Nashville

Last week I was lucky enough to tag along to a conference with Cal.  It's not that I was excited about the conference (it was for hospital supply chain...) but that it was in Nashville.  I love country music, so this was a perfect place to go.  Cal went on Sunday, and I met him there Monday, and left the boys with my parents who so kindly watched them for us.  Again. 

My first night there we got to go to a concert at the Grand Ole Opry (with the conference goers).  I was so excited!  They had 5+ different groups perform.  We heard Little Jimmy Dickens, Emily West, Restless Hear, Kellie Pickler and Blake Shelton.  They were all good, but Blake Shelton was incredible.  It was open seating and we were only maybe 7 rows from the front, and to the side a little.



Blake Shelton




Kellie Pickler

The concert was so much fun.  I was in heaven.

We stayed at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel, where the conference was.  This place was amazing.  It is HUGE.  Like a small city.  Seriously. 



A stained glass ceiling in a foyer.

There were multiple atriums that were huge and covered with glass ceilings.  In these, there were rivers and boats and ponds and fish and waterfalls and trees and buildings with shops and restaurants.  There were 13 restaurants in the hotel, if that gives you an idea of the place.  It was neat.  I was certainly not bored while Cal was enjoying his long conference days.  I got to sleep in, workout, read by the pool, and get a pedicure...  It was tough. 

One of the atriums.



Our last morning there, Cal had some time to venture out into Nashville with me before we had to head home.  We got to wander through the Country Music Hall of Fame, walk the historic downtown area, and eat at the Wildhorse Saloon.  It was a fun city and it would have been nice to have more time there.  It's always a little hard for me to leave the boys, but it is always so nice to have a little break and "recharge the batteries."  So glad I tagged along!

Still Alive

Pretty things.

More here.

I'm getting the photography itch.  Maybe I'll actually get some more pictures posted over there. 

One of these days...

Laughs

So this morning while Zach was at a friend's house Austin and I had a little one on one time.  So what do I do?  Plop him in my chair and snap a few pictures before his nap.  Luckily, he thinks I'm pretty funny.  :)

Garbage.

Phone Photos

Now that I have a nicer phone, I can catch some little moments that I never did before.  Here are a few fun random ones from this summer.



Flying kites with Grandad Cal and Pete and Austin over Memorial Day.



Smiley boy.




Austin getting his allergy tests.  (They came back negative, and eventually the mystery rashes have just disappeared).  He did well, but was super wiggly and it was really hard for me not to smear the test dots on his back.  We were just happy that he was not allergic to anything!



One of many trips to the Denver Zoo. 



Austin really likes the giraffes.

Zach, ready for work.  Some days he gets really upset when Calvin leaves without him when he is determined he is going to work too.  I'm not sure where exactly he expects Cal to take him?  Soon enough buddy!

Snuggles and books with Daddy.

Austin loves this car.  It is our neighbor's and he is convinced it is his.  We play together a ton and he always makes a bee line for it in their garage.  No matter how long he has been in it, he still cries when it is time to go and I take him out.

Cutie trying out a bike helmet. 

Silly face at the pool.

Austin is our water boy.  Not only does he love being in water and get sad when he can't get in any body of water, he keeps us all hydrated too.  I got the boys some matching (different colored) water bottles and they love them.  Austin insists that we all drink from our water bottles at the same time.  He carries his with him everywhere.  If he wants a drink, he gets Zach's water bottle and yells, "Dack!!"  (Zach) and takes it to him, then drinks.  He also wants me to drink with them.  "Mom! Ah-der!"  (water)  It is just so funny how intent he is about the whole thing.