Renaissance Festival

Watch out for the troll!











This was soooo much fun! We had a really fun morning tromping around in the woods amongst the various attractions. There were all kinds of booths. There were really fun things for sale (swords, armor, Renaissance clothes), lots of food (including big turkey legs), man-powered rides, and tons of entertainment. We stopped to watch one comedian/magician and when he asked for a volunteer, he asked Matthew to come up and help with a magic trick. Matthew loved it.

There were so many people decked out in period clothing. We saw the king and queen and their entourage and guards, along with other nobility and other peasants. They also had magical/mythical creatures. Owen got fairy dusted by a fairy, and they all loved seeing the trolls. There were so many fun things to watch. They had a Shakespeare play, knife throwing, a falconer, and of course the jousting! We are already excited for next year!

The TN Aquarium

My 17 year old brother, Jared, came to visit us for the summer. He was great to have around, and a huge help. One of the things we wanted to do while he was here was go to the TN Aquarium. It is huge, and really fun. The kids really like the hands-on parts, like petting fish, rays, and holding butterflies in the huge butterfly room. This trip they each caught one!

Little super hero

What is it about little boys and super heros? They talk about them all the time, practice their moves, and will of course be one when they grow up. Owen, just like Matthew and Andrew, loves all things super hero. His favorite for a long time was Hulk, because Hulk is the strongest ever. He even drinks this thick, green veggie smoothie I buy at the store because we call it Hulk juice and say it will make him strong. Here he is on a typical day at our house, wanting to wrestle his daddy to show him how strong he is. He is, of course, laughing and loving it.

Matthews's end of school party

1st grade has come and gone. Goodbye Mason, Justin, and Carson! (Matthew's best friends) Goodbye Miss Melissa. Goodbye Spikey the crab! Oh how we will miss you!

Matthew's spring soccer team

We love the soccer program here. They have great facilities, staff, and (my fav) uniforms!

Nashville Flood

Nashville's flood in April 2010 was pretty devastating. Well known areas like downtown and Opryland were completely under water. So were many surrounding areas, including parts of Franklin, where we live. Matt was out of town at a conference in DC for all the excitement. The hard rain went all weekend along with tons of lightning and tornado watches. We didn't leave the house for the days during and afterward. We constantly watched the unbelievable news coverage and spent time in our bedroom closet (our tornado safe spot). The kids even slept in there one night. Luckily, we were high enough to not have many problems, but we knew a lot of people not so lucky. Matt works with another resident who lived in Bellview. They had 5 feet of water in their house and lost basically everything. Matt went a few days to help. I was able to go one day as well. It occurred to me that I should take a picture as we were driving home. Every house there had everything they owned just in trash bags or piles in the front yard. Very sad. Most of the people in the hardest hit areas are still displaced. Downtown Nashville is almost all open again, but the Opryland/Grand Ole Opry/ Opry Mills Mall is still closed and looks like it will be 2011 before anything opens there. All in all, I felt very blessed that we were safe and had no lasting damage!

6 week Bran-Date muffins

We love these with a little butter, honey, or plain. I also add in veg or fruit puree if I have some!

2c boiling water
5t. baking soda
1c shortening (may sub for something healthier)
2c sugar
4 eggs
1 qt buttermilk
5c flour (I use 1/2 wheat 1/2 white)
1T. salt
4c All-Bran
2c Bran flakes
2c chopped dates
1c nuts

Add soda to boiling water, mix, let cool. Cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs, mixing in one at a time. Stir in buttermilk then flour and salt. Add water and soda to mixture. Mix in cereal, etc. Store in covered container in fridge for up to 6 weeks. When ready, spoon into muffin tin without stirring. Bake at 375 for 20 min.