It's Tradition

Our monkey!

Dinner and entertainment

Napping after a full belly

Nonna and the grands!

First group photo!

So sweet....

Love!

The kids were up early again today.  We went to breakfast at new place for us.  It was aptly named "The Breakfast Place".  It was really good -- there are lots of great breakfast/brunch places down here.  After that we gave the kids the option of going to the beach or the pool/lazy river.  Surprisingly they chose the lazy river.  It is fine with me.  It doesn't take near as much effort to go there as it does the beach.  There are two hot tubs, a kiddie pool, a pool with waterfall and the lazy river.  So, there is plenty to keep us busy.  Andrew and Mandi joined us around noon. The kids were so glad to have them there.  Andrew and Mom were on Harrison duty while the rest of us played.

Anytime we are together we try to get family pictures.  This visit was no different.  We realized we will not all be together again until Christmas so we decided to get some picture options for Mom's Christmas card.  Andrew forgot his camera so we ended up using my new phone which actually did a very good job.  We took quite a few shots and all the kids cooperated.  After the photo shoot we went to a nice Italian place on the water.  The food was fantastic but the service left a lot to be desired.  There was a wedding reception outside at the restaurant and we overheard a waiter comment that the should have scheduled more than three servers on a holiday weekend.  Overall the kids did really well, but we ended up being there about 2 hours!

We wanted to go to the lazy river one more time before heading out in the morning so we went back and got our suits on.  Andrew and Mandi went with us.  It was late but Harrison is content most anywhere.  Mom kept him and fed him a bottle while the rest of us relaxed in the river.  We have had a great trip!  It was so nice to relax and visit with Andrew and Mandi and the newest addition to the family!  It was so fun to see how much the kids already love him.  We are sad to think about how much he will have changed by the time December rolls around.  Thanks to technology we will be able to video chat with them so we can keep tabs on how big he is getting.  We said our goodbyes after 10 o'clock so it was a late night for everyone!  Our kids were exhausted and were asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow...

Soaking It All In

Beach time

Enjoying the splash park

She can't get enough!

Such a happy boy!

Family Divided!

The Baby Whisperer

The kids were up early this morning.  We have  a three bedroom unit this time which is working well so far.  The kids have their own space - a daybed with trundle.  Mom has her own room and then Paul and I are in the master suite.  The space itself is nice -- very large, but the condo is lacking in kitchen supplies and it needs some serious updating.  But, it is serving the purpose nicely. 

Paul cooked a great breakfast for us - pancakes, scrambled eggs and sausage.  Yummy!  After that we were up and out early.  We went to the beach.  Our condo complex has a crosswalk across Highway 98 over to the beach. Paul and Luke walked while Mom, Katherine and I rode over in the van to take all the beach supplies.  We were over there before 10 and it was so crowded!  It was also very hot.  We only stayed a short while before the kids were asking to go to the splash park and back to the lazy river.  The splash park is really cool -- the adults liked it as much as the kids did.  We went back to lazy river and got some more time in there. 

We headed back to the room for a snack lunch and to get ready to go to Andrew and Mandi's to watch college football.  The UT and Auburn games were on at the same time so Andrew had all the TV's up and going so everyone could watch their respective games.  Andrew bought the kids each a Lego so they were able to work those while we were watching the games and playing with the baby.  Thankfully both UT and Auburn worn so everyone was happy, happy!

Supper was steaks on the grill, baked potatoes and salad.  We baked some cookies for dessert.  Harrison rarely makes a fuss unless he is hungry.  The kids are becoming pros at making his bottles and love to "shake, shake, shake" to get the formula mixed up.  Mandi and Katherine watched Tangled tonight, too.  Katherine thought it was neat that she got to hold Harrison while she was watching the movie. 

Meeting Harrison!

So happy to finally meet this little guy!

Over the moon for their baby cousin

Story time by Luke...

So excited!

Ahh....the beach!

We were on the road in Pratville this morning by 8.  Everyone was anxious to get to Florida!  We rented a condo on the bay side of Okaloosa Island. We were told that we would most likely be able to check in early which was great. When we got in town we went by the condo to check in, but were told it was not ready yet and woud be no more than an hour.  Since it was lunch time we called Mandi to see if she would want to meet us for lunch or have us take something to her.  She decided to meet us. Andrew was in the process of flying in from a week-long business trip.  We met at Momma Goldberg's Deli.  We were so happy to see Mandi and meet baby Harrison!  He slept through lunch.

Since our room was still not ready after lunch we went over to Andrew and Mandi's to hang out. Andrew got home around 2:30.  He had missed his little fella!  Luke and Katherine were over the moon about Harrison.  Luke was a little unsure of me giving another baby so much attention but he warmed up really quickly and wanted to hold him.  He did so good! Katherine was not to be outdone so she got her turn too!  She was so sweet and gentle with him - patting his head and legs. 

The condo was finally ready about 3:30 so we left to go to the grocery store before we got in the condo.  The kids were so ready to go to the lazy river so we headed down as soon as we got everything unloaded and settled.  We stayed there for a while.  It was so nice.  It is actually very crowded here this weekend.  The weather is great -- warm but is Florida afterall!

