Trip to Indiana

We went on an family excursion! We decided to make a trip to the Family Farm in Southern Indiana. Tim's parents live on this farm for about 6 months out of the year. His Grandmother grew up there. I was so excited to go and see about "the farm" that I had heard about for so many years. It was dark when we got there, so I really couldn't appreciate the scenery until the next morning. Oh my goodness......I have NEVER seen so much corn and soybeans in my life!!! Right now, there is corn all around the house - literally on all 4 sides! It is beautiful! You know how you see on TV big fields of crops just swaying in the breeze, that is what this was like. It truly was amazing to me! It was so peaceful - I seriously thought I was in a different country. I am amazed by each travel I have how beautiful America really is!!

Our adventures on Saturday included going to the meat locker to get the best marinated turkey ever. Have you ever heard of that - marinated turkey? I can't explain how good it was. Ava Grace, Meme, and I also went to an Amish Quilt Auction. There are many Amish farms located in southern Indiana. It was so neat to see the Amish people riding in horse drawn buggies to the auction and to and from other houses. The children were dressed in the Amish attire as were the adults. Of course, the food they grow and prepare is incredible!! We had a nice lunch of meat and veggies!! That evening we also went to an Amish restaurant where we continued to feast!! lets just say that we ate very well and Ava Grace loved it!!

On Sunday after church we drove to Indianapolis to see Aunt Ava. This is one of the special ladies that Ava Grace is named after. Aunt Ava is Tim's great aunt (His grandmother's only surviving sister). We had a nice lunch with her and Ava Grace enjoyed riding around meeting everyone at the home. I think Aunt Ava was really excited that we came. It was wonderful to finally meet her!!

Before our trip home, we went over to the fairgrounds (across the HUGE corn field from the house) to see them set up for the big antique festival that was occurring the next weekend. It was so neat!! They were making Apple Butter while we were there and old tractors were coming in for display during the festival. Ava Grace enjoyed her freedom in the one-room school house that Pop Pop has worked on. This is the actual school where Grandma and her sisters attended and her father taught. It truly looked like "Little House on the Prairie" - so neat!! There was a miniature horse farm down the road too in which Ava Grace was mesmerized by them moving about.

It was an incredible trip although too quick. We are looking forward to Meme and Pop Pop coming back home soon, but I'm glad we were finally able to go and have some memories of a place that is very dear to the family.

We picked Ap-pulls

We decided to have a "family excursion" to one of the local apple farms on Saturday. If you have never had an apple from the North Carolina mountains - you are definitely missing out!! The middle school where I work is located in a valley with apple orchards and mountains all around. It is truly beautiful!! So, we decided that we would pick a farm near the school and let Ava Grace pick her own ap-pulls! It was a perfect day in the mountains - sunny and 75 degrees, so although our adventure lasted about an hour, it was a great day to be outside. Ava Grace rode through the orchards in a yellow wagon...guess that is going to have to be the next new toy on the list! She loves it!! We picked 1/2 a bushel and actually sampled apples as we went through the orchards. They allow you to sample the apples while you are picking, especially the ones that you have never heard of. Who knew there were so many varieties of apples!! We chose about 5 different types of apples and are looking forward to digging in!! Here are some pictures of our adventure!

In case you are wondering why I have written "Ap-pulls"....that is the way Ava Grace says it. She loves apples, applesauce or anything else that has apples in it.

Friday night concert

It was a crazy day at school!! I rushed to pick up Ava Grace and get home for the fun night we had planned. Tim, Ava Grace, and I went with our friends Doug and Heather to see Chairman of the Board at the Ramble (in Biltmore Forest). Most of you know that I grew up at the beach and grew up listening to various bands such as Chairman of the Board. Beach music is a huge part of my life!!! I usually sing to my heart's content and that is exactly what I did last night. The concert was great and the fellowship with friends was fun as always. Ava Grace enjoyed watching the other kiddos that were running around. She even tried walking down and up the hill we were sitting on, but unfortunately, she wasn't very successful because of the grade and her balance. She did enjoy the picnic supper and playing in the grass. She is definitely an outdoor girl, so she was just very happy to be outside for a while!! Ava Grace also figured out how to climb in and out of her stroller, so that allowed for much entertainment too.

