The Mountains

I had a great trip to the mountains (except for the stomach virus at the end)! On the way to the mountains, I thought it would be fun to go on a scavenger hunt, so I made one up the night before. It is amazing how fast the trip went on the way up there! It was a lot of fun, too! I will attach a copy of the list and some pictures.

Scavenger Hunt
To help pass the time until we get to our cabin, here is a list of items to search for!
Take a picture of all the items you find.
Good luck and be creative!

“Camp Discovery” sign
Scrapbook Warehouse billboard
Fork in the road
1234 in consecutive order
Caney Fork River
TTU sign

Construction cones
South Carolina license plate
Mile Marker 373
JFG Coffee Warehouse
Another state’s license plate other than SC
Motorcycle
Area of water other than previous

Falcon
3 yellow vehicles
Knoxville Zoo
“Next Rest Area” sign
Ma and Pop store
Church
DollyWood sign
Wal-Mart
Traffic Light #2
Old Model Car
Sports related billboard
“See Rock City” sign
Dixie Stampede
Cows
V W Beetle
“Emergency Stop” sign
North Carolina
Water fountain
Aquarium sign
Barn
Holiday Inn
Construction barrels
UT sign
Weigh Station OPEN
Exit 407
American Flag
Kangaroo
State Park sign
Murphy’s Donkey (homophone + another name for donkey)

We didn't do many practical jokes to one another. On Tuesday night I knew that someone had done something in our room, but I wasn't sure what it was, so Alison and I spent some time looking around to make sure everything was still in tact. I checked the hair dryer for flour, the bed for anything foreign, etc. As far as we knew, everything was just fine. It wasn't until Wednesday morning that I figured out their joke. As I was straightening my hair, I felt a sting on my thigh, but I thought nothing of it until I felt a second sting. I unbuttoned my jeans and when I pulled them down, there was a wasp in there! I had been stung twice! I told Alison and told her all I knew was that vinegar and baking soda helped with bee stings. She was racking her brain and then told me to put deodorant on it. That's when it hit me - they had taken our deodorant! After Alison went downstairs and told them what happened and finally told the girl we knew she took it, we got the deodorant back and it helped with my wasp stings. I offered the deodorant back to the girls, but they didn't want it after that! I had never been stung by a wasp before, but now I know that deodorant helps! (And the redness and bumps stay around for a while. I still have the bumps and sting marks!) Anyhow, it was fun and I'm glad that we went. (But I am also glad to be home!)

Oh, Boy! (or Girl!)

When we went to Julie and Josh's for Easter, we did not know we would be visiting the Brokeback Aquarium! Julie was under the impression that both of the turtles were male but now we are not so sure... Josh was concerned about how "stiff" the top turtle's tail was once all was said and done.

Easter

For Easter this year we did not have our traditional Easter egg hunt. We pondered the idea, but we knew it would not be the same, so we did without. We did have a nice time, however. We all went to Julie and Josh's since Julie was on call and we ate dinner and played Wii. And the best part of all was that Julie was not called out!

Catch up!

Hello! I just want to catch everyone up on all the things that have been going on. I haven't been very good at updating the blog, obviously, so I have to go all the way back to Allie's birthday! She, like Max, got her own special treats. She started off with a pig's ear and then got a Munchy bone which Boo tried to take from her!

As everyone knows, March is a busy month for our family. Although we did not get to celebrate as we usually do, we did celebrate both Emily's and Moon's birthday.

Emily was very good to Moon and made him a homemade cherry pie! It turned out wonderfully! Moon also had a chocolate cake since we had 14 people over!

I kind of kept mom's tradition on St. Patrick's Day. I did not make anything green for dinner, but I did make a green pancakes for my class. I did not tell them what I was doing and when I handed out the first batch of pancakes, I told them they could eat them. No one said they didn't like them or wouldn't try them, but they were a little hesitant. Everybody ate two pancakes! I asked if anyone knew what they were and one student said pancakes, but I told them it was actually leprechaun food to which one little girl said "It does kind of taste funny!"

And now the last thing I want to share.... Since it has been so nice outside lately, we have taken the dogs for several walks. We were just walking them in the pasture, but Emily called the Braziers and they said we could walk in their fields. Mom, I thought you would enjoy seeing Max having a good time on our walk.

And just because I like this picture....

I will update the blog again after Easter and my trip to the mountains.

Take care! I love you! ~Abbey

STOP and Smell the Daffodils

I took the time today to procrastinate (and yes, I am still doing it right this moment). But sometimes when your life is so very hectic that you can't even stop for 3 minutes outside your house to enjoy real sunshine, something is definitely wrong. And that is my excuse for procrastinating today. I have been up to my eyeballs in tests, homework, school, and everyone else without giving myself something in return (and chocolate doesn't count... I NEED that!). I took an hour walk outside today because it was gorgeous and deserved to be enjoyed. I watched old movies whose names I still don't know, with actors I have never heard of, and lavished in the fact that I was not being productive. Everyone needs one of those days sometimes. So this is just a reminder that even though your life is hectic, take the time to smell the daffodils, because you never when the next frost will come in and take them away. Take a mental health day today!

Love ya! ~E

Just Wanted to Say...

I was just thinking of you guys.... I love you!

(And yes, that is a real brain!)

What a Hit!

Moon received your gift in the mail Tuesday and he had a blast! In the five minutes it takes me to get home from school, he had the package and box opened, the screws taken off, the batteries put in, and the screws replaced. He was so thrilled he called Rich and made him come over ASAP just to Derby. It wasn't good enough that they were Derbying on the carpet, so they moved to the hardwood floors in the kitchen to really build up speed! Boo didn't know what to think of the cars....

Moon is healing nicely. All the glue strips have come off and the bruising is gone. We go to the doctor Monday to see what he says. We are a little concerned because there is a "hard spot" between the two scars, so we are going to ask the doctor about that. It's probably just scar tissue, but it never hurts to ask. Moon is getting around pretty well. He drove for the first time today since February 5th, but he couldn't stay out too long. It will get increasingly easier for him as the weeks go by. He's enjoying his time off and he's not too anxious to go back to work yet. I think he would rather be working on cars around the house instead.

Allie is going to get her birthday present tonight. We will take pictures and post them soon. Emily called to make sure that we got one of her favorite treats, so I'm sure she will love her gift!

Take care and we will talk to you soon.

Much love,

Abbey and Moon