It was another fun, busy, summer week here; sorry there are no pictures. The boys both spent the week at Dreamsports in all-sports camp. They went for half-days, 9-12:30. We (Gary and I) dropped them and Kyle off each morning, and Kyle's babysitter picked them up each day, which was a great help in letting us have some time to do our jobs! Monday all three boys were at our house for the afternoon, then Tuesday at Kyle's, then Weds only our boys here, then Thursday all three boys here.
Then Friday, Alek went to Kyle's and Ben and I went to see Harry Potter. It's a 2.5 hour movie, but it's fantastic. We just love these books and movies. But, the rule in our house is that you have to read the book first, before seeing the movie, which is why Alek didn't go.
Then last night we all went bowling with the Cub Scout pack (Ben, Alek, Kyle) and Kyle spent the night. Bowling will all the boys was a blast! And I do have some picture on my other computer of that, so I'll try to post them later.
While all this was going on, I was trying to sell my last 3 summerfest flexi-tickets to tonight's Symphony of the Russian Masters. I sold them ALL and my friend Paul's extra ticket too. First time I've sold anything on Craig's list and it was a very positive experience for me.
Next, I'm making some brownies because our Cub Scout Den is coming to our pool at 1:00 for a summer fun event, and then we're off to our friend's house in Raleigh tonight for another (adult) party. Not sure what I'm making for that one yet ... but maybe homemade salsa. I've got the most beautiful jalepeno peppers from The Produce Box this week. I made roasted eggplant soup yesterday, and I'm off to eat it for lunch today ...
Sunday, we're attending a Jam Session up at Sam Ash in Raleigh (the music store). By next month, Alek and Ben should be playing in it! Lessons and practice is going quite well!
Alek, Ben, Gary at the top of the mountain at Ghost Town in the Sky.
Alek, Marna, Ben at Ghost Town in the Sky.
Ben and Mommy riding the chair lift up to Ghost Town in the Sky.
The view of the main floor of our cabin, from the top of the staircase on the second floor. What a lovely, relaxing cabin in the woods.
If you look out the center window, you can see the campfire area. We enjoyed fires at night and making s'mores.
Gary carrying the watermelon from the Nashville Farmer's Market into the hotel.
Mom and Dad in front of the Parthenon in Nashville.
Dad and the huge marble globe. It floats on an 1/8 inch of water, and you can move it in any direction symbolizing that any one person can change the world.
Marna and Gary in the Opryland Hotel garden.
Ben, Gary, Alek, Mom and Dad under the waterfall at the Opryland Hotel.
Papa and Ben at the Santa Fe Cattle Company. (note the bucket of peanuts in front of them!)
Gary, Ben, Marna and Alek in front of the Duck Boat.
Papa, Ben and Alek in front of historic market street. On this side of the buildings, the ships coming down river would unload and the merchants would sell their produce out the other side of the building on the street.
Marna, Ben, Papa, Mema at the Hard Rock Cafe in downtown Nashville.
The big guitar!
Ben and Alek in a self-pushing swing in Centennial Park:
Mom and Dad riding on the Duck Boat Tour. A Duck Boat is an old military vehicle that can drive on the road and float like a boat. We toured Nashville and then went for a ride in the Cumberland River:
Ben and Alek in front of the Parthenon in Centennial Park:
Alek and snowcone:
Ben and snowcone:
Dad, Mom, Alek, Gary, Ben at Santa Fe Cattle Company for dinner - all the free peanuts you can hold!
Alek, Ben, Gary dipping peanuts out of the big barrel:
Ben driving the Duck Boat:
Alek driving the Duck Boat:
Gary and Alek riding in the Duck Boat:
Ben riding in the Duck Boat:
We stayed in downtown Nashville at the Homewood Suites. The building is on the National Registry of Historic Places, built in 1906. It was lovely, and right downtown. We walked to all the downtown attractions:
Alek and Ben all snuggly in bed at the hotel:
The big gift this year was rollerblades, above is Ben with his. He used them Friday night at DreamSports, and then again today (Sunday) when I took them both to JellyBeans Skate Center for the afternoon.
Alek and his blades! Behind him from the left are Nick, Evan, Ben and LB.
LB and Alek looking at Madden Football '09 for PS3.
Evan, Kyle, Ben and Nick opening Pokeman Platnum for Nintendo DS.
Ben and Pokemon cards from Kyle.
Alek opening a catch game from Kyle.
Nick and LB locked themselved in Chase's crate ... Chloe got confused by it ....
Pizza and watermelon for dinner! Nick, Alek, Kyle, Ben, LB.
Mommy made the cakes ... they were amazing. Chocolate cake with whipped cream layers covered by cooked chocolate icing! Then decorated with canned, pre-made blue icing from Betty Crocker! But, it was easy and looked fun.
For Christmas, we're having PEACH PIE this year!!
