On the road again...

Well, we made another trip up to Santa Claus, IN this weekend. The boys were really excited about getting to go to the water park again. I was excited about getting another opportunity to ride some roller coasters! Clarence and I have now ridden all of the roller coasters at Holiday World - the Raven, the Legend and the Voyage! I have to say, the Voyage is still my favorite! Nana and I rode Pilgrim's plunge again, and I actually kept my eyes open all the way to the top this time (a feat not previously accomplished!). Nana accomplished her goal of keeping her arms raised all the way to the bottom. We both overcame our Pilgrim's Plunge fears! The sissy men wouldn't even get on it with us! :) It's a good thing we rode it when we did though, because a little while later there was a boat stuck at the top of Pilgrim's Plunge. I'm not sure how long it took to get those people down... YIKES! We had a great time seeing more of Clarence's family. There were several cousins to hang out and ride rides with; it was great! The children were the only ones who did not seem to be phased by the cool weather. My boys still had a great time on the water slides despite the fact it was only about 70 degrees! Brrr. I wanted to get in the lazy river, but I couldn't find any takers to go with me... We spent the whole day there, arriving at 8:45 am and leaving at 9:00 pm. It was one long day, but definitely worth it! Here are some pictures from our day.

For some reason, my boys won't pose with Santa. So here's Devin, Jaylen, Noah and Donevyn

Devin and Alex

Noah and Donevyn

Jaylen and Nana

Isaac

Alex

Devin conked out after lunch

Jaylen and Isaac getting ready to ride a big water slide

Poor Bryce didn't feel well

Pops being silly

Precious Lilly celebrated her first birthday at Holiday World

Isaac, Melissa, Noah and Cassie

Nana and Bryce - ice cream makes everything better

Vacation

Well, since Clarence lost his job and is going back to school, we did not get to go to the beach yet another summer... boo! BUT, we did get to go to Holiday World and Splashin' Safari for a few days. Despite the stinky weather, we had a great time! Nana and Pops just happened to be going the same time we were, so we had even more fun hanging out with them. Isaac really enjoyed playing with his cousins Jaylen and Donevyn. We drove up there on the Thursday before the 4th of July and came back on Sunday the 5th. Our trip up there was uneventful, and the day started out dreary. :( By afternoon though, the sun was shining and we were all having a great time. When it came time to leave the park, it was time to find our hotel in Jasper, IN. So, we put the hotel's address in the GPS. Little did we know, we need an updated map! We ended up driving down a dirt road (yes, they still exist) through the middle of a corn field. At least there was still some daylight. It would have been a lot creepier in the dark! We finally made it to our hotel an hour after we left the park only to discover when we arrived in Jasper that the time changes there. They are one hour ahead; talk about a weird feeling! We all slept good that night and rested up for a great Friday at Holiday World. Thankfully, the sun was bright and it was warm on Friday. It was the best day at the park by far. Our last night in IN went stayed with Nana and Pops, Jay, and Donevyn in the RV they rented. We grilled hamburgers and roasted marshmallows that night on the 4th of July. We all had a great time! Despite the rain all day Saturday, it turned out to be a good one. It was still raining Sunday morning, so instead of going to the park like we wanted to, we decided to pack it up and head back home. Here are some pictures from our adventure.

On the road... too early for Alex

Isaac eating his goldfish and waiting to get there...

The cool bridge on the way to Santa Claus, IN

Riding the tram from our truck to the gates

oh, brothers!

waiting in line to drive the little classic cars

standing in the trees waiting to drive the little classic cars

Alex riding the Freedom Train with Daddy

Alex playing in the water at Holidog's Playground

Donevyn on the bumper boats

Isaac on the bumper boats

Jaylen on the bumper boats

(Alex was big enough to ride the bumper boats, but he wouldn't even try it!)

Isaac and Alex on the Carousel

Isaac was excited to ride on the airplanes. His sense of adventure was so exciting! He would ride anything he was big enough to!

Pooped out!!

Alex hitching a ride with Nana. Nana broke her foot not too long ago, so walking a lot was out of the question. Alex appreciated the break too!

The boys loved having this wagon for when they got tired. Pops and Clarence took turns pushing it. It was one heavy load with bags and three growing boys!

Alex and Pops - Alex always found a way to keep from walking

Nana and Alex in line to ride the Freedom Train - again! It was Alex's favorite ride

Rain, rain, go away!

