Lots of Activity Here!

A couple weeks ago, we hosted the middle and high school group and their families for a cookout. We played volleyball and basketball and grilled hotdogs. We had about 45 people here! Some of the group went down to the river and stuck their feet in! They wanted to dive in so bad! One guy slipped and fell in the water, which was pretty funny! Savannah has been keeping us busy with volleyball. She made her school team and practices every single day after school for about 2 1/2 hours. I know she'll be ready to just chill out at home by the time the season ends in October! Conley and Savannah both are enjoying school. Conley plans to play basketball again this winter! Well- just wanted to do a quick update! Savannah reminded me that it had been a few weeks. Love to all!

Birthday Week for Gregg and Conley

This week was spent celebrating one birthday after another! Gregg's b-day was the 11th and Conley's was the 17th. Gregg had a b-day dinner of boiled shrimp, corn-on-th-cob, new potatoes, and french bread with a derby pie for dessert. He got a new weed-eater (and a new riding mower to come in September when they go on clearance), a gift card to Starbuck's, and money! He better enjoy this year- his last of the thirties! Conley celebrated by going to Nascar Speedpark and Mr. Gatti's Pizza on Saturday. On Sunday, he chose for me to make a Mexican lunch of tacos, beans, and rice. Then he got to open his presents and eat his cake that my mom made him. He's so funny! He didn't want any special decorating on his cake. I guess he thinks he's too big for that now. He got a R/C Hummer that will go in the dirt, money, CD's, and a karaoke machine. Savannah got him "google" glasses (the big old kind that take up your whole face) and some hillbilly teeth. For those of you that don't know it- Conley is our family comedian. He has created a character named "Diddle" with a particular look and voice and he is constantly acting as this personality. Savannah says Diddle is Conley's "alter ego"! She is always laughing at him! I'll have to post a photo of Diddle soon! Anyway- today was the first day of school here in Sevier County. Conley started a new school and will be there with his sister for the next two years until she moves on to high school. (UGH! That's too soon for me to think about right now!) The individual photos of the kids were taken this morning- the annual back-to-school picture. I'm sure they'll have another wonderful school year!

Family Time in Florida!

I just got back from the Pensacola area (Pace) on Friday night. The kids and I went to visit my family. The kids are staying an extra week then Mom and Dad will bring them home and stay with us for a while. I was able to visit with my grandmother a couple of times, we spent the night with my sister, Rebecca, and her family one night, and we went to the beach for a photo session with the kids then let them swim for a while. My aunts and uncles and some of my cousins came over one evening for dessert and it was great to see all of them! The kids in a photo above are doing their "Kid Stack"! They made that up a long time ago when they were all very little. Rebecca and I laughed that they may still be doing this when their teens! Hope you love the pictures as much as I do!

Our Winston-Salem Trip Was Fun!

Conley had a great time at Young Scholars! He had very busy and long 10 hour days at the university. He studied Crime Scene Investigation and they were given a case to solve together as a group. They studied hair and fiber analysis, footprint analysis, chemical analysis, chromatography, and handwriting analysis. In the midst of their structured times, they had recess. They were, however, organized activities! His favorite thing about going to Wake Forest was definitely the university's food court! He ate pizza, chinese food, and ice cream almost every day! By the way- they did solve the crime! While Conley was at NYSP, Savannah and I got to hang out around Winston-Salem. We worked on summer scrapbooks for her and Conley, went to the mall one day and got free makeovers at Glamour Shots. (Someone was interviewing there and needed to do a styling session as part of the process.) Savannah has decided she isn't in any hurry to wear makeup. She hated how it made her skin feel! We spent one day in Old Salem which was started by a group of Moravian Christians who fled Bohemia because of persecution by the Roman Catholics. It's very much like Colonial Williamsburg except that people actually live in the historic homes there. We also spent a day at Reynolda House Museum of Art and Reynolda Village and Gardens. RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company was started there. RJ and his wife Katherine built a large bungalow home in Winston-Salem, but he only lived in it 6 months before he died. He was 30 years older than Katherine. It reminded me alot of Biltmore Estate except it is a smaller scale. Wake Forest at this time was a smaller school on the eastern coast of NC. Mrs. Reynolds coaxed the university to come there by donating 350 acres of her land to them. The Reynolds were friends of the Vanderbilt's, Pulitzer's, Rockefeller's, and Carnegie's. During this time period, the wealthy were leaving the cities and moving to the countryside mostly because of influenza, typhoid, and other disease epidemics. They believed they would be more protected from the diseases because of having fresh air from the country. We also accidently came upon Graylyn International Conference Center while driving through some neighborhoods. Graylyn was one owned by Bowman Gray- whose father was the founder of Wachovia Bank. Bowman Gray was Chairman of the Board of RJ Reynolds Tobacco. You can pull up Graylyn online at http://www.graylyn.com/ . It is really beautiful! Today it is run by Wake Forest. We are now preparing for our trip to Florida! We are so excited about seeing our friends and family there! Enjoy our photos from Winston-Salem. Love you all!

