Adrienne decides to ride her new bike

Eli got a new bike so Adrienne got a new bike passed down to her. She decided to try it with out any training wheels & this is the result...

As you can see, Tony is the official bike runner alongsider. It's nice to know you've got a strong Daddy by your side in case you start to fall (even if you don't need him).

Fieldtrip to Traveller's Rest

I was able to go on a field trip with Eli to Traveller's Rest Plantation, built in 1799. While there we did all sorts of crafts & saw demonstrations of different types of jobs from the 1800's.


This gentleman made guns & was showing the boys how to carve the wood. he explained the saying "lock, stock & barrel" to us & the history of apprenticeship in gunsmith-ing.



Eli enjoyed writing with the quill pen but thought it was a bit tedious & messy.

The candle making was another popular craft. (So popular, that when we got home the kids wanted to make some more candles & I set up a candle making station in our kitchen. They gave handmade candles to their teachers at the end of the school year.)

I was really surprised when the boys wanted to go back to the clothes washing again & again. It was probably due to the fun of splashing water more than actually cleaning something.

All in all a fun day that really renewed my appreciation for modern conveniences!

Nana's visit

When Nana came for a visit we went to the Rainforest Cafe. Little did we know that it would become a true rainforest that weekend. Due to the flooding in Nashville, it is still closed & won't be re-opening till sometime in the fall.

Eli with the elephant.

Adrienne & Nana being fierce & scared.

Adrienne & I.

We took this photo in the Opryland Hotel right before the flooding that occured. The hotel plans to re-open on November 15th, 2010.

We're sure glad Nana came to visit. We're also glad that she flew out when she did. If we would have waited a few more hours the interstate would have been flooded & we could not have made it to the airport for several days. God is good & has a plan.

Easter 2010

Easter Morning!


I love the Californian Easter Bunny!


The kids with Yancy, our new favorite musical artist, who performed for the kids.

The kids & I - taken by Jen.

Hey look, it's Jen! (Visiting us from Ca.)

Easter Egg Hunting

A local church hosted this egg hunt & put out 15 thousand eggs (they said). Sadly it was raining when they were going to start so they had to postpone the hunt for 2 hours. By the time it started a lot of the kids didn't come back to join the hunt so...a lot of eggs + not a lot of kids = lots of eggs for each kid! Our kind of egg hunt.


Adrienne running out to gather her eggs.


Eli is in that group somewhere...


Adrienne with her haul.

Eli & his basket.

Six Flags Atlanta

We decided to take a day & drive down to Six Flags for some fun. We went on all the tame rides & a few of the scary ones too. Even little Miss got in on the rollercoaster action & rode a semi-scary ride. One was enough for her though.

Daffy Duck


Bugs Bunny


Wonder Woman.

Adrienne driving Daddy crazy!

Adrienne on the "pretty horse".

Eli the knight on his trusty steed.

Driving the big rig.

Adrienne driving the car.

Eli driving the car.

Family visit

Dusty, Carrie, Lilly & Isaac came out for

their first visit to Tennessee. All the cousins had so much fun playing & getting reacquainted with each other. (The grownups had fun too.) We visited Nashville, the Parthenon & the battlefield.

It's hard to get all four to sit still at the same time!

On the steps of the Parthenon.

Eli with Athena.

He's a Giant.

The kids hamming it up with the horses at the Opryland Hotel.

Enjoying the sunshine & the trampoline.

Tony & Dusty trying to fix the eave of the roof on the peak of our home. This was the first attempt to climb the roof.

Tony take 2. Climbing up the other side to fix the eave with his extension cord to climb/rappel with.

Isaac watching Uncle Tony work with tools. He's already got the plumber's crack down pat.

Wait one cotton pickin' minute!

The kids hanging out by the cannon.

Isaac in the slaughter pen.

A day at the zoo

He's a Wild One!


"We're lost Mrs. Ward! We're lost!"
My group of boys had quite a sense of humor. I told them that if I can't see them or they couldn't see me, then they were lost & I didn't want any lost boys.


The skull of an elephant.

This one's for you Grandma!

They got to feed the birds some nectar. Yum!

Eli & his buddies.

Watch Out! That hippo is trying to eat you!

Eli taming the giant anaconda.

Heading Home.

Happy Birthday

The kids helping Tony blow out his birthday candle.

We just couldn't fit all the candles on his cake. (ha ha) The kids thought the chocolate decorations on the cake were candles too so we were covered.