Rollin' on the River

Or if you are Wesley "riber."

We were lucky enough to steal our little brother Michael (or Uncle Michael) this weekend so Friday we packed up and headed to the Mighty Mississippi at Mud Island. I have not seen the mud island museum since I was 4, and I have been very anxious to take Wesley and Michael for years. I remember it (in my 4 yr old memory) being a fabulous time had by all.

I love museums and touristy type things a lot so I am so glad Wesley is getting old enough to appreciate them in her own way too. At least we can go to them and she feigns interest.

Michael is even better. He is at the real academic age where things are starting to connect, like wars and geography etc. So it's neat to take him places and actually have conversations about what we are seeing. And since he is still 9 he still enjoys just being a kid too.

Here we are heading over on the historic monorail. Which everybody but me loves, so I take pictures and pretend I'm juuuust fine the whole ride.

**Notice the bass pro shop hat, of which Matt has a matching companion. And hasn't stopped wearing it since Thursday.

Once we got over the river all the memories of my child hood trip came "flooding" back, hahahaha get it?!!?.

I am having some old pictures scanned into digital pics and when I get them back I may update this post with one of me at Mud Island.

I didn't take many pictures in the museum part, put it was because we were busy looking at everything. It really is very well done.

After the history lesson, you head outside and there is a full scale model of the Mississippi river from Canada to Gulf of Mexico. It is so cool. Definitely a must see if you visit or live in Memphis. It has maps of all the cities along the way and plaques to tell the history of the river in these cities as well. Of course we couldn't read these plaques because the scale model is a working model, meaning it is made of water, water the kiddos can get in! So that's what we did : )

The model changes width and depth according to the real river so some parts were easier to walk in then others, And then sometimes you find a water fall and just need to go for it all the way!

That is Michael, underwater, under Arkansas. Wesley is amazed. Yet she never felt the need to try this trick.

We had to stop for photo opps in our fair city on the map.

Here is Wee kinda on our neighborhood.

 

And after many "c'mons" and "keep goings" we finally made it to the Gulf of Mexico. Which I had promised they could swim in, because that's what I did when I was little, but apparently it is too much of a liability now, because the deep end was roped off : ( The sprinklers were an OK compromise.

 

Then had to convince two soaking wet, overheated kids to get out of the water and walk back without getting in the "river" anymore so that we could go get lunch. That was SUPER easy......

But we did get everyone home, fed and napped. And then headed out for more Memphis adventure:: Shelby Forest General Store steak and bluegrass night!! 

I grew up near Shelby Forest, it was my summer playground. And since Micheal lives to fish, it was a good next stop on our tour.

After fishing we hit up the legendary steak at the general store. The restaurant is not just called the general store, it is a store. Our table was in the middle of the drink coolers, which was nice, because that's where you get your drinks. While waiting for our dinner we met JJ. He is the store mascot.

He is pretty much awesome. He lets you pet him and really likes bluegrass music, gotta respect that. At the end of the night he jumps on the roof of the store and hops over to his "condo." that was the best part.

Our last adventure of the night was using our new bug catchers to grab a few fireflies on our way out of the Forest.

Note on taking bug catchers full of bugs home in the car with a 2 year old :: DON'T! Somehow the words "Don't open that again" just didn't make sense to her, and we ended up with a well lit ride home. Not only that but every time a free bug landed on her leg it was like they were made of fire. Quite traumatic for everyone in the car.


But all in all it was a fabulous weekend with our best boy Michael! Hope to do it again before the summer is through! Next stop Pink Palace!

Happy Birthday Pops!

It was Pops birthday this weekend so we had a few get togethers to celebrate! First on Sunday, his actual birthday, we met up, ate a delicious lunch and gave him his present. It was a pool ladder. He was very happy.


Then we got into our bathing suits and cooled off in the pool!

Then on Tuesday night we all met for dinner at Sissy's (because she was out of town on Sunday) And had a delicious dinner.

Well, Saturday we had a wedding, and a late night, so for Sunday's party we brought a store bought dessert. But since I am off of school right now, I saw Tuesday as a great opportunity to try a fun summer dessert recipe. And since lots of my friends post their yummy desserts I thought I would try it. So here goes:

Matt's grandmother made an amazing traditional bread pudding. Of course she never measured or anything so I'm not sure is there is a recipe anywhere, or if that would even matter. So since I couldn't duplicate that, I found a totally different bread pudding in hopes it would have receive a warm welcome, but not try to compete with tradition. I made a Coconut Bread budding with chocolate sauce.