Savannah's Not-So Happy Feet!

Savannah is still recovering from her foot surgery last week. We take her back tomorrow for her follow up. We attempted to go see the fireworks on the 4th, but during the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra's concert, bad weather came and they canceled the whole show. We had borrowed a wheel chair from our church for Savannah and stopped at KFC so we could picnic in the park. Savannah got a first-hand feel at what other people with disabilities go through every day. Some people stared at her, others quickly turned their heads away. But there were others who were quick to help when we needed it. I could see the anger and frustration she felt when people were staring at her or avoiding her. At one point, I almost thought she was going to speak out. We were all disappointed when they canceled the show, but Gregg took us for ice cream so that improved the kids' mood. Our neighbor, Conley's friend Carly, came over a couple days ago with a tiny newborn bunny. She found it in their garage. She brought it over to show us so the kids got to hold it. Unfortunately, it didn't survive. I knew it didn't look very good when she came over. Well, I will post more after Conley's NYSP week. He's so excited. He had two homework assignments to complete before getting there and finished those yesterday. Love to you all!

The Kids Are Chillin' Out!

While the kids have been relaxing, sleeping in every day, and having fun on the trampoline, I've been busy getting ready for VBS which starts this Wednesday. With the exception of doing the last minute things, I'm pretty sure I'm ready. Conley found these craft eyes and has been playing around with them. It was so funny I had to take his picture. He seems to be Savannah's personal comedian. She laughs every day because of his silliness. I'm just glad they laugh together more than argue. So far, anyway! Ha Ha!

What a Relaxing Mini-Vacation! Thanks Mom and Dad!

Friday, June 6th At Wyndam's Recreation Center, the kids loved swimming in the pool!

Savannah coming up for air! Isn't this funny?!

Hanging out with Daddy!

Later Friday afternoon, we went to Whitewater Falls! Is this view gorgeous or what?! This was taken on the way to the falls.

Whitewater Falls- at 420 ft. this is the tallest waterfall in the East.

As close as we could get to the falls- Savannah wanted to take our picture.

Fairfield Lake, Cashiers, North Carolina

Bald Rock Mountain at Fairfield Lake less than a mile from the Wyndam Resort.

Saturday we went to Fairfield Lake. What a face!

Savannah liked the lake better than the pool!

Saturday we also went to Silver Run Falls! Someone volunteered to take our picture!

Silver Run Falls is one of the many waterfalls in this area!

We also went to Cashiers Sliding Rock. Conley going down Sliding Rock for the first time!

His reaction after his first slide down the rock!

As hard as Conley tried, he couldn't convince Savannah to slide with him!

The water was freezing, but they sat still on a rock for me to take their picture!

Savannah enjoyed just looking for rocks and other shiny objects!

Another of Conley sliding! He did this many, many, many times!

Arrival at the Biltmore on Sunday morning! It is a spectacular site! We also visited the winery and the barn.

At the Barn there was this old wagon to get in and pose!

Conley loved the barnyard animals. He found a baby chick and held it for quite a while!

Savannah fell in love with the lambs! There were four of them and they were adorable!

This is at the winery! It was so beautiful how they just grew over the pergola!

Savannah resting in the gardens! It was a very hot day!

Conley searched and searched the conservatory for a Venus Fly Trap but couldn't find one!

In the garden area on the way to the conservatory. I'd love this in my yard!

The kids were so amazed. Their jaws were wide open when they saw the house! I have to share something really funny that Conley said. When touring the house, we saw dumbwaiters used to transport food to the Vanderbilt's and their guests. Conley thought they meant "dumb waiters"! I am still laughing about that one!