENTIST

STORMWATCH 2011

"Catch me Daddy"

We have termed it "STORMWATCH 2011" around these parts! Wow! It started snowing/icing Sunday night and the kids are going on Day 3 of being out of school.

Day 1: Lots of fun/excitement/drinks/cooking/friends/movies/DS/crafts/Auburn football! Day 2: A little fun/a few crafts/one movie/a quick jaunt out in the car to visit other shut ins/tired mommy/pizza/rented On Demand movie!

Who knows what Day 3 will bring??? Leaping Lizards? Are they open? HELP!

and Ben is off on his cookie sheet.....

What a sweet pic of these two special friends! We called them the stay puff marshmallow people all day!These kids had a blast in the plastic swimming pool. Turner put wooden "skis" on the bottom so it would go a little faster! What fun memories to make with great neighborhood friends.
Ben had a rough time adjusting to the freezing temps on Day 1 of Stormwatch 2011! A little disoriented.
Even with the snow and ice, Big Duke still had to get out to do his business!
Scott and Lillee enjoyed the big hill Made mama a little nervous but Lillee assured me the Rubbermaid lids would not go that fast.
Instead of math facts these two decided to gear up and go play some more!

Post Christmas Wrap Up

Lillee and Bax both got after Christmas haircuts! She made the decision to chop it off? Whatever she thinks is going to be easiest for us both! It looks so cute but makes her look so grown up! Thankfully the tiny bangs are beginning to blend into the side hair! I think she wanted to look like new American Girl doll, Kit.

This one reluctantly got a cut as well even though he said he wanted it to grow to his shoes. I guess Lillee should have been the one to pose next to Kit, not him?

So the dog is in the house. Temps are not even that cold but Scott is gearing up for a treacherous winter and trying to train him to be inside. Hound dogs smell! and shed small white hairs! and poop like horses! Now he has a crate in Scott's office so he stays down there. Kids sure do heart him a whole lot!
Lillee got a pottery wheel from my parents. This is artsy Scott taking these pics! We've made one bowl and gotten it painted so far!
Between Duke and Santa presents, this one's been keeping himself busy even if it is behind the sofa!
Christmas Eve we had "Happy Birthday, Jesus" party complete with Stouffer's chicken enchiladas and lasagnas! Many bird mouths were ready for this yummy treat.

These two BFFs were so happy to exchange gifts!

HAPPY 2011!

Doe a Deer

I'm not sure how I got these two in matching sweaters - thank you Smith/Ballard family! I thought they were so cute with the little Christmas deers - even with black jeans! Off we go to a cookie decorating. These three are party animals.

Tis the Season

Had to add a couple of pics of our gingerbread houses. We had a fun time with great friends and the queen of crafts making these. Martha herself couldn't have done a better job (or made a bigger mess) than us. Don't look too closely as their is hot glue on the house on the right!

Baby it's cold outside!

These pics are for my mom. She gets us a nativity each year. We did not put all of them out this year for tiny hands are always busy! We had to remind him these are not Star Wars figures fighting. It was a very sweet moment as we heard him talking to the baby Jesus and tending his flock of sheep.


We braved Lenox Mall with Amy, Libby and Margaret.
Who knew the Pink Pig would take 1 1/2 hours? No thanks.
Instead, we stood in line a mere 20 mins to see Santa. These Griffin kids wanted to know where his big black plastic belt was! Ben was still not having it so I had to get in to hold.
We did some shopping. I guess with 100 people in the store they decided to slash prices. Again, long long line!
Bax and Libby found a few items.
Lillee took a snooze before we moved on to the Apple Store! Merry Christmas daddy!
Came home and did a little baking! Thank you Dollar Tree for the cutting boards.
They forgot a couple of things they needed to tell Santa.
This was another Santa we crashed an orthodontic office party to visit.
Little Debbie Christmas trees! Ben's favorite.
Griffin Christmas parade. Lillee was in it for her Impact Cheerleading. It was about 30 degrees with HIGH winds.
But these two braved it!
So did these two! What a JOYfilled season.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Merry Christmas from the Keys

Now this should have been our Christmas card!