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.

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.