18

Jason and I celebrated our 18th anniversary on June 23rd.  

We seem to like each other pretty good.

I Think She Missed Us

Since Kyle got a 6 hour head start on us coming back to Houston, he was able to go pick up Chloe and send us pictures.

I'd say she was happy to see him (and take a much loved car ride). 

Road Trip- Headed for Home

We made our way back to Houston by way of Oxford, Mississippi so we could check out Ole Miss. 

It also happened to be Father's Day so we ate dinner at the one place I knew Paw-Paw and Jason would both love- Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken.

We all still smelled like fried chicken the next day, but it was totally worth it! 

All the grandparents and Kyle got an early start back to Houston, but the rest of us really enjoyed our Ole Miss tour.

JR was very impressed right from the start.

(Pointing out his favorite Manning)

We started out with an information session (which Reed and I loved) and then we had a walking tour. We were so impressed with the campus- It's gorgeous and feels big (but it's really small and easy to navigate). 

Reed and I both got sold hook, line, and sinker on this tour too. 

And JR loved it. 

Trump's Birthday

While we were in Atlanta, President Trump had his birthday.

So Jason and I went out to celebrate.

I was looking for Atlanta Housewives the whole night but I didn't see any.

And then I celebrated again when I got back home to Houston with some of my friends. 

Atlanta #2

We were able to get in more than just diving while we were in Atlanta.

Kyle got to ride the lime scooter through the Georgia Tech campus.

We went to the world of Coca-Cola Museum.

JR, Reed, and Granny went to a Braves game.

And then upset Jason and me by going to Wahlburgers with out us.

So we made everybody go back the next day for lunch! 

Atlanta #1

We could not have been more proud of Kyle in Atlanta.  He qualified for this meet at SMU in May, and he was competing against 23 of the best divers his age from all of the South. 

He started out after the first dive in 16th place.  (Leave it to Kyle to not get all the points he can on the easiest dive.)

After every dive he kept working his way up in the standings.

After his last dive I kept watching my phone for the rest of the scores to come in.  He was in 10th place (the top 10 qualify for Nationals) and I kept saying to Jason "the worst he can place is 13th, the worst he can place is 13th".  Jason talking over me kept saying "He's 10th! He's 10th! The scores are in."

Sure enough,  Kyle placed 10th and qualified for Nationals. I actually cried a little bit I was so happy for him.

That's his name making it on to the results big board!

Road Trip Day 4- Atlanta

We woke up Thursday morning in our super cute Smokey Mountain cabin (with an amazing view) and headed out towards Atlanta. 

We rolled in Thursday afternoon so Kyle could warm up at the pool.  

His meet was at Georgia Tech (not on JR's shortlist) which is right in the middle of downtown Atlanta.

It's also where the 1996 Olympics swimming and diving events were held. 

Kyle had a good warm up 

And we even found time to eat at the famous Varsity. 

Road Trip Day 3- Dollywood

I can't say enough wonderful things about Dollywood.

Even Kyle and Reed who have no idea who Dolly Parton is thought it was wonderful.

When I tell you we were the 2nd people in the park that day I'm not exaggerating.

That's Kyle in the first seat of the first ride of the day. 

The boys absolutely loved the rides! They said it was better than Fiesta, Texas.  

Because of all the trees and the mountains you can't really see the rides.

  I was able to take some pictures of the more tame ones. 

 Climbing like lumberjacks 

I made all the kids ride the bears with me because I thought they were so cute! 

I got them to take a break from the rides long enough to go in the Dolly museum with me.  I could have spent all day in there.  JR was impressed with it, but nobody loved it more than me.

9 to 5! 

Best Little Whorehouse!

I only ran into the grandparents once as they went from show to show to show (which I would have been perfectly happy doing too).  

The only show I saw was a juggling show we walked by on our way to another ride.

And of course, my kids asked if they could be in it....because who doesn't ask the juggler if you can take over and do his job?

We all had so much fun and I would absolutely go back. It was fantastic. 

We were the 2nd people in, and some of the last people out.  The kids rode rides until after the park closed.  

We took our only (almost) group photo on the way out. 

Road Trip Day 2- Bama

I think JR was looking forward to the University of Alabama tour more than any of the others.  

And since the football team is one of the driving forces in his wanting to go there, he was not disappointed when we walked in for our information session.

The Alabama tour was much more of a "we already know you want to go here, so here's what the campus looks like" tour.  

We didn't walk very much, we rode the "Crimson Ride" buses to each of our tour stops.

JR acts like he doesn't know us on tours (apparently, I ask too many questions)  but here Reed and I are on the Crimson Ride.

Alabama looked liked I thought it would and what I wanted it to look like.  

It's very "Old South" and beautiful. 

We drove by the football stadium but couldn't get back over to it to get close enough for a picture.

All I could think about was Forest Gump. 

We saw what the dorms look like, the rec center, and some of the highlights from campus.

JR loved it, as I knew he would. 

After our Bama tour we were off to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

One guess what we did there.