Day 3-The Great Grill Master

Now legend has it, that there is a great grill master among us.  He is elusive. He is rare. But, on the occasion that his brother-in-law and sister-in-law come to visit, he MAY be persuaded to grill a little. Unfortunately--although according to them they are in great need-- when Kirk and the kids and I come for a visit, we apparently also bring the rain.  Five years ago when we came, Hurricane Florence came with us.  She dumped water, made rafting extremely chilly, and as we were leaving Tennessee, we realized her full force as, when we were passing through some of the southern states we were in all the traffic that was evacuating at that time.  Strange seeing cars and people leave, but no one coming in....

This year,apparently, is no different. We get here and so does the rain--rain that hasn't come in weeks. But that's ok--we don't let it rain on our parade. When it rains, we decide to BBQ!

Alysia and I went to the store and purchased all the goodies and about the time that we got home, the gray skies were rolling in, the lightening wasn't far away, and you could hear the thunder in the distant.

We were not going to be deterred though,  and Scott started up the grill.

mmmm...it did smell FANTASTIC! And while it was cooking, and the storms were rolling in, we taught Courtney how to play Corn Hole...a game we had only learned to play the night before, but instantly LOVED it!

You have these bags that are filled with corn and you stand on the opposite side of your opponent.  The ides is to try and get your bag in the hole. Of course, Courtney would not be happy until she mastered it, and pretty soon, she was kicking Allie's hiney...

But all too soon, the lightening was overhead and we moved them indoors.....of course, the master griller and his protege were still cooking up the mess of food that the two master shoppers had purchased, so as soon as the rain started, they came up with a brilliant idea....

It is amazing what these men will do to keep their women happy! It is pouring down rain and the master griller keeps grilling and the protege soaks in his knowledge while keeping him dry! Now THAT is dedication....Unfortunately, the one holding the umbrella,.....

Also gets left standing at the grill! All alone..just him, the umbrella, and the grill!

But only until the other two came back with still another umbrella! and one more observer..

How much longer? She asks...

Just about ready.... the grill master replies...

And so it went. The rain came..

the men grilled...

and the rest of us ate..and ate.. and ate....

It was a wonderful night full of laughter and love and hide and seek and good food!

Til' tomorrow....and the great white water rafting adventure.....

Day 2--The Long and Winding Road

We ended our first day in a town called Brownsville, TN. It was small. quaint. well...just small.  It consisted of 5 hotels, a Dairy Queen, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC and a Sonic. Lets just say, when I looked up family dining, it gave me the name of the Huddo House which we soon discovered was IN the gas station! The kids, who wanted something other than fast food, quickly decided on Taco Bell with and an after dinner stop by Dairy Queen. There was no way we were getting them into the Huddo House!

Sunday morning, Rachael, who was up at the crack of dawn and ready to go, was impatiently waiting on us to get our act together.  She would have been the prize child for my mom and dad....she thinks just like them! I had already hit the snooze button three times, Kirk's alarm on his watch, that he CAN NOT here, was going off, and there sat Rachael, pretty as a picture and ready to go! We sent her down with the others to get a bite to eat while I took my shower and Kirk ran. She really is the mother hen only with far less patience!

As 9:30 rolled around, we hit the road for another day of driving.  This day though, there was a purpose! TODAY we would be in Tennessee at the Haluska's house. These kids have waited five years to return here and they were ready. Ready to see their Aunt and Uncle, ready to see their cousins, and more than ready to go white water rafting!

So, off we went. DVD's were playing, I was reading, Kirk was driving and all was good.  After a few hours, we stopped in Nashville for a bite to eat.  We made our way to one of the 500 state parks, and settled on a little area with plenty of shade and space for another round of frisbee.  The place we picked also had a great play area, so that was a plus.

 Don't they look all sweet and angelic like??

When in reality...

 

Rachael and Leah were having melon slapping fights....

and Courtney was providing them the ammunition...

While Allison studied the mustard jar and stayed as far away from flying melon as she could!

While we were eating, we  soon discovered we were being watched.  It was a little unnerving, but I knew I had to sneak in for a closer look--and a picture of our intruder.

Do you see it peeking out at me?  It didn't move one bit..just stared at me..... Until...

UNTIL THEY DISCOVERED THE PLAY CENTER....then it was bye bye little deer and hello crazy kids.

And then the frisbee started and all thoughts of the deer had vanished....

and this time, Rachael got a few pictures of me...just so that one day, I will know I was there!

She delighted in trying to get me in not very flattering poses, but she forgets that I have control of the delete button....but look at that grace, that style, that flare.....

and look at these faces that I love so much....

I LOVE VACATION!

til next time....

On the Road Again....

Well, I'm feeling a little nostalgic lately.  I know my time is ticking down with my daughter, Rachael. She is going to be a senior in high school, and this summer, I'm afraid, will be this last summer vacation we have as a somewhat complete family.  Andrew didn't come this year--he had to work--so we were minus one, and I know that over the next few years, our little brood will disband and start lives of their own, so this is kinda a sad vacation for me.

Nevertheless, we began our journey on Friday and made the trek to my mom and dad's house so we would have  2 hours less to travel the next day. It was nice to catch up and visit for the evening. As I get older, I appreciate my parents more.  I know that time is no longer on our side.  I see how fast my kids have grown--I mean, heck, I can still remember vividly going on family vacations with my mom and dad and sister. Doesn't seem that long ago. So this year, I decided i was not just watching and taking pictures--but joining in the fun...making memories to last me a lifetime.

On Saturday morning, we got up, enjoyed a leisurly breakfast, packed up the car and were ready to head out at about 9:30. We laughed at the difference in our family and that of my family growing up. My dad would have had us loaded in that car before there was light outside. He would have driven--with only the occasional stop on the side of the road with a towel to cover us while we went to the bathroom--until we got there.  I can look back now and laugh because he would always tell myy sister and me to let him know when the next gas station was coming up. About 20 gas stations later, he would reluctantly pull in, allowing us the privacy of the gas station toilet, which I thought was a real luxury at that time!  Kirk and I are a little different from my parents in that we are not early morning risers--we enjoy sleeping in, and I plan fun little stops for us to do about every two or three hours, just so that we can get out of the car and stretch for a while. I could tell my parents thought we were crazy for getting such a late start, in fact my dad said something about the difference and it made me laugh..I miss those family trips as a child. I miss being a kid and having my dad pick me up when I am half asleep and put me gingerly in the car--making sure not to wake me. Being excited about where we were going and not being able to wait until we could get there. I envy the kids that. Cause as a parent, vacations are exhausting!!

Like I said before, I am an avid planner when it comes to vacations.  But this year, I never felt motivated.  I don't know why.  I just wanted to go--no plans, just see where we end up and decide what to do when we get there. In fact, I think I threw poor Kirk for a loop.  He kept asking me "where to?" and I never had an answer for him. But the kids took it in stride.  The older they get, the easier it is. I, however,  must praise God for the person who invented the portable DVD player! We never heard a peep out of the kids! The car was so quiet, that it was almost eerie!

Our first stop was in Texarkana, Ark. We stopped for some lunch and decided to throw around the frisbee. 

And yes, I was there...just no one else knows how to take pictures!

I also took a few pics of Rachael and Cork... because they will let me.....

and then...I suggested that they get together so I could take a family picture.....

and this is what I got... The laughing and joking.  The pure joy and goofiness. I love this picture because to me, this is what is is all about.  Spending time together, renewing our exhausted bodies and overworked minds, remembering what it means to BE a family. Yes, THIS is what it is all about....well, this.....

and THIS! Could God have blessed me any more????

Til next time.....