Giant Steps Family Day and some cute ones

On Saturday, the 19th, Giant Steps (Sydnee's preschool) had a Family Day Picnic for the students and their families.  I have to say, it was more fun than I thought it would be.  They had Mcgruff the Crime Dog, face painting, moon bounces, a balloon lady, and TONS of food.  The kids had a great time, and it was a good way to pass some time on a Saturday afternoon.  The last 3 pics are ones we took last week after David's birthday lunch.  I just thought they were cute, so I added them in. 

It's official!

It's official folks! NOVEMBER 15, 2009!! I've registered for the Rock and Roll 1/2 marathon! That's 13.1 MILES to be exact!   YIKES! I am so excited and nervous at the same time.  I've never been a long distance runner, so this is all new for me! I have been running 4 miles 3 times a week with Lexie in the jogger stroller, and Nicole and I do our long runs on Saturday mornings.  We are scheduled for 7 miles this week! AAHH!  We'll see if I die or not...ahhahahah! It's been really great running with a friend, because we talk A LOT, and the time seems to go by pretty quickly.  We've got our time down to a 9:25 mile (right nicole??)--I'm sure I'm slowing her down!  My legs are about half the length of hers! LOL!  Anyway, Nicole reserved us a room downtown so we don't have to deal with parking and all the craziness that Matt and I dealt with last year. We are just going to get up, and have a warm up walk to the start line!  Matt and Ryan are going down with us for moral support, and of course to snap pics of us! hehe ;)  Matt really wanted to run the 1/2 marathon again this year, but his knee is really giving him problems.  He didn't want to chance ruining it more!  Thanks honey for letting me do this!! I can't wait!!

ps--I'm LOVING the results of my runs--all my pregnancy weight is gone, and my pants fit! YAY!

Tennessee Last Day- Grand Ole Opry, lunch and the airport!

AWWW- my last day in Tennessee.  I was so sad to leave.  My trip wasn't near long enough! I needed to stay like 2 weeks!  These are some fun shots we took before we left, then at lunch and The Grand Ole Opry (we didn't go in because it cost a TON of money, but we went to the gift shop and walked around the grounds-which were beautiful), then finally at the airport.  I can't even begin to describe all the fun I had with my sister and her family.  She was such a good host, and I can't wait to go back with my whole family!  We did so many fun things, and had so much fun! 

In front of Kate's cute house!

Lunch at the Macaroni Grill

Saying goodbye to my sweet niece

I love my sister!

Derrick swinging Lexie around! He was so cute with her! 

Tennessee Day 3- Franklin and Ft Campbell

On day 3 in Tennessee, Kate and I took Lexie to go over to Franklin.  (Ky and Derrick stayed home to have a daddy-daughter date)  Franklin was really full of history!  We went to a place called the Carnton Plantation. This was where the Battle of Franklin took place--one of the 5 bloodiest battles in the Civil War.  We didn't take the tour of the house, but I bought a great book called The Widow of the South.  It's a SIGNED first addition, and I'm so glad I bought it--now if I could just find time to read it!   We also got some stone bullets that they actually dug out of the ground.  We ate at a super yummy place called the Mellow Mushroom--if you are ever in the area of one, I HIGHLY recommend it!  After we left Franklin, we actually turned the wrong way, we were driving along and all of the sudden there was the Temple!  How funny is that?!?!  So, of course, I had to get out and get a picture!  We stopped at home and picked up Ky and Derrick to go out to Ft Campbell (where Derrick works).  It's actually in Kentucky--but I didn't get a picture in front of the state sign- boo.  Anyway, we saw the helicopters that he flies and many more!  It's like a helicopter mecca! We jumped out to get a quick pic in front of some, and it started raining, so we left the kids in the car- ky was crying about it, thus, the reason for the last picture of me and her.  man, i love that kid!

A house on the road in Franklin-wouldn't you love to live there?!

The Carnton Plantation House

The Confederate Cemetery with the Carnton Plantation in the background

Kate and Lexie at the Mellow Mushroom

The Nashville Temple

Big Copters

Love this girl!!

Tennessee Day 2- Walking tour of Nashville and Country Music Hall of Fame!

Day 2 in Nashville!  We went on a 90 minute walking tour of some famous sites in Nashville and then went to the Country Music Hall of Fame.   On the walking tour we saw the Ryman Auditorium (the first home of the Grand Ole Opry)- ky and I played on like crazies on the stage.  We also got to see backstage at The Ryman, and saw the dressing rooms where Johnny and June got ready!! We saw Tooties Orchid Lounge (where a TON of famous country songs were written)...yes, we took our babies--IN A BAR!....we also heard a lot of insider stories about stars and Nashville--it was so neat!  There is too much to list of the awesome things we saw at the Country Music Hall of Fame...a few of my favorites were: 

*Elvis's car-this thing was HUGE, and it had a TV in the back!

*Elvis's gold piano

*Carrie Underwood's HUGE maroon taffeta dress she wore when she sang at the CMA awards in 2008.  

*George's Hall of Fame induction plaque

*TONS of gold and platinum records from over the years

I thought this giant guitar was awesome!

The Country Music Hall of Fame

GEORGE'S PLAQUE!

Derrick and Lexie at the gift shop

Elvis's giant car! yes, it's blurry, but they wouldn't let us use a flash. 

Yes, I am on the sidewalk--but George is painted on it! 

Singing at the Grand Ole Opry! (the Ryman Auditorium)

Derrick and Lexie walking--she fell asleep on him--sooooo sweet!

Having an apple

We had a picnic in the back of the truck-much cheaper than buying everyday- and it was yummy!

One side of the street- BARS were everywhere! And usually rockin by 11 am! HA! 

Tennessee day 1- Zoo and Trolley Tour of Nashville

For our first day in Tennesse we went to the Zoo, and on an hour long trolley tour of downtown Nashville.  Kate got us tickets for the hour long trolley tour, a 90 min walking tour of downtown, and the Country Music Hall of Fame.  So off we went to the Zoo!  They have a really cool zoo!  It has lots of shade and TREES! Wow! Coming from San Antonio, trees are actually beautiful in Tennessee!  We saw giraffes, zebras, tigers, elephants, etc, etc!  Lexie also had her first ride on the carousel!  She loved it!  I just wish my older kids were there to go with us--but we still had fun!  After the Zoo, we headed downtown Nashville for our trolley tour.  We had a great driver, and the trolley tour was really informative! We got to see Music Row, the Capitol, The Country Music Hall of Fame, Vanderbilt University, The Parthenon ( a full size replica of the one in Athens!) , and so much more that I can't even remember right now!  I am so excited to be in Tennessee with my sister and her family--I just wish we lived closer together! 

Getting ready to walk in the zoo

You can barely see it- but the White Tiger is my FAVORITE!

Lexie checking out the zebras for the first time

Cutie Kylie and the zebras

Lexie's first carousel ride!

You can barely see the giraffes behind us....

Lexie and I getting ready to ride

You can see the capitol way back behind us...those pillars have bells in the top that play songs on the hour

Tennessee!!

So.....On Thursday, Sept 3rd, Lexie and I left to go visit Kate, Derrick and Kylie in Tennessee!  We left around 430pm and got to Kate's around 630.  It was, thankfully, an uneventful first flight for Lexie.  She only slept about a half an hour and then was up wanting to play and talk to everyone on the plane.  It's a dang good thing she's cute, cause she was talking LOUD! Hahaha!  She didn't even cry when Kate got her out of her stroller!  I was so happy to see Kylie!! I've missed her cutie little face and she was pretty happy to see us too!