Good News!!

Friday was a big day. The Murray State Board of Regents met and Tim was awarded tenure and promotion to Full Professor. Those were things he chose to give up when we left UTM to come to Murray State so this was a big deal for him and a blessing for our family. We celebrated yesterday with his brother and sister-in-law in town from Illinois, his mom, and my parents. We also had our 11th anniversary- my parents kept the kids and we had a date! Who could ask for more in a weekend??? Okay, so I am hoping for a nap this afternoon (some people are never satisfied).

Nashville

We are in Nashville. Tim is working and the kids and I are playing. We arrived late yesterday and we went to the Zoo for a quick visit late in the day (the last hour or so they were open). On the way to our hotel afterward Tim wanted to sample some of the authentic Mexican fare we saw in the area. We pulled into a restaurant in a converted gas station and asked if they had room for a family of six. The waitress was friendly and helpful so we decided to give it a try. Yes, the menu was in Spanish. Yes, there was beef tongue available. No, I did not try it. It was AUTHENTIC. The kids first request today regarding food: please don't take us back to the Mexican place. However, Tim had some of the best food he had ever eaten. I have to say my chicken burrito was pretty good, too. It was just a little too much culture for our crew. This was not Los Portales, no chips and salsa. Today the kids and I spent time at our hotel enjoying the nice breakfast and pool. We then headed over to the Adventure Science Center. Lots of fun, a little crazy with four kids. We had dinner and then went back to the hotel for Tim to have his turn at swim time with the kids and to take advantage of the free sodas and popcorn. Awesome breakfast in the morning, nice rooms, free internet, and snacks in the evening- I have to say the Drury gets high marks from us this trip. My kids have downed more soda in the last two nights than I care to mention. I am just happy I was able to drive around Nashville today in traffic without injury! So far so good!

Princess Party/Party Day with Dad

Today was all about fun with the kids. Tim spent the day with the boys playing disc golf, battleship, eating out for lunch, getting the car washed, and having ice cream. For the girls the day began with the "Princess Tea Party" at church. Laurel enjoyed taking Nicole with her and Katey loved the whole "girly" thing. After the party we came home and they played while I cleaned house. I think I should have gotten ice cream on the way home, but I didn't know until later how "treat filled" the boys' day would be! They all had a good time and we enjoyed "waffle night" before taking Nicole home. What kid could ask for more in a Saturday? Here are pictures of the girls at the tea party:

Camping at Hillman

We decided the mixed weather forecast was worth the risk and we left to go camping on Friday morning. We spent the weekend at Hillman Ferry in LBL. The kids had a great time wading in the stream, swimming (for all of 5 min) in the cool, high, water of Kentucky Lake, and riding their bikes. A few sprinkles and one chilly night were the only weather issues we faced so we were glad we went. Yes, Jet-Puffed Marshmallows do roast better than a certain big box retailer's store brand- warm, toasted, yet not runny in the middle. Gourmet perfection on a stick vs a runny warm mess. If we were in school this month I'd count that as a Science experiment! The wildlife report: deer, raccoon, skunk, turtle, frog, and squirrel. Various insects in abundance-glad we decided to invest in a screen tent...well sort of. We now are up to a large cabin tent, a screen tent, 6 chairs, a camp stove, 4 flashlights, 2 lanterns, 4 bikes and helmets, cookware, and the list goes on. Somehow every year we are grow more gear intensive and are less and less the backpacking, true basic campers we once were. However, as of today, we remain committed to the "primitive" site.... and two packed mini-vans to get there.

I feel them everywhere

A kid throws up- I feel nauseous, Poison ivy on one of them- I itch, and the list goes on. I always feel their symptoms as I care for them. Tonight it was a tick. Matthew found it on himself as he was getting ready for bed. Being the typical boy he is he removed it himself and put it in the toilet. Luckily he came and told me before he flushed. Then I was blessed with retrieving it and saving it. His bite looks red and the tick looked different than the usual dog ticks we see in the yard so I thought I better hang on to it just in case. At any rate I now feel them crawling all over me. Its totally in my head, but I can't help it!! I guess its time for the daily tick checks.

Isn't it April Showers?

It has been a wet May so far here. We are trying to work in another camping trip in our May break from school. The problem: I have become a fair weather camper. Scattered thunderstorms in the forecast for most of the next two weeks means a no go for me. Really, we should probably go anyway. The rain has been a on and off again thing each day. Unfortunately being huddled in the tent with four soggy (and likely stinky) kids makes the "on again" part seem like not so much fun! Next week is our last opportunity for the month. We'll see if I can get over myself, become a real camper, load up the crew, and head to LBL. How scattered is scattered? Anyone know exactly what they mean by that?

Family Time

Tim's nephew is in from out of town so we took the opportunity to have a "get-together" for dinner tonight. It was a fun time with family. The kids enjoyed providing the entertainment for the evening. Here are some photos:

Yard Sale drop outs/Astronomy Day

Today we went to the city wide yard sale and bought nothing. I think having a house almost double the size of the one we lived in two years ago and yet already having it packed full of junk simply takes the joy out of yard sales. I was on a mission for Legos and a booster seat and found neither of those and simply didn't want anything else. It seems we all just have too much stuff. We gave up and went to Culver's and then headed out to LBL for the free planetarium shows for Astronomy Day. Here are the kids dressed in the Nasa outfit they had on hand.