Second 1st Day of School

Our oldest got to have an extra day of summer vacation, but alas, he had to start school today.

First 1st Day of School

Some of the kiddos started school today...

My Runners

This afternoon we went for a run at the Cornwall Nature Preserve.  It's located on Paris Hill in South Paris.  They have well-maintained trails that require a runners full attention so that you don't trip over a root or a rock.  Tricky footing makes the miles fly by... 

BBQ Chicken Pizza

This is his very favorite pizza, so when he asked for it for supper tonight, I decided to teach him how to make it himself.  It was really tasty!

Camo Boy

Camo Boy (a Golden Polish cockerel) always seems to enjoy his time with the kiddos!

There's the Beacon...

The finish line for the race was at Portland Headlight, one of the most beautiful spots in Maine!

TD Beach to Beacon 10K

Today my son made me extremely proud - he competed (Along with about 7,000 other runners!) in the TD Beach to Beacon 10K road race.  He wasn't as prepared as he thought he was, so he ended up walking part of the course.  He's already planning on running the whole thing next year...

Play Hard; Crash Hard

Kids & puppies just keep going until they can't go anymore.  Then, they fall asleep under the coffee table...

We got a puppy!

Finally, we picked up our little Golden Retreiver puppy, Amber!  She is going to be a very well-loved puppy.  We have some seriously excited kiddos!!

Headed home...

It's gonna be a quiet ride back to Maine - they're exhausted!

"Let's hear it for the kids from Maine!"

Nashville is the only town that I know of where they play in the bars all day, as well as all night long.  At first the kiddos were shy and couldn't believe that we were going to let them go into this adult world, but then they were thrilled!  This performer, Duncan Houston, started teasing them about being in the bars instead of in school as soon as they walked through the door.  The girls played along and explained that they are on vacation.  He played their song requests, and finally he got them to get up on stage with him where he autographed their CDs!  They'll never forget him.

Embracing Nashville

All of the kiddos are thoroughly enjoying this trip, but perhaps none so much as our youngest son.  When I gave him the opportunity (even though climbing on the fence at Fort Negley Park is technically against the rules) to embrace the 'Bat Building', he jumped up there really quickly!

"The best part of waking up..."

This morning we woke up in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania!  And my husband sang me that old Folger's coffee jingle as he handed me my cup.  It's gonna be a great day!

Now they're singing, "On the Road Again..."

Who taught them that?!

Tonight's the night!

Guess how many days left until we leave on our road trip?  ZERO!!!!

And we're off!  Everyone's looking a little bit sleepy because it's just after midnight...