Fourth of July

We had an exciting Fourth in our new home. The whole family came for a visit and to celebrate the holiday. We explored our new town together and had many fun adventures. It was the first holiday we were able to host for the family in ten years. The house was hopping, but it was wonderful! We started the weekend with the Freedom Fireworks Celebration at Navy Lake on the base. On the Fourth, we hung around at the house and the kids played in the backyard. The rest of the time was a whirlwind with a trip to Mud Island, the Mississippi River Museum, Beale Street, sights from downtown and the Memphis Zoo. We also squeezed in a visit to the Memphis Children's Museum and went peach picking. Thanks for coming everyone! We look forward to your next visit and Graceland!

Happy Father's Day!

We hope Lou had a wonderful Father's Day even if he had to cut the grass in the morning. It takes him four hours to cut and trim this yard. A big difference from the little yard in California. He took a break from grass cutting to run through the sprinkler with the girls. Later, he cooked us up some wonderful burgers on his new grill. The day finished with hanging some more pictures for me (all done with that chore) and fishing with Buttercup. He did have time to relax before bed and enjoy the homemade blackberry cobbler Buttercup and I made from the blackberries we picked earlier this week. Happy Father's Day!

Blackberries, Peaches and Southern Cooking

Today the girls and I decided to explore our new rural surroundings. The internet is a wonderful thing (when used well). I was able to locate Jordan's Orchards which is less than 5 miles from our new home. We went blackberry and peach picking. The girls enjoyed the bunches and bunches of frogs hopping all over in the blackberry patch more than the picking. They did manage to pick a quart of blackberries (eating only a few from the vine) and two pounds of peaches. The whopping total for all of that fruit right from the orchard was only $4.00 and it didn't even cost me that much in gas to get there!

They also have a little country kitchen style diner; so we called Daddy up and had him meet us there for lunch. It is only about a 5 minute drive from the Naval Base. We had chicken pot pie, stuffed bell pepper, corn bread, turnip greens, vegetable soup, corn, white beans, tomatoes, sweet tea , lemonade and pecan pie for under $20.00. It was a fun morning! I think we can get used to this southern living.

If we drive south from our home it is very urban with shopping malls, movie theaters and museums. If we drive north, we have farms and country roads. What more can we ask for (except less humidity;)?!

Hospital, Homecoming, and Horses

George kept Snapdragon company. The nurses were great. Everything that they did to Snapdragon, they also did to George. I slept with Snapdragon in the bed every night. We were there for three days.

Our brave girl!

Buttercup riding Chickabee and loving it!

A cute shot of cousin Travis and Snapdragon playing at Sunlite Pool the week before we left Cincinnati.

We are all finally together! We drove home to Tennessee on Saturday night after Snapdragon was released from the hospital. She had minor surgery to drain an abcess in her lymph nodes in her neck. She is recovering well and is back to her normal self...throwing those two year old temper tantrums when we don't get our way. I was all set and ready to start the potty training this week because we are in our own home now. (Thanks, again, Mom and Dad for letting us live with you for the past months. We so appreciate it!) Anyway, the antibiotic Snapdragon is on is causing major diarehha. We have successfully gone on the potty a few times, but I have to keep a diaper on her because of uncontrolable blowouts. She is wearing her new undies over her diaper at her suggestion. (Pretty smart girl!)

Buttercup has started her Horse Camp at Shosestring Stables. She is really enjoying it. She is riding her scooter all over the new neighborhood and has been fishing several times. I took the girls to the zoo on Tuesday and we had a great morning.

Only a little more unpacking and organizing to do....we will get there!

Great Accomplishments

It has been a week of great accomplishments. Buttercup and cousin Morgan were both awarded the Presidential Academic Excellence Award for maintaining an "A-" or greater average in both fourth and fifth grade and passing all parts of the Ohio Achievement Tests.

Cousin Katie had a wonderful final performance in the Oak Hills Orchestra. She is a First Chair violinist. It was great to be able to attend the concert and actually get to hear her play instead of just "hear about it".

Snapdragon climbed up the playground climbing wall all by herself.

Only 13 more days until we go home to Tennessee! We miss you, Daddy!

Parks, Toes and Marshmallows

Here are a few pictures from some of our adventures in Cincinnati. We took Travis and Snapdragon to the Cincinnati Zoo a couple of weeks ago. The tulips were beautiful. This past Tuesday, we went to Discovery Gardens and then over to Uncle Jerry's to make Smores by his fire pit. I painted my toes yesterday and Snapdragon wanted her's done, too.