Tennessee!!

After our time in Georgia, we were very excited to make the 4 hour drive north (Thank you Poppy for driving us and being so gracious about Susannah's less than enthusiastic travel mood.)  to see our Tennessee family.   It was a wonderful week filled with lots of family time, friend time, food, and even a half marathon.   Here are some of the highlights:

 Grammy and Susannah were so excited to be reunited! 

Grandmama and Jim bought Susannah this super cool Minnie Mouse bike.  She loved the horn.

Susannah especially enjoyed eating some of Grandmama's famous sphaghetti.

Grammy bought her some new toys too......this singing push toy she really loved.

We also were able to spend the day with my childhood best friend and her adorable daughter at their new house.   This is Ellie.  She was so sweet to share her toys (and her super cool hat) with Susannah.

Ellie showed Susannah how to color on her coloring table.

And Susannah loved lounging in Ellie's pretty chair.

And running down the hill in the backyard was super fun.....especially for this toddler who is accustomed to life at sea level.

We went for a walk around the neighborhood.  

And the girls wanted to stop to check out some of the neighbor's mulch.    Such special memories that I'm so thankful to share with my oldest friend.

Susannah had lots of playground time, including at these swings behind Grammy's subdivision.

My other childhood friend, Amy brought her daughter Scarlett over to Mom's for a little afternoon playdate.  

Having all six of us together for the afternoon was so so fun.

Susannah loved her morning walks/playground time with her Grammy.

They explored all around.....

And found some flowers to pick.

We ended the trip with a really special memory......I ran the Knoxville Half Marathon with my cousin Caleb.   It was his first half and he did an amazing job!

Lyndsey, Nick, and Ellie were my cheering section at the finish line.

Ellie's hug was a great post-race treat.

But my hug from this sweet face was my biggest reward.   She loves to wear my medal as a necklace.

Aunt Susan loves to give Susannah presents and this time she really outdid herself......

Susannah got this purple ball

And these awesome sunglasses.

And this very glamorous tutu bathing suit!  "Thanks Aunt Susan!  Next time Mommy will be sure to get a picture of both of us with all my presents!"

Susannah loves her Grammy.

Bedtime stories.....

It was hard to say goodbye, but we are already looking forward to our next visit.

Grandmama and Jim drove us part of the way back to Georgia.   While we waited on Poppy to arrive, Susannah seized her opportunity to rest on the front porch of Cracker Barrel.

This is how we felt about leaving our family after such an amazing 2 week visit.  

But we know that we will be going home again soon and, of course, everybody is always welcome over here on the west coast!   Thanks again to everybody who made our visit so wonderful.   We are so blessed by each of you.  

Next post:  Easter Eggstravaganza 2012!!!!!