Norris Dam State Park

Looking at the dam.

Might not be able to tell here, but Andrew has a long toes reputation :)

The dam

We even brought the dog!!!

This weekend has been unseasonably warm, and won't be lasting, but we decided we better take advantage of it.  It was almost 70 today!  Sun was hiding, but that's OK.  We decided to check out Norris Dam State Park, which is right up the road.  We brought some Subway sandwiches and had a picnic there and walked around.  The two older boys were quite whiny and complained a lot!  They have gotten into a bad habit of saying "mommy, mom, mommy, mama, mommy, mama, mom" over and over and over again constantly.  They just repeat my name along with repetitive questions all day long.  Does this happen to anybody else?  If so, what the resolution?  And why when we bring them somewhere to run and play, they ask to be held and carried the whole time?  Oh well!  No complaints.  We still enjoyed our day!  This evening we decided to grill out brats.  Sean, Andrew, Ryan, and I were on the back porch and Hunter was sitting inside.  Well, I guess Ryan decided it would be a good idea to lock the door, which was not a good idea!  We were all stuck out there with Hunter inside with the oven turned on cooking tater tots.  Our back deck has a 15+ foot drop so getting down was not an option.  Thankfully I was able to get a hold of a neighbor on the phone who came by and let us in!

Boy x 3

Blueberry Farm

Today we decided to go to a u-pick blueberry farm down the road from us in Norris.  We were able to pick about a pint's worth of blueberries and they are so good!  The day has been beautiful with a high of 84, which is cool compared to the middle to high 90s that we were getting.  Ryan enjoyed the day.  Hunter was pretty fussy so I hung back with him after picking some blueberries and shooting some photos.  It was just so gorgeous there and peaceful and the air even smelled crisp and fresh.  It's almost like a little preview to how fall will be.  I was trying out my macro setting, but most pictures were deleted.  I have a really hard time steadying my hands!  Practice makes progress I suppose. 

Farm Visit

Earlier in the week we were invited over to a couple's house that we go to church with for dinner.  They live on a 77 acre farm literally 10 minutes from our house, so really the post title is incorrect because we don't visit farms occasionally, our neighborhood is surrounded by them!!!!!  They are such a sweet couple and we enjoyed the food and fellowship.  The boys loved playing outside and seeing the horses.  However, Ryan needs to be trained on horse etiquette.  He threw a stick at one and also hit it in the nose.  No, the horse did not like that one bit!  Being a FL beach boy, he had no idea how to behave around horses, coupled with the fact that he is fearless!  Any way, we will hopefully teach him quickly (or  a horse will) that they don't like things thrown at them nor do they like to be hit and that spooking a horse is just not a good idea!

Dad's Birthday 07/23/12

Although Dad's birthday was mostly spent with Two Men moving our stuff in, we still tried to make his day special. We took him to dinner at Big Ed's Pizza in Oak Ridge (we LOVE this place and had to share it with Dad) and then to Riverside Grill, also in Oak Ridge, to have dessert by the lake.


This lake is a popular place for rowing



What a handsome (and young looking) birthday boy! 58 is the new 48. :)

My four favorite boys/men in one picture :)

train going by

Hunter may have enjoyed his cake more than Pappy!  The shirt he was wearing had to be tossed in the garbage afterwards!

Outback Bowl 01/02/2012

Excuse the blurry hotdog hand mess!

This is me exploring Photoshop Elements.  Not sure if I like it or not.  I really have no clue what I'm doing so I just click on a bunch of stuff, which can lead down some pretty scary paths!  I can really mess up my pictures!  lol

Yup, trying out Photoshop

We went to the Outback Bowl this past Monday.  I am a BIG Georgia fan and they were playing Michigan State down here at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa (where the Buccaneers play).  We had a lot of fun.  It was chilly!!!!  Hunter slept through most of it.  Ryan cheered, shouting, "go, go, go" and "get 'em" and he would high five the people behind us.  He enjoyed it.  The boys were free to get in so that was a blessing, too.  They ended up going into triple overtime (we did not stay for all that) and unfortunately GA lost, but we still had a great time together.  This was the boys' first sporting event.  :)

Baby Boys

Not a good picture at all, but it was one of those moments that was very unexpected.  Ryan asked to hold Hunter and all I had available was my cellphone. 

I did just download a free 30 day trial of Photoshop Elements.  I have NEVER worked in Photoshop so I have no idea what I am doing, but I think I will have fun experimenting.  :)  Tips are welcome.