Bouncing and Ice Cream

One more, and then I'll stop. We met up with some of my best high school friends -- Brandi and Lori -- on our last day in East Tennessee. Because it was 100 degrees outside, we took our kids to Wee Bounce and hung out for a while. 

After Wee Bounce, I took the kiddos to the Mayfield's Visitor Center. We had ice cream and learned a little about milking a cow. Ben thought the udders were "peeing" instead of giving milk. What a city boy.

East Tennessee, wrapping it up

Rounding up my last bunch of East Tennessee photos, these from Athens -- when we spent part of our trip at my mom's house.My nephew Luke joined us for a sleepover, we celebrated the Fourth of July and played lots and lots of baseball. 

       

The Motley Crew, watching Scooby Doo.

Ben and Paul became big buds on the trip -- always having these quiet side conversations that no one could hear -- but that they thought were hilarious. 

                    

                                             

Jack was the first to climb onto the slide at the pool, and spent most of the afternoon barreling down it. 

Here's one I grabbed of Miss Mary, just after she ordered a mermaid balloon animal at the Etowah Fourth of July festival. Bless that girl for hanging out with her brother and four boy cousins. They, of course, all wanted swords. 

East Tennessee, continued

Still catching up with pictures from East Tennessee, where all the cousins got together to feed cows, play in the dirt and collect June Bugs. Ya'll know June Bugs, right?

Mary Beth and her bottle of bugs

Ben told me he was working on "construction" every time I asked what he was up to. 

Papaw, taking it all in.

The cousins, hiding in the bushes.

Headed East

Ruby and I took the kids East last week to celebrate the Fourth of July in God's country. Truly. I really miss those mountains. We were sort of all over, but I'll start with Jonesborough. We were blessed with cooler weather there, which meant the kids spent almost all of their time outside. 

But first, a pic from my grandparents' porch, early one morning while I was taking in my coffee. Love those mountains.

Ben and Mary with Mamaw

Jack, staring down a bull. 

Feeding the cows

All the cousins.

One of my favorite parts of the trip. The boys played baseball with a rock and a stick -- is that called stickball? -- for about 2 hours. 

More of all the cousins, the goofy shot. 

                                      

Like I said, lots of playing outside. I found the boys like this on the first night. Ben fell out of the bed and never moved a muscle afterward.

Ducks and Ribs

Our Baltimore family, the Miciches, flew south a couple of weeks ago to visit both the Nashville and Memphis Mettees. In Memphis, I think we were pretty successful showing our city off. John took them on a tour of the Memphis Air Traffic Control Center (the highlight of their trip, I think) and then we headed downtown for a Peabody duck parade and Rendezvous ribs. A real Memphis experience. 

 We didn't realize the duck parade was so popular, but we were able to find Ben and Jack spots to watch the ducks. Then, we headed to an alley across the street to eat the best ribs in Memphis.

John and his Aunt Dot

My plate, the aftermath

John and I knew that Jack was a  big rib fan, but we underestimated his eating power. I think he ate half of the sausage and cheese appetizer he shared with Ben and then four ribs that he begged off of John and my plate. Next time, I'm just ordering him his own half order. 

Jack and Ben with their cousin Jessica. Jack is still a little confused about having a cousin who is a grown up. He thought all of his cousins were small. 

BBQ Fest

Still catching up. John and I went to the Memphis in May BBQ Festival in early May. John helped put together the NATCA (air traffic control union) tent during the day, and I met him by the river later on in the day. This is one of my favorite things about living in Memphis. Lots and lots of BBQ. 

Our view of the Mississippi River

John and Justin

Me, Sammie Jo and Kathleen -- just some of the air traffic controller wives

 

Grub

  

Yellow Belted

Jack earned his yellow belt in May, after months of practicing his patterns. He's still deciding if he's ready to work on his orange belt -- we asked him to decide between fall soccer and taekwondo, and he's still tinkering on it. 

I'm a big advocate of taekwondo, especially for small-for-their-age children. The art gave Jack confidence and is designed to help him learn how to defend himself. His teacher also talks to the boys a lot about bullies and how to handle tough situations with peers.

I took a video of Jack testing. He had to test in front all those who were testing at the school that day -- and did his patterns with a 2nd degree black belt whiz kid. Talk about ninja. The videos below are of Jack testing and then of him receiving his yellow belt. Such a stage mom.

  

 This is my favorite pic from the day. That look on Jack's face tells me he's pleased and proud of himself. What a boy .