Nashville

Our road trip to the south started VERY early Friday morning...up and out the door by 6AM!! We had a long car ride ahead of us with our destination being Nashville, TN. 6 of us in one vehicle. Myself and Eric, Mike and Jackie. My cousin, Jeremy (who works with Eric) and his wife Laura. We had a GREAT time...I cant wait for next years trip back.

Friday we made very few stops on the way down, a quick snack/potty break at a McD's in Ft. Wayne, then a last stop in Louisville, KY for lunch at the Chick-fil-A for lunch. Once in our hotel on Music Row, we cleaned up and hit the town!! There was a bus stop (free rides) a block from our hotel, so that took us to dinner at BB Kings. After dinner, well....we had some fun!

Getting on the bus, the first time for some of us! Thanks to a local for helping us get to where we needed to go.

Jeremy and Laura...cute couple!


Enjoying all the crazy people in Nashville

Saturday we ate breakfast at the hotel, then loaded in the car and headed 25 minutes south of Nashville to the beautiful hill of Arrington. Destination Arrington Vineyards owned by the county star Kix Brooks.

Awwww

After our morning at the winery, back in the car, we headed to the town of Franklin. Destination...Puckett's. Time for lunch and then shopping in the historical district.
Jackie waiting patiently for her lunch. Every trip I make to Nashville, a stop at Puckett's is a MUST.

After lunch we headed back to downtown Nashville for some shopping before we headed out to dinner and more night life.

Laura, the only brave sole to ride the bull at Cadillac Ranch.

Sunday morning, we ate breakfast at the hotel and then hit the road for the long ride home. Only one pit/gas station stop and then stopping in Indianapolis for lunch at the wonderful P.F. Changs

I l.o.v.e. Nashville. The vibe, the people, food, weather....Its a great place to visit.

Message Received

Are my children trying to tell me something about my housekeeping??

9/11

To remember the attacks of 9-11, John Ball Zoo offers free admission for both adults and children for one day only. What better place for 9 adults and 12 kids to enjoy a beautiful day for a b-day party for Addison than a free day at the zoo!!

This was our first visit to the zoo in 2 years, and my girls had a BLAST!!

All 12 kids standing nice for the pictures

Megan and the goat. She still LOVES all the animals.

Abby and Megan trying to take home the turkey

Fishing

It's sad to say and hard to believe it's the end of summer. Time to do all those end of the year activities before the snow flies!! My cousin and her hubby have a boat in Grand Haven so a few of us headed there again this past Saturday for dinner and some fishing.

Eric and Jenn playing it safe driving the boat as we head to dinner. We docked the boat and ate at Snug Harbor.

Brent always having a good time as Jake and Eric fish in the channel
Eric vs Fish

18 lbs of Salmon!!

Her First Day!

One of our favorite book starts out...

Congratulation!

Today is your day.

You're off to Great Places!

You're off and away!

Abby started Pre-School at Dorr Elementary this week!! She could not have been more excited to go, and even more excited when I picked her up that afternoon. There we NO tears for Abby or myself, but by Megan when she realized she was not staying at school with her big sister.

The girls and I attended the meet and great with the teacher at the local park a week prior, went to the school open house to see her classroom this past Monday, so when we dropped Abby off on Wednesday, she had already met both teachers twice before.

One for Abby's teachers, Mr. Wierckz

I look forward to all the new things Abby with learn, and all the new friends she will make! This is the start to her school career!

Leaving school on her first day, all SMILES!!

So.....

be you name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray

or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,

you're off to Great Places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting.

So.... get on your way!

By

Dr. Seuss

First of many

Both of the girls had their FIRST professional haircut this weekend. I wanted to have it done before Abby starts school next week. So who better to call than my good friend, Jenn!

Megan went first and was all smiles!

Abby loved getting her hair cut. She can't wait for school to start so she can show her new teachers!