Super Saturday

This is the first Saturday since late August that we haven't had a kid's sporting event to attend. We enjoyed sleeping in, and since we aren't all going to be together on Weston's birthday in a couple of weeks (or on his birthday party day a couple of weeks after that), we decided to go ahead and celebrate his birthday today. His main request was Krispy Kreme doughnuts, which we don't have in Flower Mound. So, the men headed over to Roanoke to pick up the doughnuts, while Ruth and I went to workout. (For me, this is working out in the very loosest sense of the word, but I'm thrilled to be cleared to do anything that even resembles exercising!)

All the doughnuts!

Later, we gave Weston his birthday gifts, which included tickets to the OU/TCU football game in Norman, OK this evening. He did not see this coming and was thrilled about every part of it: football, TCU, two top-ten teams, going to another state for the game, and the fact that it was happening this very day. It was awesome to watch his face light up! I just love to give gifts that truly make the recipient happy! And, experience gifts are the best!

A new "Saturday shirt"

I can't tell you how happy this face makes me!

After that excitement, we headed over to Denton for the Pistons and Paint Car Show. It was so fun to see so many cool cars! But our favorite part was seeing Junior Brown, who is one of our all-time favorite musicians, perform live. Jeff and I have been trying to catch him live for more than a decade, but it just never worked out until today.

Max's favorite!

Clay asked several times how someone could get up in this

Weston's dream vehicle

I loved the pink Cadillac!

Junior Brown doing his thing

When we left the car show, Jeff and Weston took off for Oklahoma, and the rest of us came home for Clay's first Star Wars movie viewing. For all the other kids, we had decided they could see the movies when they turned seven, but since the new movie is coming out in December, the older kids voted unanimously to let Clay into the Star Wars Club at 6 1/2. And, they want him to get all caught up with the previous movies before the new one hits theaters next month. Clay was ecstatic!

The last thing on our Super Saturday agenda is tacos from Taco Ocho, and you can't ever go wrong with that! I'm so thankful for this happy day and the time spent with my people doing things that make us smile. 

Nashville

On Saturday, we hit the road and headed to Nashville in pursuit of the Great American Eclipse, a trip we have been planning for two or three years. Before we left Dallas, we stopped at Chick-fil-A and bought a 200-piece party tray to nourish us for the journey. We had never catered a meal through the drive-through, to be wholly consumed in the car, so it felt like a pretty big deal. Ten hours later, with the nuggets long gone, we arrived, road weary but excited.

Road Trip!

On Sunday morning, we decided to explore Andrew Jackson's Hermitage, where I had my first true handicapped experience. The kids were pleased that, because of my situation, we were able to catch a golf cart out to the mansion rather than having to walk. Then, I transferred to a wheelchair for the actual tour but was only able to see the first floor of the mansion, since there wasn't an elevator. The mansion and grounds were very beautiful, but it was a hot, humid day and the crowd was great, so we didn't hang around too long after we had seen the main house. Later in the day, my parents, who were also in the area for the eclipse, came over to our hotel to hang out. We all thought it was pretty funny to meet up in Nashville, since we all live in the same state.

Andrew Jackson's Hermitage

How would you look on the 20?

Monday was the day of the Big Event, and we drove a little north of Nashville to the small town of Gallatin so we could be in the true center of the path of totality. We found a nice park with a playground where the kids could play and burn off some energy while we waited for the celestial show. It was such an amazing experience to see the sky darken and dusk fall in the middle of the day! The sky presented its sunset colors, the streetlights sparked to life, some stars and planets became visible, and the cicadas fired up their evening songs. And the vision of the moon blocking out all but the sun's corona is not one we will soon forget, even though my inadequate phone camera was powerless to capture the image. The entire event lasted no more than a few minutes, but it was powerful, and we were thankful to be a part of it. Back at the hotel, we rested for a while before heading out to dinner at Cock of the Walk, a fun place, with plenty of atmosphere, serving good ol' Southern food.

The Big Event
(The bottom left shows the streetlights coming on and the sunset colors;
The bottom right shows a star or planet just to the lower right of the sun)

Cock of the Walk

Tuesday was Jeff's and my 19th anniversary, which just doesn't even seem possible. I can tell you, it just gets better and better all the time! I'm so thankful that we chose each other to do life with. We spent the early part of the day hanging out around the hotel and lounging around the pool. Later in the day, we headed over to the Gaylord Opryland to look around and to have enjoy a nice anniversary dinner at Ravello. After dinner, we were off to the Grand Ole Opry. The boys sat in the balcony in the seats we had originally booked, while Ruth and I, making a last minute change, sat on the lower floor, in the handicapped section. It was such a fun show and so neat to be a part of something with such a long history.

Fun at the hotel pool

Anniversary dinner at the Gaylord Opryland

The Grand Ole Opry
(Clay was fascinated with the bass player and tried to imitate him.)

Yesterday, we made the long trek back to Flower Mound, though it seemed an easier trip than going, even with the absence of a large tray of chicken nuggets to keep us occupied. We had such a great time in Nashville and hope we will have occasion to return in the future.