We had a great time!! Thanks again, Doug and Heather!!

Fun at the Lake

Tim, Ava Grace, and I headed to Clemson to our cousin Callie's 1st birthday party this past weekend. Callie's party had the same type of theme as Ava Grace's which was so neat! We ate yummy hamburgers with all the fixin's and purple cake. Callie's cake was Clemson purple....so pretty!! Callie wasn't really sure about diving into her birthday cake, but with a little help from her Mommy, she quickly figure it out. I think the icing was her favorite part! After stuffing our faces, Callie opened her gifts. She got some really cute outfits and toys. She even got a Clemson cheerleading outfit - adorable!! After the party, we went on a boat ride. I always love being in Clemson (as most of you know), but it was especially fun to be with family. Thanks for including us in the festivities - we had a blast!!

That evening, we went back to Greenville to go to Uncle Doug's jamboree game. They played Chapman High School and did pretty well. Of course there are still a few kinks to work out, but that is how it goes at the beginning of any season. I think there is some promise for a good season - just hope everyone stays healthy!! Ava Grace enjoyed playing in the grass during the game. That was ok because we were able to watch the game and she was happily entertaining herself!

We headed back home on Saturday night. Ava Grace was exhausted and slept the whole way home. I took her inside and put her to bed. I don't think she even knew where she was until she woke up on Sunday morning. We cooked out with Doug and Heather (friends) on Sunday and had a great time. We always enjoy visiting with them - just don't get to do it enough.

I left the camera at home (go figure), so I don't have any pictures to show you our adventures. It was a great time though...now it is back to school for the week!!

Bottle-less

Yes, we are bottle-less! Ava Grace has given up all of her bottles and actually did not complain about it at all. I really thought the nighttime bottle would be the most difficult for her, but it was easier that I thought. I simply switched her routine up - switching two things out of the normal order, and it seemed to work. We were with friends a couple of weeks ago and a bottle was given to their 7 month old. Ava Grace pointed and said "bot - ul" and that was it. Whew - thought I was going to have to divert her attention quickly, but it was all ok.



Oh....and one more thing.....another tooth has come in (a molar) this week, so Ava Grace has 9 teeth in all!!

Down Time

Our family is usually on the go so much, that it seems rare that we ever get some down time, especially when all three of us are home. This weekend has been so nice spending time together - just the three of us! Ava Grace entertained us with playing in her baby pool. She loves the game of getting into the pool, throwing each toy out, getting out of the pool, putting each toy back in, and so on. She is definitely a water bug which makes me wonder what I am going to do in a couple of months when it is way too cold to play in the baby pool.

We really haven't done too much worthy to write about or that exciting, but it has been nice to just enjoy each other without thinking about work.

Cece and Dixie came for a visit to partly babysit since Nanny was out of town and just to hang out with us too. Ava Grace and Cece had a big time while hanging out together!! They read lots of books - Ava Grace can crawl into her rocking chair and then points for a book while attempting to say the word. They also went outside to enjoy the nice, mountain weather just walking around the neighborhood. There are many things that they did, but of course, I don't have the time or energy to write everything down.

When Cece and Dixie arrived, we put Dixie's water and food bowls in the downstairs bathroom. Even though our house is totally baby proof, I never thought about one little girl that can move very quickly. When I discovered my child quietly playing, I realized that she was taking Dixie's food - pellet by pellet - and putting it into Dixie's water bowl. Dixie didn't think this was so nice as she sniffed and turned up her nose to eating or drinking until the food was removed. The good part is that Ava Grace did not attempt to eat the food (she already tried this at Nanny's in the spring). While in the bathroom, Ava Grace thought it would be fun to unroll the toilet paper (one of her favorite things to do if she gets the chance) and sit in her "secret spot". Of course we can see her under the rack, but she obviously thinks it is a cool place to sit. She laughs hysterically when you come around the corner and you say "boo" while she is sitting in there.

The park is also a favorite of ours. The weather here is so nice this time of year (upper 70's to lower 80's with no humidity - nice for summer, huh?), so we take every advantage for getting outside. Not only does Ava Grace love the swings and slides at the park, she is also content just playing in the sand. It is so nice that she is easily entertained sometimes.