Baylie was selected to sing in the South Carolina All-State Choir at Winthrop University. Grammy and Grandad flew out after visiting Tiffani in Vegas, and we all stayed at a Verbo in Rock Hill.
As always, stand by travel was an adventure. There was only one available seat out of Chicago, so they got bumped from the Columbia flight. We lucked out in that a flight to Charlotte was delayed so they were able to try for it. (Otherwise it would have been a night in Chicago.) We were unlucky in that the flight was delayed for several hours, so they didn't get in until close to midnight. We drove home to Columbia, got a good night's sleep, and then headed back to Rock Hill the next morning (30 minutes south of Charlotte).
We dropped Baylie off to her practice and we had a few minutes to kill before we could check in to our Verbo. A couple blocks away from our rental was the place where we had taken Baylie's baptism pictures eight years before, so we decided to go check it out.
It was as pretty as we remembered.
We didn't stay long because Grammy & Grandad were tired from their travels the day before. Our Verbo was so cute! It was on a quiet street that dead ended just two houses down from us. There was a police officer across the street, so we felt very safe.
We didn't use the backyard, but it was huge.
Pretty etched glass on the lower window panes.
Cool and sturdy old door.
It had an old fireplace that at one point opened on both sides and shared a common chimney. So charming.
David and my room was just off the living room on the back side of the fireplace. We had a half bath.
Living room - the couch was also a futon for extra sleeping space.
Jalen and Baylie took turns sleeping on the futon or in the bed in this room.
Kitchen
Grammy and Grandad's room had a full bathroom.
I thought this house was amazing with a yard full of daffodils.
We went and picked up Baylie after practicing until 9 p.m. We all hung out at the house because we were all tired!
The next day Baylie had all day rehearsal again. Jalen spent the morning doing homeschool and then we let him choose an activity. He chose the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The rest of us aren't really into NASCAR, but we decided to try it out.
Turns out, it was an AMAZING experience and we all had a great time. We started by entering some info on a computer and then we got a personalized welcome on a massive screen.
We learned that NASCAR actually started when bootleggers used to race from the police and then started racing each other.
So many cool cards.
I had no idea the inside of the cars were so fortified.
We got to walk on parts of the track that showed us how curved and steep it is. I had no idea it was that steep! It was hard to even walk on.
Check out the wear and tear on those tires!
This truck was driven by one of the first black drivers.
We found Lightening McQueen!
I took pictures with the only monuments to drivers I knew.
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| Jeff Gordon |
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| Richard Petty |
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| Dale Earnhardt |
I was surprised to see that the confetti that falls down on top of the the cars after winning actually sticks to them. It's like burned on.
So many cool cars.
We got to drive a simulator. Grammy and I were pretty bad, but Grandad and Jalen did pretty well.
Jalen got to drive in the simulator that was in a car and felt more like it was on a real track. So cool!
Jalen and I got to go through a simulation to change a tire and gas up a car.
We saw inside a trailer that showed how the cars travel. It was like a huge airplane gallery.
We could pretend to call a race like the announcers or be part of a pit crew.
Jalen got to sit in a driver's seat.
We saw a mock up of a car as it would look as a regular car or a race car.
Oldie, but goodie.
I got a magnet.
We ended up spending three hours or so there and had a wonderful day. It was a great way to spend the day.
We went back and picked up Baylie. David drove up after work so he could be with us the rest of the time. Since we were at the Verbo, I had planned all the meals so we wouldn't have to eat out at all. It saved us a ton of money.
Work shed
Garden plots
The original house that was later turned into a school for women.
The Brattons had many slaves. In the foreground you can see the remnants of an original structure and a reconstructed one in the background. 
Inside of a slave cabin.
Chicken coop
There were baby lambs
And little piglets
Lots of cotton.
Union soldier cooking demo
Another slave cabin ruin
The new house and general store
We had checked out our Verbo and had some time to kill before the concert so we went to the city center. There's a cool fountain and the buildings are historical.
We then headed to the concert. Winthrop is working on their performance hall so the concert was in this cool looking room. And while the room is beautiful, it was hot and we couldn't see much at all.
The choir sounded amazing and Baylie had a wonderful experience.
We are grateful for her teacher, Mr. Turner. He is a good man and an excellent teacher.
Winthrop really is a beautiful campus.
We drove back home, glad to be back in our own home again. 
They flew back home early Tuesday morning and were back in Utah by noon. We know it's not as easy for them to travel as it used to be and we're grateful they make the effort to visit us. We love having them here.