First you broil your coconut and pineapple chunks

 

Then you mix eggs, egg whites, milk, coconut milk (which looks awful when you open the can but smells amazing and is very yummy in the end), vanilla and sugar altogether. And throw in coarsely chopped french bread cubes

Then you let that set for about 10 minutes. After you feel like it has soaked in enough goodness, you mix back in your coconut and pineapple and pour the whole mixture into a glass pan. Bake at 350 for 40-50 minutes until the bread is brown and the pudding is firm. After that you serve it up and drizzle chocolate on top. Now the recipe told me how to make homemade sauce, I just used Hersey's and it worked just fine.

 

And I can officially confirm it is better the next night! 

Happy Birthday Pops!

Who says your not perfect?

I started blogging again for a few reasons. One of them being because in December I received the best gift ever, a super sewing machine that embroiders. So I have started monogramming and appliqueing. As I try a new design or do a project for someone I try to grab a picture to document my progress and advertise what I can do. But I am noticing that every time I look at the pics, all I can see what is wrong with my work.

Is this normal? Other crafty, sewy friends....do you feel like you ever get it perfect? I feel like I am so careful when I sew and still something will happen. a stitch will skip, the hoop will jump, the t-shirt bunches etc etc etc. The worst is when I unhoop it, and it is just slightly crooked, ugh! And at some point soon, I don't want to blame the needle or the thread, I just want to get it just right.

Am I being too picky? Matt contends that I see things no one else can see, but I know they're there.

I also think I have a speed problem. Since I was little I have always like to finish first. It's why I have horrible handwriting and speeding tickets. So am I just rushing? I really really try not to. When I skip steps, I always do it to be more efficient, not sloppy. I am just looking for ways to improve the process, not do shoddy work. It sounds like I am admitting the problem, but I swear I have tried doing everything slowing, even some steps twice, and I still have mistakes.

I guess I just needed to get that off my chest. As more people order, I get more and more nervous about not being perfect. I don't anyone to ever be disappointed in a project they have paid good money for.

Until then, I will slow down and try hard.

Lambuth Brick

 

Lambuth is closing. June 30th. There is lots I have to say about that, but I'm not ready.

That being said. Tomorrow is the deadline to submit a brick design for a permanent pathway on campus to remember We are Lambuth, no matter what it says in the new offices.

But it is really, really hard to sum up all you feel about a place that gave you so much in 18 characters per 3 lines. Matt and I have worked for the past hour and here are the final three. I really need some feedback before this is LITERALLY set in stone. Deadline::3pm tomorrow!!

***UPDATE, I was informed SPACES count....had to edit further....*****

A. Favorite line from the Irish blessing that was sung after the Alma mater at every choir concert and major LU event.

May the wind be

Always at your
back The Washburns

(Don't like the layout, but if it's going to fit....)

B. Abbreviated quote from Dr. Suess, that really seems to sum it up nicely because we can't control that it is indeed over. (The real quote has the word because after cry and smile)

Don't cry it's over

Smile it happened. 

The Washburns

(for this one to work we have to shave 1 character off line 1, any ideas?)

C. Another quote, also abbreviated. Also a nice way to summarize our experience.

Past is behind us,

Love is around us

The Washburns

Your immediate participation is appreciated. Even if you aren't a Lambuth person, since it will be read by everyone. Thank you.

Thank Heaven for little girls

Just wanted to show off a few designs I have finished lately. Must be a girl boom, because I've been working with a LOT of pink lately!

I love little boys too, though!

I just updated my design page if anyone needs anything!

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Not trying to steal an idea from another friends blog but it's time for a haircut.....Bangs or no bangs. Vote please.

Elevator high

Yesterday Wesley and I visited Matt at work. Matt works in the tallest building in Memphis, and on one of the top floors no less. He likes the view but I have a small issue with heights.....

So obviously we had to take the elevator to the 26th floor. I pushed the call button, doors to one of the 9 elevators opened, we got in and I hit 26. No problem. Eh, until the doors closed and both Wes and I quickly realized this elevator had no electricity. It was a pitch black box. I thought surely this one doesn't work and we will get back off. That's when the red floor number lights came on. PS, It is quite ominous to have only red numbers lighting up in the dark as you hurtle up 26 floors. I acted like it was fine out loud, cause Wesley is a bright one and knew this was not ok. She kept saying "It's dark, It's dark, I want out" Mommy thought the same thing. But after an hour, ok ok 20 secs of sheer terror, the doors slid open to Matt's office and we ran out.


I had blocked this terrible memory, from yesterday, from my mind until I read this tweet just now:

@ShaneBattier: As I sit here in the elevator that is stuck between floors and wait for the fire dept to spring me, it is a good time to reflect on the

@ShaneBattier: Many blessings in my life, most notably working elevators.


I'm with you Shane, I'm with you. My heart goes out to you in your time of fear and trembling. May God be with you. And Go Grizz!