Andrew, Mandi and Harrison came over tonight and we ate pizza.  We decided we would grill out tomorrow night.  It was so cool seeing them as parents.  They are so good with Harrison and he seems to be the most content little fella!  We are looking forward to a good time together this weekend!

Night on the Town!

The Country Music Hall of Fame was a beautiful venue!

We clean up pretty good!

It was fun to spend the evening with Jim and Claudia

The food and decor were amazing!

Paul and I had a fun night out last night!  A childhood friend of his recently got married in the Caribbean.  Her family hosted a fantastic reception at the Country Music Hall of Fame.  It was such a fun night!  It started with a cocktail hour in the Rotunda of the museum and then we enjoyed a wonderful dinner in the entryway.  There was an awesome band that played a good mix of old and new.  We had a great time!  It was nice hanging out with Jim and Claudia and a lot of the Gallatin gang.

Generation Celebration!

Today was Generation Celebration at school. Somehow I do not have any pictures of the play the kids did or with Mom and Bill.  The play was so cute.  It was famous children's stories brought to life.  Luke auditioned and got the role of Owl in Winnie the Pooh.  Katherine's class also participated in the Winnie the Pooh story so that worked out great  Luke only had a few lines but he did really well!  All the grandparents come and gives the the opportunity to see the kids' classrooms, meet their teachers and see them in action.  After the play is over the kids are free to leave with their family.  Mom and I took the kids to lunch -- of course, they picked Johnny Rocket's at Opry Mills.  Luke picked out a Lego and Katherine did a Build-A-Bear.  We also picked out some clothes for Baby G! 

Luke had soccer practice tonight.  It was a bit chilly but he didn't seem to mind.  He seems to really like soccer which is great.

Decisions, decisions...

I went and looked at tile for the backsplash today.  I am leaning toward a crackle finish bone subway tile.  I feel like it is classic and timeless and will be just what the kitchen needs to tie everything together.  Paul wasn't too thrilled by the price tag but told me to go ahead!  Yay!  I am going to get it ordered and hopefully it can be installed soon!

The Dinner Bell

Bill put our dinner bell up today.  He used an old cedar log from a tree off the farm.  It looks great!  When he gave it to us at Christmas he wrote a letter about the history of the bell.  So neat to have it on the farm with us...

National Sibling Day!

These two...they are pretty special...they love, love each other!  Luke is so good and sweet to Katherine.  He is very patient with her.  Sometimes Katherine takes advantage of that so we have to keep her in check.  But she loves her bubba and thinks he is the greatest ever.  I just pray their relationship stays strong as they age.  Paul and I are both very blessed to have siblings that we have great relationships with. I hope Luke and Katherine can experience the same thing!

Eeekkk!

Yep, this bad boy slithered across our driveway tonight!  I was in the house and Katherine came running in to get me.  It was huge!  It was there and gone in a flash.  It disappeared out into the field - thank goodness!

Our little helpers!

Working on the new basketball goal

Helping me wash dishes

Most every night we have some sort of project we are working on.  Paul bought Luke a basketball goal and they have been working to get it installed.  It is taking a little longer than expected.  Katherine loves to wash dishes.  I don't have much that has to be handwashed and am so glad to have a dishwasher now!  She is a big helper now!

He is RISEN!

Yes, she is licking the spoon!

Easter Sunday!  The kids were up early to see what the bunny brought.  They got some gardening tools, outdoor toys and some candy.  We went to church and it was a packed house! 

We went to Bill's for Easter lunch and an egg hunt this afternoon.  It was a bit cool, but nice outside.  We had a traditional Easter meal with ham, rolls, deviled eggs, etc.  It was yummy!  The biggest surprise came after the egg hunt when everyone was opening their eggs. Katherine had a lot so I decided to help her open them. For some reason I gravitated to a large, vintage metal egg and opened it.  To my surprise an ultrasound picture fell out!  JonJon and Meme are having a baby!  We were all so excited.  Of course Kristen and I cried!  We have been praying for this for a long time!  They are due in October which puts them about 10 weeks behind Andrew and Mandi!  It will be so fun to have two new babies in the family!  God is Good!

Easter in Tullahoma

Ready for the egg hunt

I had to work this morning.  The kids went to Nanny's with Mom early and then Paul and I went down when I finished at work.  The kids had an egg hunt and we grilled out.  That has become somewhat of a tradition the last few years.  We grill burgers and hot dogs and have the trimmings. It was a beautiful day!

Yes! Counters are in!

The mudroom desk turned out better than expected!

The kitchen looks great!

Yay! The day I have been waiting for!  The counters went in today! I was so excited. I met the install crew this morning to get them started.  I went on to work because it will take them most of the day.  They had the kitchen, mudroom, master bath and Luke's bathroom to get done.  We went the Cambria Darlington in the kitchen and mudroom, a different Cambria for the master and a leathered fire and ice granite for Luke's bath.  I was so glad to get home this afternoon and see the final product!  Now, it is finally feeling like we are getting settled. 

We met Bill for Mexican tonight.  He goes to the same Mexican place with friends every Thursday night and there is always an open invitation for us to join which is nice!