The shoes, the clothes, the toys! We had way to much of all of it! Living in an RV you have to constantly be pruning your collection of “things”. We spent almost the whole day donating, cleaning, repairing, and trashing a lot of “STUFF” in the kids’ room! Now it is much easier to find the toys, clothes, and shoes they are looking for! It feels and looks much better and is easier for the kids to clean themselves! It’s a win/win!

(you can click to enlarge)

We had also collected a HUGE collection of books from various trips to thrift stores and garage sales. While I was happy the boys had books available to read they just weren’t justifiable in the RV any longer. During transit they would get ripped, crumpled, lost, and scattered. We kept about 5 out of 100 or so books and donated the rest. Our new solution is we will be getting the boys each a Kindle as well as using the public library more often!

<3 Jennifer

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On August 11, 2012 we visited Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Museum of Art for our home school field trip day. It was a nice, sunny day and the high temp was below 89 degrees. Just beautiful and breezy! We originally decided to check this place out because I found a website online that said it was free. However, when we got there it was not free. After touring Cheekwood we were thankful that we paid!! We absolutely loved it!

Cheekwood is a botanical garden. Not just ANY botanical garden, but 55 acres of several beautiful, themed botanical gardens that opened to the public in 1960! Visitors will be delighted to see a Japanese garden, a color garden, an herb garden, two perennial gardens, water garden, seasons garden and an award-winning wildflower garden.

As you meander through the different gardens it is like entering a different part of the world. Our favorite was the bamboo forest with beautiful Japanese stones statues and towering bamboo. The zen garden which is made up of raked pebbles and strategically placed granite boulders and plant life was pretty calming too!

Botanic Hall, the center of the horticultural activities, had a bonsai exhibit while we were there. I am told these change often!

This particular time we visited we were able enjoy the exhibit titled: “Treehouses: Great works of literature!”

This exhibit was bar far one of the coolest exhibits we have visited with children. As you walk through the botanical gardens along the paths there are artisan built tree houses that correspond with great children’s literature throughout history.

Treehouse representations include tree houses fashioned from the books “The Giver,” “Rainbow Fish,” “Peter Pan,” “The Hobbit,” “Lord of the Flies,” and “Haroun and the Sea of Stories”.  While each whimsical treehouse was so much fun and a delight for both children and adults I have to say my all time favorite tree house was the “Rainbow Fish” which used recycled cd’s and dvd’s as the scales and the sunshine sparkled off of it!  

The kids even found an inch worm that they played with for a while before releasing it onto a tree.

If you are in the area of Nashville, TN this is a must visit! The kids will be talking about it for a long time!  

ADMISSION PRICES:

$12 – Adults
$10 –  Seniors (65 +)
$5 – College Students w/ ID
$5 – Youth (3 – 17)
Free – 2 and Under

50% MILITARY DISCOUNT for military personnel.
Must show current military ID.

Parking is 3.00

VISITING HOURS:

Tuesday – Saturday 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
Sunday 11:00 am – 4:30 pm

CLOSED MONDAY, except for Memorial Day and Labor Day
CLOSED Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day

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Ticks, Trees and Tennessee!

We are here in Tennessee and I would like to say we are loving it, but love is not the word I would use to describe our time here in Tennessee!

We drove out here with the expectations of really liking it.  We set up at Arnold AFB and got settled in. The longer we are here the longer the tall, tall trees start to close in on us! We were told how beautiful Tennessee is and how we were going to like it. Even though what you can see of it is pretty, we long for wide open spaces and distant scenery.

The number one thing that I dislike about Tennessee is the ticks! I didn’t grow up around ticks, so I am not used to finding them in the most disgusting places on our bodies! Patrick received this “tool” in the picture above on the first day of work. This is the first time ever the first day of work involved a “tick briefing”! YUCK!

The bonus is we are RIGHT ON the lake… so there is an abundance of swimming, fishing and people with boats! And as usual we have had the pleasure of meeting some really nice people. So far our travels have taken us from coast to coast and some of the nicest people we have ever met are fellow RV’ers.

The boys and I were invited by neighbors to go out on their pontoon boat! The boys were so excited! They even got to drive the boat all alone while Brian (the captain) sat in the front and told them which way to go.

So far we have visited the Hands On Science Center in Tullahoma, TN. This place is a children’s science museum on a very low budget, but it is JAMMED PACKED with neat science stations!

Since we are right on the lake we decided to buy some fishing poles and try our hand at fishing! The boys were so excited to catch their first fish ever!

One thing we love to do as a family is to cook meals over the open fire of a fire pit! We don’t get to do this often because a lot of campgrounds don’t allow the fire pit or the state is under drought conditions and won’t allow open fire. Luckily that isn’t the case here in Tennessee so we took the opportunity to make some yummy meals!

We rigged up a way to do a rotisserie chicken on the fire pit. It was a little labor intensive for Patrick to turn it, but it was well worth it. It turned out DELICIOUS!

For this recipe and other nomadic yumminess join us at Poor Paleo!

At the end of the day, after the kids go to bed we enjoy sitting outside under the redneck christmas lights with music and a drink… just relaxing.

The sunsets here are beautiful and make me thankful to have had the opportunity to visit middle Tennessee!

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So far we really like Hill Air Force Base, Utah. 

We stay at Fam Camps since we are military affiliated. This family camp is acceptable. The camp host is a little lazy and things do not get done in a timely manner, but the sites are level and it is in a great location. We are across the street from the gym, next to the track and field as well as next to the playground and splash park… which would be convenient if it weren’t in the 30’s outside! We have met some great people here so far and are looking forward to meeting more! 

The boys are loving the snow… and so is the dog. They got to ride sleds and make snow angels for the first time in their short little lives. The smiles on their face say it all! 

We still have a month left in Utah. If you have been here (or are here) we would love some suggestions on places we should visit before we head to our next adventure! 

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