Trip to the Lake with Cousins

We survived the road trip!!!
We got home last night from our week long vacation in Tennessee. We went to a lake house outside of Nashville (near Winchester) last week with Jeffrey's family. The kids had a blast. They LOVE their cousins and can't get enough of them.

So, here is a break down of our week (since you've missed our blog this week):
Saturday-
We left Highland Village at 4am on Saturday morning and drove to Nashville. I was feeling kind of crazy and ordered our hotel through Hotwire (the website where you pick out a hotel not knowing which one, but the price...I'm a gambler!). It ended up being a Holiday Inn in Brentwood. Not too bad...it had a pool and the kids had fun. We ate Panera Bread in our room for dinner and ordered "The Wild" on pay per view. I think we all crashed at 8:30pm.
Sunday-
We met our friend Christy and her kids at Cracker barrel in Franklin. After breakfast, we went on a tour with Christy being our guide. We all piled in the mini-van w/trusty Judy (the GPS system...that is the name Christy calls her...they are tight!) and drove around trying to find famous people. We did see the Starbucks that Keith & Nicole are always at and the Sonic that Tim & Faith are always at. I soon discovered if you live in Franklin, you can call famous people by their first name. So, off to Alan's house (Jackson for those of us who don't know him on a first name's basis). Wow! We also saw where Michael (w. Smith) lives and where Amy & Gary used to live. The coolest part of the tour, however was seeing the slave walls which Christy pointed out were made by slaves and it is against the law to remove them. We were driving around where the Civil War took place. Pretty freaky!
After the tour, we went on the tour of Christy's house in Franklin. So cool! The kids played and Will played the drums for the first time. I think they are all going to be in a band together when they are older!!!
Then, it was off to the lake. We had to wait a while to get there because the people who stayed there before us hadn't left yet. Once they left, we went in. The place was great! Potterybarn furniture (my dream) and complete with pool and boat. What else could you ask for? The rest of the families showed up shortly after we got there and the kids swam. Then, they took the boat out for a run. That night, we cooked hamburgers on the grill and ate smores.
Monday-
We got out on the boat and the boys got on the tube. I was so proud of them. Jeffrey had to leave so he didn't get to see them. He flew back to Dallas that day.
Tuesday-
Boat & Pool (plus, lots of Nintendo playing by boys)
Wednesday-
Boat & Pool (plus, lots more of Nintendo playing by boys)
Thursday-
Boat & Pool plus, I caught 3 fish while sitting on the dock with Michele (one of which was a catfish). Jeffrey got back to the Lake House and we were so happy to see him.
Friday-
Went to McDonald's for breakfast with the boys (the boys cried b/c they didn't want to leave their cousins). Then, went back into town a few hours later to get Jeffrey a Diet Coke. Jeffrey and I went out on the boat (b/c the boys wanted to stay inside and play). I knee boarded and almost did a 180. I also crossed the wake. I was so proud of myself! That was the first time in my life I could do anything on the back of a boat (and I've tried since I was 7!!). Knee boarding may be my thing! (Just kidding!) Jeffrey & I rode the inner tube together and he about killed me. We had a bad crash but I am still alive. I will re-think if I get on again with him!!! The boys all caught fish that afternoon. That was Jake's first fish to catch...then he caught 2 more! No pictures of it...sorry!
That night, we went into town with everyone. It was so stressful...much easier to cook at the house for 16 people than go out with 16 people!!!
Saturday-
Toby woke us all up at 2:30am to tell us the power was out...not sure why he needed to inform us! So, we were all awake until it came back on (3:30am). We all left when it came back on. We were exhausted on the ride home! Jeffrey & I took turns sleeping/driving. We're glad to be home.

That is the end of my blog today...as I watch the vulture outside my window. Do you think he missed me?