Moab

We left Park City this morning and headed to Moab, the last stop of our Epic Summer Road Trip. We are breaking with our camping ways, sort of as a last hurrah, and are staying in a very nice condo here. The boys were quick to find the amenities and spent some time playing on the playground and swimming in the pool this afternoon. Later, we had dinner at Zax, before heading over to the Moab Backyard Theater for a magic show. Everyone got to participate in various tricks, and we all had a great time!

Cannonball King

Little bitty cannonball

Always adding his own style

View from the pool

The obvious thing to do at a restaurant
that gives you bandanas for napkins

Stunned cowboy at the
Backyard Theater

Crazy Cowboy

Funny. There wasn't a hole in
Clay's shirt before.

The Max Trick

Just after the magician sarcasticly said,
"Don't feel bad about messing up the trick.
It's really my fault since I asked you to come up here."

"Throw the cards in the air."

Even Dad got some stage time

Calgary Stampede

We left Banff very early yesterday morning and headed to Calgary for the last day of their yearly world famous Stampede. We had to get there early enough for a free pancake breakfast, which is apparently a big part of the event. Just about every church and civic organization in the city offers a free pancake breakfast at some point during the Stampede. We warned our kids to only take a polite amount of food, which meant that we ended up taking them out for "second breakfast" afterwards. We finally made it over to the fair grounds in the middle of the morning and the fun commenced. We enjoyed the livestock barns and activities, and then made our way to the indoor arena for the light horse events, including the mini chuck wagon races, which was hilarious and adorable and easily our favorite event of the morning. The rodeo started at 1:00 and was held in the outdoor arena. We stayed for the whole thing, through rain and hail and a sharp decrease in temperature. We were never so thankful for our thrifty ways, which put us way up in the cheap seats, UNDER AN OVERHANG. We stayed dry and happy, while people who paid a premium for better views scrambled for cover. Jeff and I had taken Ruth and Weston to a small rodeo when they were very little, but none of us had ever been to a big pro rodeo, and it was lots of fun to see the best of the best compete for C$100,000 payouts. Later, we watched the heavyweight class of the heavy horse pull, which was just amazing. The winning team, which consisted of a Belgian and a Percheron and their handlers, pulled a load weighing 12,500 pounds 14 feet. Finally, we made our way back over to the outdoor arena for the full-size chuck wagon races. This was a sport we were not previously acquainted with, but it quickly became our favorite. It was rodeo meets horse racing, and it was fascinating. After consuming all manner of fair junk food and after a full 12 hours at the Stampede, we headed toward the Canadian/American border, which we crossed early this morning, after a short night's rest. We are so thankful we got to experience so much of Canada's beauty and that our time in Canada ended with something as spectacular as the Stampede.

Pancake breakfast

Miniture chuck wagon racing

Making friends in
Draft Horse Town

You know a cowboy needs a rope...

Everyone loves a mini horse

Indian Village

Calf roping

Bareback riding

Barrel racing

Saddle bronc riding

Time to bring in the bullfighters

Heavyweight heavy horse pull

Ready for the chuck wagon races

The Budweiser Clydesdales

Chuck wagon race is underway

Playing cowboy

Making my mom proud
with a bowl of chocolate
chip cookie dough!

More fun in Vegas

Yesterday was a full and fun day in Vegas. We started at the MGM and then hit the M&M store, where we ate some mega M&Ms (about twice the size of regular ones) and watched a 3D movie about Red and Yellow's adventure in Vegas. We even saw Red in person as we were leaving the store. Then, we moved down The Strip to Paris and the Bellagio. We were disappointed that the famous Bellagio conservatory was closed while they transition from the spring display to the summer one. But, we were still thrilled with the huge chocolate fountain and the flower display in the registration area. Searching for quality Italian food, we ended up in New York New York for lunch and then popped into Excalibur to work on show tickets. Later, we walked back down to the Bellagio to watch the dancing fountains and then wandered through The Cosmopolitan and Aria. Eventually, we made it all the way down to Treasure Island, which is essentially at the complete other end of The Strip from where we are staying. But, we had to go there so we could see Mystere, an amazing Cirque du Soleil show. When the show was over, we headed next door to see the volcano erupt at The Mirage. By the time that was over, we were beat and called an Uber to take us back to our hotel.

MGM

Max and Red

Paris

Bellagio Chocolate Fountain

The dancing fountains

No words to describe how
awesome this show is!

Erupting Volcano

Today started with a fantastic brunch at The Wynn. Then, we visited Circus Circus. After that, we decided to head back to the hotel to spend some time at the pool and take care of a few items of business before heading out tomorrow. Tonight, we saw the Tournament of Kings at Excalibur, which our little knight was especially excited about. Afterwards, we took a limo ride down The Strip, because it seemed like the thing to do while we were here in Vegas. We have had full days and have walked our legs off in 100+ degree heat these last few days, but we have had a blast!

Moving floral carousel in The Wynn

Circus Circus

We were the only family to bring
its own knight to the tournament.

Happy to support the king of France

Surprise limo ride after the show