It's Always Fun When Grammy Comes - and Granddad

It's hard to believe that just last week my parents were here. It feels like so long ago. I miss them so much. I love living in South Carolina, but I miss my family like crazy. I am so happy when my parents or sister come to visit. I was glad the weather held out and was nice for them. Last time they came it rained and I was afraid it would happen again.  

We picked them up at the airport Thursday after school. I was prepping for a colonoscopy (awful) and couldn't eat anything, so everyone else went out for dinner. On Friday, I spent the morning having said colonoscopy. Fortunately my dad could stay with the kids while my mom went with me for the procedure. They found four polyps, but fortunately they all ended up being benign. Because of the procedure, we couldn't do much that day. We just ran errands. I probably did too much because it made me really tired.

The next day  we decided to go to Soda City Market. It's a fun place to spend the morning.

There was lots of produce. I love the colors and feel of an outdoor produce market.

One of my favorite things at Soda City are the fresh flowers. You can get a beautiful boquet for $10.

Someday I really need to start canning.

My favorite people.

My dad and I both grew up in a town called Blanding. I love that there's a Blanding street here.

There was a chemistry display. The kids made a battery.

This truck was cool, but I didn't like the flowers as well.

My purchases - pill dish and spoon rest. I love them.

I forgot to take a picture of my beautiful flowers. Soda City is also a great place to eat. I should have taken a picture of that too. My dad had an amazing barbecue sandwich, Baylie had a humongous burrito and everyone (but me) had fruit smoothies. I ate one of my Optavia protein bars.

Afterwards we drove to some nearby cotton fields so my parents could see them. I love fields of cotton. It reminds me of snow. It also reminds me of how grateful I am that my children live in South Carolina now and not centuries ago.

We "stole" some cotton...

That afternoon, Jalen, my mom, and I went to the park for the birthday of one of my students. Her mom had posted on social media that no one was coming to the party. The same thing had happened the year before and she was heart broken.

I was surprised when we got there to see cars were lined up clear down the road. I've only seen it like that for a town festival.

I asked a police officer what was going on and when he said it was an eight year old's birthday, I realized that it was all for her. I started to cry. What an amazing response from the community.

The police, military and firemen were there.

There was an amazing pile of presents.

Food had been donated by a local restaurant.

She was surrounded by friends she knew and didn't know.

With some officers.

Lots of kids playing.

Jalen in the fire truck.

He also found his dream car.

Grammy and Granddad were flying home on Monday, but we decided to spend the morning at the zoo. Columbia has such a great zoo.

We tried to feed the lorakeets, but they weren't very hungry.

One did poop in Grammy's hair though. So gross!

We all rode the carousel. I love that our membership includes these fun activities.

I love my mom. People say I look like her, but I've never been able to see it.

This is what it looks like when my dad tries to take our picture from the back of a merry go round animal.

The elephants will soon be leaving our zoo. They will be replaced with rhinocerous.

One of my favorite things at the zoo is feeding the giraffes. We haven't done it in a while.

Check out that tongue!

The baby gorillas are so cute. They usually put on quite a show.

Meercats are always fun.

I have always loved snakes. The camoflage on these is awesome.

Green mamba.

The green pythons are some of my favorites.

Tree frogs are so cute!

This new eyelash viper is pretty.

The lion fish are so pretty, but poisonous.

Teeny-tiny jellyfish.

Under the sea.

I stole this idea from Mary Chorey.

We went straight from the zoo to the airport. It was so sad to say goodbye to Grammy and Granddad. The kids cried and demanded to know why we live so far away. I always ask myself the same question when family comes to visit. We probably won't see them again until next summer.

I'm grateful to be from a family that is so close knit. I love them so much. I hope the time my children have with them is enough to build strong bonds.

Rocky Top Take Down

Being a BYU fan on the East Coast is not easy. Most games start at 10:00 at night and finish in the wee hours of the morning. So when we found out BYU would be playing in Tennessee, we knew we wanted to go. We have missed being able to watch them play in person. Plus, Tennessee is in the SEC and plays in the fourth largest stadium in the country - fifth largest in the world. We couldn't wait to go!

Originally it was just gong to be me and the kids, but at the last minute David was able to join us. We met Tiffani and her family in Sevierville and shared and Air B&B. There is nothing Jalen and Baylie love more than spending time with their cousins. And I love spending time with my sister. We probably should have skipped school on Friday, but we didn't and ended up getting to the house at about 9:0 Friday night. Tiff and her kids had spent the day in Nashville.

Saturday morning, we stopped at Walmart where we quickly realized we were in Tennessee country. I picked up a couple small things for my nephew Parker who has always been a Tennessee fan and was having his missionary farewell the next way - which is why he missed the game.

The game wasn't until 7:00, but we headed to the stadium at noon. We wanted the full tailgate experience. We got lucky and scored a parking spot in a small lot next to the river just a short way down from the stadium - FREE.

We were just across the street from the entrance to the university and just down from the basketball arena.

The tailgaters were set up all around this parking garage. Apparently there were others like it in other areas around the stadium.

Dave's nephew had purchased a tailgate spot on the top level, right next to the stadium. How perfect!

We had an amazing view of the stadium and the surrounding area.

We could even see the "Volunteer Navy." We decided next time we wanted to tailgate from one of the yachts.

It wasn't hard to find our group.

We stuck out just a bit. Most of the Tennessee fans were really kind and so hospitable. They came over and spoke with us and wished us luck. There were some young punks that were foul mouthed and stupid, but they were the exception.

Neyland stadium did not disappoint. Wow! It holds over 100,000 people. As the daughter of a coach, I often judge a school based on their stadium.

Can you see the blue??

We were on the top two rows - waaay high up.

Some of us were more into the game than others. (Lauryn reads no matter where she is. She finished her book and then started it over.)

Even though we were high up, the stadium is very steep so the view was still good.

We tied the game with one second left and then beat Tennessee in double overtime. It was EPOCH!

We were few, but we were mighty!

Celebrating the win.

After the game, we went and waited for the team to come out and load onto the buses. I think they were surprised and happy with so much support so far from home.

Jalen and Baylie got interviewed for the Sunshine Mafia blog (at 20:17).

It was an amazing night and I'm so glad we got to be a part of it. It was so much more special because we shared it with family.

The next day, we wanted to stay with the Jennings as long as possible so we followed them to Kentucky and Daniel Boone National Forest. It was a little farther out of our way than we had planned, but still worth it to let the kids have more time together.

Clara and Baylie made me nervous, hanging out the windows.

I realized I didn't have any pictures with me and Tiff so we took some in front of this lovely backdrop. I love my sister. We didn't always get along as children, but we have never had an argument as adults.

We sadly parted ways with the Jennings as they headed back to Nashville to fly home to Vegas and we headed back to South Carolina. We went back the exact way we had come. Baylie spent quite a bit of time crying and demanding to know why we lived in South Carolina when all our family was in the west.

Fortunately, it was a beautiful drive.

We loved the tunnels.

It was good to get back home, but we sure missed cousins. We didn't get home until 11 p.m., so school was a bit rough on Sunday.

I love my little family and I love BYU football.