Alex at Kima Bay - his favorite water slides! Or as he called it, the slides with the Monkey with the Blue Glasses. Yes, it was raining in this picture, but that didn't matter to him. He just wanted to slide.

Isaac and Donevyn outside playing while Clarence grilled hamburgers and hotdogs.

The whole crew roasted marshmallows

Alex really enjoyed them

I don't think Nana wanted me to take her picture while she was enjoying the marshmallows... :)

Donevyn enjoyed them too

One of my silly boys!

Happy Father's Day

We spent Father's day as we usually do, with family. Here are some pictures from our day.

C and Isaac riding the motorcycle from our house to the campgrounds where we had a picnic.

Isaac blowing bubbles

Alex eating a chocolate chip cookie - one of his favorite things to do!

My husband and our boys. Clarence really is the best husband and father I could ever imagine. He does so much for us, and we are so thankful for him! We love you!

My father and me. With everything my father has been through in the last 6 years, I am even more thankful for him.

7 things about me

Katie tagged me to write seven things about me. So here it goes...

1. I am definitely a type A personality that likes to have a to-do list and plan everything to the smallest detail. It drives my husband crazy.

2. I have lived in Nashville or within 30 miles of it for my entire life.

3. I am an only child and wished often when I was younger that I wasn't. Now that I have two children, I know why I am an only child. Just kidding! My boys are great, and I wouldn't trade either of them for anything in the world.

4. I met my husband right before I turned 18 (almost 12 years ago), and he and I have been married 7 years.

5. I really miss my Grandmother still. Every now and then I'll have a flash of memory of something she and I did when I was younger, and it makes me happy and sad in the same moment.

6. I love and appreciate my parents so much and I will never be able to thank them enough for all they've done for me.

7. I went to elementary school in public school and middle, high, and college at private schools.

My list is not incredibly enlightening, but it's a little about me!

Random things and pictures

Well, it is officially summertime! I took off work Isaac's last two days of school as he only had to go half a day (really 2 1/2 hours). While Alex and I waited for Isaac to be dismissed, we went to Centennial Park to play.

Last week while Clarence was downtown, he got in a wreck while the boys were in the truck with him. Everything ended up being ok, and now we are just waiting for the responsible party's insurance to make sure his truck gets repaired.

This weekend I noticed that I have quite a few lilies that are blooming, so I decided to take a few pictures.

I love catching a genuine smile on camera!

Mother's Day pictures, finally!

Here are some pictures that were taken at the Mother's Day Program and picnic that Isaac had at school the week before Mother's Day and a couple from Mother's day.

All the kindergarten classes

Isaac and I ate lunch together after the program.

Isaac playing on the playground after lunch

I love my silly boys!

A happy Mother's Day, indeed!

Who knew private, Christian schools could be so political?

So, I have another experience to add to my life lessons. Things with Lipscomb did not turn out as I had so wishfully hoped they would. I met with the Headmaster and the Coordinator of the elementary school regarding Isaac's admission for the fall. I was shocked by the content and proposal we received for contingent admission for next year. Apparently my son is abnormal and needs to see a child psychologist. WTF! Excuse my abbreviations. But seriously, who do these people think they are? It is my and my husband's right as a parent to decide what is best for our children, not a member of the administration at Lipscomb. I am so disappointed and angry! After a very brief, 30 seconds maybe, conversation with my husband about this proposal, we knew it was time to end our relationship with Lipscomb. As hasty as it may seem to some, it is what's best for our son. He will not be placed in someone else's box of what they think he should be and how he should act. I communicated with another mother of a child in Isaac's class who has gone through a similar issue with her child. It is appalling to think the administration at Lipscomb has the audacity to make such suggestions and proposals for their students without discussing it with the parents. I would hope my experience with Lipscomb is more the exception than the rule. However, I doubt it based on the impression I get from other people with whom I have discussed this. Apparently Lipscomb is the big family that they claim to be, but only if you go to the Church of Christ and "run in their circles". Sadly, it seems if you don't have enough money to donate to the school or the right affiliations, then you won't "fit in" for long. This is a very disappointing opinion to have of my Alma mater, but it is sadly true (for me and my family). I don't know if any other Lipscomb alumni will read this post, but if you do, please know this: Lipscomb provided a great education for Isaac in the time he was there, but I really feel like they tried to limit his individuality and tried to put him in the mold they thought he should fit in. When I went to high school at Lipscomb over ten years ago, I never felt like I completely fit in, and now I know why.