Summer Fun and Our Visit to Tennessee

Well, July flew by in a flurry of activity.   After returning from our beach trip we settled back into home and enjoyed a little bit of slower summer pace.   But after a few shorts weeks, it was time to pack our bags again and head to Tennessee for a couple of weeks with Grammy and Grandmama.   It was so good to see them and the girls had an absolute blast getting to soak up two whole weeks of grandparent time.   Here are the pictures.   

The weather wasn't too hot when we returned so the girls had some good backyard time. 

And I satisfied a bucket list item when I went to my first Indigo Girls concert.   

I've loved them for twenty years and finally seeing them at such a cool outdoor venue was such a dream come true.

We had some fun times at the pool.

Including a fun send-off for Sarah Avery's best friend Judson.

His family moved halfway around the world, but these two made sure their last night together was lots of fun.

Peter took the girls to Del Ray for a little art and music festival.

I think they had a blast.

And we had a BBQ with some friends.   The kids outnumbered the adults, but fun was had by all.

We spent a week at Vacation Bible School.   I taught a third grade class and the girls loved it.   Here they are bringing backpacks for the mission project which was a school supply drive for the kids of a church in Dominica.

After a week teaching VBS, Peter treated me to a night out in DC.

And Susannah got her ears pierced!

It felt like such a big rite of passage.   

She did it with her good friend Eleanor.   

Speaking of piercings........look what I did on our date night to DC?

I've wanted to get my nose pierced for seven years, and I finally did it!

Peter and I, soccer parents from the suburbs, were a little conspicuous at Fatty's Tattoos, but it was such a fun memory.   We had dinner afterward and spent the night downtown at The Ritz.   

The week after VBS, our church hosts a music camp for Elementary School kids.   This year they performed a musical called "Danny and the Shacks."    

Susannah and her friends were so proud and put on a great show!

The very next day, we were at Grammy's house.  The day after we arrived was her birthday, so we were so excited to get to celebrate with her.   This picture has four generations in it!

Happy Birthday Grammy!

A trip to Grammy's wouldn't be complete without the traditional trip to the Disney Store.   It was so hard to make a decision.   

But the girls finally made their choices and were all smiles.   

Then we went to Grandmama and Jim's to show off our purchases and snap some beans.   

Another day, another trip to the mall.   This time to ride the rides.

One day when Grammy went to work, we spent the day with the my best and oldest friend, Lyndsey.   SA and Hudson were quick buddies and had so much fun playing kitchen.

Ive been friends with this girl for 30 years.   

Our big second graders had lots of fun together too. 

Mr. Nick even let them make homemade cookies.

Seeing these guys is always a highlight of our trip and this year was no different. 

Another day we took Grammy to lunch for her birthday and went to get pedicures.   

We were pretty excited.

SA's first pedicure!    They even had  little chair for her.   (And to be clear, they just painted her nails.   Mommy wasn't ready to pony up for a real pedicure for a three year old.)

Susannah and Grammy enjoyed the chair massage.  (Susannah got the kid's pedicure, which was a toned down version of the adult one.   She loved feeling like a big girl.)

Another Tennessee tradition is biscuit making with Grandmama.

The girls were pumped about the new biscuit cutters that were shaped like hearts and stars.

Fun memories!

The next weekend, Uncle Andy and Aunt Susan and Andy and Nicole and AJ came to Grandmamas to celebrate an early birthday for SA.

Daddy was sad to miss it, so we Face-timed him for the singing.   

Daddy's girl, even when he isn't there.

After cake, presents!

A new big girl watch!

Grandmama got them matching dresses too.

The girls loved playing with their adorable cousin AJ.   (And Elijah, who I didn't get any pictures of)

SA also received a few things to practice writing letters.   She has been into that this summer. 

These girls love their Grandmama

Meanwhile, back at the ranch........Peter took a break from a busy work week to meet up with an old friend for a Nationals game. 

Grammy took a few other days off so we got to check out the Children's Museum in Oak Ridge with her.   The girls loved the Space Room.

And Hoola Huped with Grammy in the healthy living room.

They had a blast playing farmer.

Off to the Farmers Market in their John Deere Truck.  ;)

We also checked out the water/boat room.

And learned about how damns work. 

Betty and Bob hosted us for a lunch by the pool.    It was a blast and so fun to watch my girls make memories where I have to many of my own memories. 

Grammy lives right next to an awesome park and we spent lots of time there.

Another day, we hit up the other Children's Museum, The Muse.   The girls loved this one.   

Especially the space ship exhibit

Sweet little astronaut

We also enjoyed the craft area 

And the STEM area where we did lots of science exploration.

It was a great day.

Before we knew it, our two week visit was over and Daddy was back to pick us up.   We did one more biscuit night for good measure.   

And now we are back in Alexandria and excited for our friends from Nashville to arrive.   Grammy, thank you for being such a good hostess.    Grandmama and Jim, thank you for feeding us so much delicious food.   And everybody else, thank you for spending time with us.   We love you all dearly!