East Tennessee Summer Bucket List 2016

Every summer the kids and I make out a bucket list. We include free and cheap ideas. Some places and events to visit as well as around the house activities.

If you're local and interested in going with us, let me know, so I can give you the full details. You can click on any of the links for more information about the activity.

In no particular order, here is our Summer 2016 Bucket List.

• Repack the new house and list it to sale. Yea, I know this one needs more details. They are coming soon. Our really fun bucket list items will only take place if this accomplished. Let's get to work!

• Vacation Bible School

• Safety Patrol trip to Washington, D.C.

• A wedding reception in Abingdon, Virginia along with some sight-seeing. 

• Youth choir tour to Southern Ohio.

• 4-H Camp 

• National Beta Convention in New Orleans

• Yearly dental and doctor visits.

• Days at the pool

Pioneer Camp

• Pioneer Camp at Davy Crockett in Limestone is an exciting day of 1800's Appalachian Frontier Heritage. When we've attended this in the past the kids have made corn husk dolls, participated in archery, thrown a tomahawk, started a fire, wove a basket, spun yarn, and watched a musket being loaded and fired. There are other activities also, a campground, picnic area and a pool. We usually eat down by the riverside. Um, sorry, if that song gets stuck in your head.

• While we may be a little old to ride at Safety City Knoxville we always manage to find some younger friends to accompany. The kids love hanging out with the younger kids and I enjoy the mom time. We like to go early, then eat lunch at the playground, and finish up with the Splash Pad Fountains at World's Fair Park.

• One Wednesday, this summer we are going to the Market Square Farmer's Market. There is a splash pad there also.

• The day we go to the Market Square Farmer's Market we are also going to the WDVX Blue Plate Special. A free concert at the Knoxville Visitor's Center.

• We hope to be able to attend the July concert performed on  The Mighty Wurlitzer at the Tennessee Theatre. The performances take place the first Monday of each month at noon. 

• I haven't been to the drive-in movie since I was in college. Those were the days. So one Friday or Saturday evening, we are filling the back of the truck with lawn chairs, sleeping bags, and pillows, and heading out for a triple feature at the Parkway Drive In located in Maryville. 

• We hope to take a Ranger led night hike at Cades Cove. I can't find the link to the dates right now. As soon as I find them I will post it.

• Mother Hen's Hatchery  is also on our bucket list, followed by a stop at Yoder's Country Market for a few pounds of Lucky Charm marshmallows, homemade bread, and a pie or two. Yea, it's not Paleo. A girl can have regrets can't she.

• The Cumberland Gap National Park and Abraham Lincoln Museum at Lincoln Memorial University is also on our list. Of course that also means a visit with our awesome friends the Wrights.  

•  Finally, on our list is the Children's Museum of Oak Ridge.  

And when this picture is snapped, summer is over, our bucket list is complete. We go to Sonic the Sunday night before Gracie goes back to college. Man, they grow up fast, but that's a tale for another night.

It's Official--House For Sale

It's official. The Sunnydale House is now for sale. You can find the listing here, on Zillow. It has been loved for 15 years. The first year by Mikie as he built it and then the last 14 years by all of us. It's just a little bit hard to pack up and move to a new place. We know that the family who moves in next will have as much fun in that house as we have.

It's a great place for...
Neighbors,
Fun,
Riding bikes in the street,
Running and Walking,
Making S'mores,
Snow sledding,
Raising animals,
Raising children,
Making memories.

I thought it only fitting to document some of our favorite times over the years. I wish I had access to all of my favorite pics but for now here are a few. Please don't judge the quality of these photos. Some are mine, some are the kids, some from friends, some are just when life happens, a few are by Wendy Ivens Photography. 

31 Days---Day 30

As the month comes to a close, I've not meet my goals, but I've written a little more than I normally do. I plan to keep posting at least once a week. I am in the process of reading some books that I received from Tommy Nelson Kids, so that I can post a giveaway. I also will be giving away some of Tricia Goyers books over the next few weeks.  We will be on fall break Monday and Tuesday, although they are calling for snow it's still fall break. I will be transferring my blog to an easier to find website. After the transfer is over I will be holding a contest to help increase my followers with a gift card giveaway. I will announce that as soon as the website is up and running.

This week is getting pretty exciting. The sheet rock guys are at the farmhouse. It's getting really close for us to start moving things. I hope to have most of it moved during Christmas break so we can put the other house up for sale. I finally braved up and went to the cellar. It's not as spooky as I thought it was.

Maggie was Mayor of Biztown Monday. Her class had studied all about the workings of a city over the last few weeks. The students filled out job applications and the teachers chose them by interest and personality. Maggie was little upset that she was Mayor at first, but afterwards was very excited to have been chosen for the role.

Michael went back to school this week and other than being tired he has done well.

Mollie played a B-team tournament. She was a nervous wreck at the first game. During the second game she got the ball, dribbled down and passed off to the point guard. She LOVES basketball now she said.

Mattie has been working hard on her part in Once On This Island, JR. My students perform next Thursday. If you're local you will not want to miss out on it and Into the Woods, JR. Mattie is also working on her speech and campaign for Vice-President of the state Beta Club.

We hope to rest some this long weekend between the cleaning and discarding of things we don't need. Here are a current pic of the farmhouse. You can read about the house here.

Have a great weekend!!

The outside still needs a few little things and a Caribbean Blue front door.

The cellar wasn't so bad.

31 Days of Life--Day 5

Nothing exciting happened on Sunday and I'm still trying to catch up. This is from Mother's Day this year at my parents. Mollie couldn't take a picture without making a face if her life depended on it. We love being able to visit all of our grandparents. They are just 20 minutes away. We don't get to see them as much as we would like, but have a great time when we do. Mikie and I are both fortunate to have Christian parents who raised us in the Lord and made sure we had everything we needed. We didn't always have everything we wanted but we never needed anything. Watch for more family photos from the other side of the family in the upcoming days.

31 Days of Life

I'm three days behind, because, well, life happens. I am attempting again this year to blog for 31 days as part of The Nester's 31 Days of Writing Challenge. My posts won't be long, some days just a picture, uploaded from my phone. I'm hoping to document our life. My word for 2014 was live. You can click here to read why. I've attempted to take a picture everyday to put in my journal. I haven't blogged much this year because we have been living. I haven't posted here but have posted snippets on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. I'm having problems linking to those at the moment. I'll try to revisit and link up later. Wish me luck as I attempt to succeed at 31 days of blogging life happenings in our family.

31 Days---Day 4

31 Days---Day 5

31 Days---Day 6

31 Days---Day 9

31 Days---Day 12

31 Days---Day 14

31 Days---Day 16

31 Days---Day 23

31 Days---Day 30