Week at Papa and Grandma Kathy's

This past week the kids and I, along with my sister, Leslie and my nephew and niece spent the week at my parents farm in Belvidere. This is the second year we have all spent a week together and I love the cousin time our kids get! Mason and Reagan ADORE their cousins and I know memories are being made. The main reason for our visit was swim lessons for the older three (Reagan is still too young), but the time together is priceless. From the minute they woke up, until they went to bed, they all played hard. Thomas and Maggie were very sweet to always include Reagan too. (I think Maggie liked having two younger kids to boss around a little HA!) And Mason looks up to Thomas so much- since we've been back home all he wants to do is go hit some baseballs (Thomas plays baseball) It was a great week and one I look forward to repeating next year!

You can't control when the garden comes in, so while at my folks we shelled 25 gallons of Lima Beans and 15 gallons of Zipper peas. These two were in heaven. They loved it!

We don't waste anything in the country. 

SO- all the shells went to the donkeys. Who in turn, were in heaven. 

A week in the country isn't complete without helping Papa mow the lawn. (just a note- Mason was riding his bike before hoping on the lawn mower- I don't make him where a helmet on the John Deere)

And the reason we were here! Swim Lesson. Reagan is so ready for next year when she can go!

Friday was safety day at swimming. Mason had fun "saving" his swim partner!

The week ended with some free time in the outside pool. 

The kids loved the slides, but it had rained all week so the water was a little chilly. 

I can remember spending a week with my mom's parents and some of my cousins. I still cherish some of those memories and laugh at some of the things we did. I can only hope that my kids will look back 20 years from now and laugh at their week in Belvidere.

Never say goodbye

This week we said "see ya later" to some dear Knoxville friends. Elias was in Mason's class this year and we were all in playgroup together. Julie was a dear friend of mine, and will truly be missed. But I know with today's technology, we will keep in touch and we'll see them again. 

 

 "Friends are not only together when they are side by side, even one who is far away... is still in our thoughts." ~Ludwig Van Beethoven

Alimusa's take on Knoxville

Every summer, my sister and her family from Arizona head to Tennessee for an extended visit. It's a great time to catch up and this year they headed up to Knoxville for a few days to check out our new house. They usually stay at my mom's and we come to them, but it was a nice to have a few stolen days to myself. When we lived in Seattle, we got to see them more often and the time zone difference wasn't so hard so we talked a lot more. It was some much needed sister time! Since Emily is headed into her junior year of high school (really- how did that happen?) we scheduled a visit to UT! They had a great time and I think it helped Em decided big schools may not be her thing.

The next day we drove down to Sweetwater to The Lost Sea. I had never been and we thought it might be a fun adventure to beat the heat. If you are in the area- GO! It was a lot of fun and a great workout.

Before entering into the cavern.

The beginning of our journey down (and the only part they blasted out) 

the rest was was a red clay packed floor.

Mason and Aunt Mel checking out the rock wall.

There is a lake in the cave and you take a short boat ride to explore it. Mason and Reagan did really well on the boat- I'm the one who dropped a water bottle into the lake -oopps. But Mel was quick to scoop it up before it got away from us. After the boat, you have to head BACK up the cave...and that is where the exercise begins!

The Lost Sea also had a nature walk, picnic area and place to sift for stones. Mason and Reagan loved playing with the water.

Mason and Reagan ate up all the cousin time they had!

Since we were already 20 miles down the road, we decided to go another 7 and visit the Mayfield Dairy.  Unfortunately they don't offer tours on Wednesday (note to self) but we did get some yummy icecream and you could explore the store and visitor center a little by yourself. Mason and Reagan LOVED milking the cow!

We hung by the cow for a long time. 

I loved this sign. And as a mom, it made me appreciate Mr Mayfield for more than just his ice cream.