Parental Time-Out

We feel like Peter Cottontail hopping from one thing to the next.  Our current goal with respect to people and projects seems to be to give everything just enough time to keep things from falling apart.  We answer phone calls when talking to others (with a quick apology, of course), make lists so we don't forget anything (and still we forget), and race through meals so that everything is done on time.  We smile and nod (when we don't have a clue), we pretend we aren't sick (when we should be home in bed), we socialize with friends (while we haven't had a real conversation all day with our loved ones)...all these things to not miss a beat.  It was finally time to stop for a night and give a moment to our relationship.  No friends, no work, just out for a date.

We ate at Chez Liberty, a unique restaurant in Knoxville that specializes in cheeses and makes our new favorite cocktail - the  French 75

Mike, Lisa and long overdue conversation

The time that we have to raise our children and prepare for retirement is quickly fleeting.  And we are racing hard and fast to make the most of it.  But in a few years when those goals are accomplished, we want to have each other to share in the reward.

MAKING OVER VICTORIA

A while back we mentioned that we are giving Victoria's room a make-over.  Well, it turns out that we are giving her life a make-over.  We did add some color to her room, but that is not the only change for our first middle child.  Last week we moved Victoria to a private school.  Our lives are forever changed.  For starters, Lisa is now spending nearly 2 hours a day in the car getting Victoria to and from the school. We would really like to get in on a car pool.  It kills Lisa to think of the air pollution that she is contributing to the environment.

GETTING DRESSED IN THE MORNING IS EASIER FOR VICTORIA...NOW SHE SIMPLY HAS TO CHOOSE BETWEEN KHAKI OR NAVY 

ONCE VICTORIA DECIDES ON HER COLOR, SHE IS READY TO GO

 SHE LOVES THE FACT THAT AN IPAD 2 IS REQUIRED FOR ALL OF THE CLASSES.  WE ARE WONDERING HOW OFTEN THE KIDS ARE USING APPS IN CLASS OTHER THAN THE ONES REQUIRED FOR SCHOOL ????

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VICTORIA'S FIRST WEEK ENDED WITH A 6TH GRADE CLASS BIKE RIDE THROUGH CADES COVE IN THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS.  THE 10 MILE RIDE WAS SCHEDULED FOR VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING AND SINCE MIKE WAS ON CALL AT THE HOSPITAL, IT WAS LISA'S TURN TO TUMBLE OUT OF BED FOR THE EVENT.

VICTORIA WAS READY TO GO

LISA WAS A LITTLE UNSURE

WE DID SPOT SOME FRIENDLY WILDLIFE 

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ABOUT THE TIME VICTORIA CHANGED SCHOOLS, HER BEDROOM STARTED TO SEE SOME CHANGES

THE "BEFORE" PICTURE THAT WE HAD POSTED SEVERAL WEEKS AGO

AND THE AFTER...

VICTORIA GOT HER HOT PINK FLUFFY RUG

Lisa hates the feel of synthetic fabrics, so we searched and found a Flokati rug made of 100% New Zealand wool.  It is so soft on the feet that we bought a couple for the bedroom in the Guest Cabin (Not in Hot Pink).  The rug can be found in this and other colors at www.Homedecorators.com

 

THE LIME GREEN DAYBED

 We are very pleased with the quality of the iron daybed from The American Iron Bed Company.  The beds are handmade to order in Los Angeles, CA. (www.antiqueironbeds.com)

DOTS ON THE BED

We found the reversible dot/striped cotton bedding in a country store nestled in the Smoky Mountains. The bedding can also be found online at www.pcfallon.com.  

 A PIN-UP BOARD WE MADE FOR THE WALL:

 - FOR ALL OF VICTORIA'S MEMENTOS THAT SHE HAD TAPED TO THE WALL IN THE HALLWAY LEADING INTO HER BEDROOM.
The space is quite large so in order to find a board big enough we had to search the isles of the hardware store.  We found that insulation board was large enough for the project and would hold tacks.  We then covered it with padding and fabric and added a strip of wood to stabilize it.  The fabric is from www.marthapullen.com

Nashville- the "Music City"

Last week, Mike, Lisa and Egan took a trip to Nashville, Tennessee.  It was two days and two nights of work for Mike (learning to code for neurosurgical procedures, etc.), but for Lisa and Egan - they had some time to explore.

Before we give you our photo tour we just want to say, Nashville is a unique piece of American culture.  One has to experience it to understand (and will most likely be charmed by it).  If you have been to "Music City" you know what we mean.  If you have never had the pleasure, once you take a look at some of our pictures below you may start to understand...

NASHVILLE PEDAL TAVERN

Where else can you drink and drive and it's legal?  These ladies are not hydrating with water as they pedal the cart around town!

ELVIS LIVES!!!!!!

DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE

Broadway Street, the place for all things country.

COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME

A COUPLE OF NASHVILLE TRADITIONS

RYMAN AUDITORIUM, THE "MOTHER CHURCH OF COUNTRY MUSIC"  www.ryman.com/history

OUT ON THE TOWN

MIKE AND BARBARA (SUPERSTAR OFFICE MANAGER) AT A BRAZILIAN STEAKHOUSE

                                             

                                                     FUTURE COUNTRY MUSIC STAR?

PROOF THAT THERE ARE, INDEED, BOOKS IN TENNESSEE

LISA CAN FIND A LATTE ANYWHERE

NASHVILLE NIGHT LIFE

NASHVILLE'S NIGHTLIFE'S EFFECT ON EGAN

                                            LISA RECONNECTS WITH AN OLD FRIEND

GIFTS FOR THE GIRLS

IMOGENE +WILLIE SOUVENIR T-SHIRTS-THE MOST AWESOME JEAN + SHOP.  www.imogeneandwillie.com

The Great Labor Day Backpacking Trip!!!! Pictures and video

Michael and Victoria took a three-day, two night backpacking trip into the Smoky Mountains over Labor Day weekend.

 The trip started on Saturdy, Sept 3rd.

 The roughly 15-mile round trip would take them through the Great Smoky Mountains along the Anthony Creek Trail to the Bote Mountain Trail to the Appalachian Trail, and back down the Russell Field Trail.

In addition to bonding time with Victoria, Michael also got to play with some new iPhone camera lenses (see below)

Victoria and a waterfall near our campsite Saturday night, which served as the water source (Michael got to use his new portable water filter--no Giardia for us!!!!)

Victoria at the start of the Appalachian Trail

Some interesting fungus!

Victoria in our Sunday night hiker's shelter

The "drowned rats" return on Monday!