Back to Our Roots

Well, a lot has happened in the past couple weeks!  We took our first long road trip to Tennessee!  Isabella had just gotten her 2 month shots and she was Super Trooper!  She did great and the drive was long =)  

Here is a photo tribute to our travels and the fun time we had while we were on our first visit to Tennessee with baby Isabella.

 We were blessed to be able to watch Temple Women's Soccer play ETSU, while we were there, with Matt's sister's family and his dad! It was a chilly, Fall night filled with assists, goals, a little rain, and a lot of Dougieing (okay, really only by Bill and TJ!).  Kate and Sha were really excited we came- okay, really, they were excited Bella came ;) -to watch them play!







While we were in Tennessee we also went to a UT Football game!!!  Oh, how much fun we had!!  It was the first game that Matt and I had been able to get back to see (between living 8 hours away and working like crazy, it just didn't work out!) since 2005, so it was a sweet time had by all!  We were able to go with Meg, Bill, TJ, and Poppy Bill.  Tennessee was playing the University of Oregon.  It was QUITE an adventure, let me tell ya!  We had a fabulous dinner at Calhoun's on the River and we headed over to the stadium (a trip complete with a super drunk man face-planted on River Walk).     

During the game we had an "inclement weather" warning and people were asked to leave the stadium (a first in all the games Matt and I had ever been to!)- we took shelter under the bleachers, smashed like sardines with a whole bunch of other fans (claustrophobic anyone?) and then returned to the game.  Tennessee played well at the beginning, but the ending score didn't really show that.  I still have hope for Dooley and the younguns! =)

During halftime the Pride of the Southland Marching Band did an AWESOME tribute to 9-11 since the game was being played on Saturday September 11, 2010.  They played America the Beautiful while they created the Eagle and inflated the Statue of Liberty.  I have never felt so proud to be a Volunteer!




We also visited our favorite eateries: Pals, La Carreta, and Cheddars. At the rate we were going, my body couldn't handle more than a week long vacation to the Tri-Cities!

After our big game outings to see Temple and UT play, we just hung out around town, seeing the sites and enjoying Nana's company.   One night we were even able to tag a long to a Red Hat get together so that Nana's friends could see sweet baby Bella!! 


One sunny day we drove to Pigeon Forge, TN to see the new Titanic Exhibit.  We had a wonderful time with Nana!  They have a real iceberg that you can touch and 28 degree water that you can stick your hands in- so you can see how cold the water was for the passengers of Titanic.  I would highly recommend that you visit the museum- it is educational, hands on, and a lot of fun!

We also took time to visit the covered bridge in Elizabethton, TN, while we were visiting with my dad. 








 We had a wonderful time seeing friends and family and were quite sad to leave.  The drive home was very uneventful and quiet, but the entire family was definitely glad to be out of the car and at home...even if it was 7:30 at night!


We were also blessed enough to do a Four Generations photo shoot during our visit to Tennessee.  Isabella, myself, my Mom and my Mamaw- we were all present and accounted for and fun was had by all!  I loved seeing how my Mamaw's eyes lit up when she was playing with Isabella, holding her, talking to her- it was absolutely perfect and a time that I will cherish forever.  My husband did a great job of being the photographer in charge, directing us around, searching for a perfect shot and making us all smile in the process!  Here are some of the pictures that Matthew took- again, he did a great job of capturing the moment! Take a look at my post about the photo shoot for more details and pictures!