Nashville, IN

Thursday, June 12 - Saturday, June 14


This was reunion weekend for Jasons' family so we headed up to Turkey Run State Park in Indiana. But on the way, we stopped off at the pretty little artist town of Nashville, IN. Above are Wren and Lee Anne in front of our hotel, the Artist Colony Inn.


















The covered bridge in Bean Blossom, IN was built in 1880.

Concert at Big Spring

We enjoyed some family time at the concert in the park at Big Spring with the reggae band Kush and the 70s band DiscOasis .


Wren found some friends to play with.


My beautiful niece Ryan came too.


A video of Wren trying to imitate the people doing the electric slide.

I want a fish, please!

Today, I met a man at Jason's work who has 4 or 5 kids and is adding another one through adoption (from China). So that made me think about Wren and how she very well might be an only child and I started to feel a little guilty about it. So then I had the following conversation with Wren in the car:

Me: "Wren, would you like to have a little sister?"

Wren: "Nooo."

Me: "Would you like to have a little brother?"

Wren: "Nooo."

Me: "Well, what would you like to have"

Wren: She thinks for a minute and says, "Ummmm.....a fish?!"

Pool Day

My parents have a pool and in these 90+ degree days, we've been spending quite a lot of time there! Actually, the pool was built by my grandparents (my parents live in their house) right around the time I was born in January 1971. So this pool is where I've spent most of my summers my whole life!


Wren and Ryan (Ryan is not so happy to be gettin' some lovin')


Wren and her Sissy have fun together!


Even Nomo had to take a dip.

Botanical Garden

On Monday, we visited the Botanical Garden. It was hot as heck, but Wren still had a good time (even though I melted)!


Wren with the T-Rex (he is visiting the garden through the month of July).


Wren sitting by the koi pond.


She's a butterfly!


Looking at the turtles in the butterfly house.

FCC Mother's Day Tea

The local FCC group hosted a wonderful Mother's Day Tea. Wren enjoyed playing with the other girls. She especially liked Sarah Penny, who is about two years older than Wren.

School Days

Wren started school on March 4th. It took her about three weeks before she really got comfortable. But by the end of the school year (May 15th), Wren was really loving it. Here are some pictures.

Wren at the entrance to her school with her lunch bag.


Wren in the hallway of her school.


Wren in her classroom. Her teacher, Ms. Karen is in blue on the left.

Friends

"I get by with a little help from my friends." ~ John Lennon

In April and May, we were so lucky to be able to see lot of our friends!

Melanie and Jason

In April, my college friend Melanie and my high school friend Jason (they're married) were in town taking care of their nieces for a short while. Wren and I were lucky enough to spend a little time with them.

Shana, Joseph and the twins (Henry and Harrison)



In May, Wren and I took a quick trip to Montgomery to visit Shana, another college friend, and her three boys. Wren had a lot of fun with Joseph! (He's from South Korea.)

Caroline and Nash



After Montgomery, we headed over to Atlanta for a visit with Caroline and Nash. Caroline and I have been friends for 30+ years! Nash is a year younger than Wren so by next year, they should be having a big time together!

Emie and Noah

We try to visit with Emie and Noah and their mom Michelle at least once a week. Michelle is another friend I've known for 30+ years. Emie was also in Wren's class at playschool. Emie is four months younger than Wren and Noah 9 months older than Wren.

Lanie

We ran into Lanie at Chik-fil-a. Lanie is one of Wren's favorite friends from playschool.

A Panoply Weekend

April 25-27, 2008

We spent the whole weekend at Panoply. It may be the first one for Wren, but it is Panoply's 27th year! I'm sad to say that I'm old enough to remember the first one. It was when I was 10 years old in about the 4th grade. It was started in 1982 by the Junior League of Huntsville in which my mother was a member and so she worked as a volunteer at the first handful of Panoplies. My, oh my how Panoply has grown since those early days! The Panoply Arts Festival is now organized by the Arts Council of Huntsville.

Photos and video from our first evening at Panoply - Friday, Day 1




Saturday we visited the International Tent to see the performance by the Huntsville Chinese Association. Then we met our friends Sandy and Brian for the fireworks. It was another fun day!

Photos and video from Saturday


Chinese Lion Dance


Girls from the Huntsville Chinese School doing a fan dance.


A man playing a Chinese flute


On Sunday, we went to Panoply with Wren's cousin Ryan. Wren and Ryan made crafts and played the drums. In the evening, Jason, Lee Anne and Wren went to see one of our favorite local bands/musicians, Microwave Dave (and the Nukes).

Photos and video from Sunday, our third and final day of Panoply.


Microwave Dave & the Nukes


Another quick video of Microwave Dave

Happy Birthday Sissy!

Sissy's birthday was today and we had fun celebrating with dinner on the back patio at her house.


Sissy and Wren with her birthday pot holders from Sweden.


Sissy and her two girls.

But before the party we went to Ryan's t-ball game.

That's her in the blue playing first base.


Here she is hitting the ball.


And crossing home plate while she gives her coach a five.

Roller Derby

We had a great time at the Dixie Derby Girls first home bout of the season. Join in the fun at the next one on May 18th.

Lookin' Pretty

A Sunday at church

Earth Day Celebration

We visited the Hayes Nature Preserve in Huntsville for their Earth Day celebration. This is the second year Jason and I have been. The first was a few years ago before we moved to Italy. It's a great event. Aunt Lauren and cousin Ryan came with us. We saw snakes, a baby llama, a turtle (wren's favorite), baby bears, an owl (Wren's second favorite), a tiny baby oppossum and a baby squirrel.


Wren, Daddy and Ryan


Ryan with Aunt Lauren


The snake man


Ryan petting the baby llama


Wren loved this turtle!

Wren's Tricycle

Big Girl Panties

We thought we might give the big girl panties a whirl. Unfortunately, she pottied in her panties every time. At least the last time she realized what was going on because as she was in midstream she looked over at me with a worried look on her face and said, "Uh oh, no diaper." We'll give potty training a try again next month.


Look at my pantiess! Aren't they cool?


Say cheese!


Doing the panty dance.

Great Gramps

April 5-7, 2009

We took a trip up I-65 to visit with Wren's great grandfather (Jason's grandfather). Gramps was looking good and Speedway (Indianapolis) hadn't changed much.




On our way home, we made a pitstop at the Tennessee welcome center and enjoyed some snacks.

Lipstick Lunacy

Wren found some lipstick during nap time and put it on. Isn't she pretty?



But Mommy didn't learn her lesson and This is how we found her after nap time a few days later. (In case you're wondering, dish soap takes out lipstick stains.)


I didn't do anything...


Really!


OK - you're onto me.


I'm sorry.