Wednesday June 27th, 2012

I spent today at The Center For Family Development's all staff retreat. Because our offices are hours apart the director tries to get the all the staff together a few times a year for team building and additional trainings. We meet in Smyrna at the Rosenwald Community Center. The center is a replica of one of the first black school houses in this area of Tenessee.



One of the trainings we had to complete was about child abuse reporting. I found some of the information extremely interesting.

We discussed the story of Mary Ellen Wilson, the first case of child abuse that was ever processed in the United States in 1874. This case initiated the creation of laws to protect children again child abuse in the US. Interestingly, we had laws against animal abuse and cruelty before we did for children....


We also discussed "The Money Tree". A really interesting video that shows how people respond to money tied to a tree.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsN8FUV9nS4&noredirect=1




I also bought a braclet that was made by a woman in Haiti. The proceeds will go back to aid her and other families in Haiti that are struggling and in poverty. Our Director is actually going to Haiti in November to work with the families and orphans there.

Monday June 25th, 2012

We LOVE Turk dog :)

You can tell Turk dog loves our bed...







And that he's a begger :)

Sunday June 24th, 2012

Andy and I had a "doughnie day" (a movie and doughnuts) before my family got here today. We got donuts from Doughnuts Delight and watched "The Iron Lady", a film based on the life of Margaret Thatcher.


Mom, Rach and the kids got here late in the afternoon. We had dinner at The Blackhorse and just spent time around the house. Unfortunately it was so chaotic I didn't get many pictures...but I got a few. Especially the one of Andy starting to make pina coladas in the living room so that we wouldn't wake up the kids...we needed a drink by then :)

Saturday June 23rd, 2012

Today Andy and I spent a lot of time finishing organizing the attic because my mom, Rach and the kids will be staying with us tomorrow.

This is how Turk dog helped:)




Andy and I also did our typical night out - Indian food and then over to Books-A-Million. I bought "The Great Gatsby" because I've never read it and we saw a preview and it's coming out in 3D soon! So I want to read the book before we see the movie.

Thursday June 21st, 2012

Wednesday June 20th, 2012

Today we had a picnic at Valleybrook Park for all of the families in our Healthy Start and Healthier Beginnings programs! It was a HOT day! It's been in the 90s for probably at least a week now and it doesn't look like it's going to cool down any time soon :/ We had the picnic from 11-2Pm which was definitely not the best time when it's 90+ outside. It was still a lot of fun though and I've told Andy we have to invest in a picnic basket because we're going to have a picnic now :)



This is definitely the staff playing parachute by themselves :) And I can't lie I was walking over to join in :)




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Pretty Bird

Tuesday June 19th, 2012

I have become obsessed with these!! Sonic's cream slushes! YUMMMM!

Monday June 18th, 2012

Andy had today off so we got to have lunch together. We went to a little local restaurant called the Lovin' Spooful Cafe. It's definitely unique - it has paint-by-number paintings COVERING its walls...all of them!







These are their grit cakes....the best thing ever :)


We were bad and also had dinner out tonight. We went to a great Thai place called Duke's Diner. It's actually half American/half Thai food but the Thai food is SOOO good because it's actually made by a Thai woman. This is their Pad Thai, my FAV!!



Oooo and my very first Vera Bradley purchase came in today too! Every Vera that I own has been given to me and I bought myself a few things last week for our vacation coming up!

Sunday June 17th, 2012...again :)

Falling Skies starts tonight!

Sunday June 17th, 2012 Father's Day

Unfortunately neither Andy or I could be with our dads today for Father's Day :( Instead we had a quiet day at home....except when we went out to see Battleship :)



While we were in Louisville dad saw some chess sets and really liked them, so me and Rach decided to get him a chess set for Father's Day. We got a "cowboy and indians" themed set.



And I just can't help but post this :) Turk dog sitting like a little man :)

Saturday June 16th, 2012 - Part 2

After we left Centennial Park we decided to browse some of the antique shops in Nashville.





This is Downtown Antiques, the "D" didn't quite make it into the picture :)



I initially thought this was a sled...Andy informed it was a medical stretcher for the Army in WWII. Common mistake :)



This is a WWII officer's trunk that Andy got.


We also tried to go to an antique store at the old warehouse for Marathon Motor Works.





When we showed up we couldn't find the antique store but we found a few other neat things. The old builing has been refurbished and is now used for offices.



Parts of the building are also starting to be used for retail businesses. Andy and I actually waited in line to go to Antique Archeology, the first store started by the guys from American Pickers!

The line we stood in...


The picture I asked the guy managing the line to take of me and Andy :)


And inside the store (which does not have cheap stuff!)





An old dentist chair! Ekks



These are light bulbs we really liked :)



Right next to Antique Archeology was the Bang Candy Store, or so we thought. It actually didn't have any candy :/...


The building next to the main warehouse also had a really cool flea market, Porter Flea Market.





This is a picture of the necklace I got from the flea market, it's actually an old t-shirt tye-dyed and twisted!



Nashville has a growing number of food trucks that move around the city as well. They just happened to be right outside the Porter Flea Market today! We had just eaten a few hours ago and weren't hungry so we didn't sample anything :( But we will next time!!



After we left Nashville (as if the day hadn't been long enough :) we decided to take a detour home through Springfield, TN. SPringfield definitely felt more like a small Indiana town to me :)







This is a tea shop that I have wanted to go to for a while but it was closed.



We decided to have dinner at one of the local restaurants in Springfield called, The Depot.



This restaurant had THE BEST food! It was all fresh and unique! We were SO impressed. I think our absolute favorite was the smoked duck and candied pecan quesadilla appetizer that we got...it was SOOO good I had to take a picture of it! And this picture definitely doesn't do it justice!



When we left there was such a pretty sunset I had to capture it :)



These are the days with Andy that I love and will always remember:)