Sweet Home Alabama

 

This has been our home since mid February and we will miss our quiet little haven at North Riverview, but it is time to move on to new things...

 

The job we won't miss, but boy will we miss our weekends with the Hiatt's and our cabin in the woods.  So long, Alabama...next stop, The Ozarks. 

 



All aboard the Chattanooga Choo Choo!

Rock City

A few weekends ago all four of us went to Chattanooga for the weekend!  It was a much needed and welcomed weekend and we spent time relaxing with a picnic lunch at Rock City.  Rock City reminded us of a enchanted garden (like something you would see in a Disney movie) that some old lady created years ago and still exists today.

Afterward, we visited Ruby Falls...a 145 foot tall waterfall 1,120 feet underground.  Definitely impressive!  The next day we walked the streets of downtown Chattanooga, ate lunch, and stopped by an Art Festival before heading back to camp. 

I cannot emphasize how good it has been getting to hangout with Andrew, Christina, and baby Hiatt.  Even when work has been out of control, the 3 of them are a perfect reason to be in the South. 

anyone remember David the Gnome?

Busy Busy Busy!

To sum up our last few weeks…

 

 

B –  Baby Announcements from both sides of the family!!

A –  Andrew and Christina visited camp

B – Baking Cinnamon Rolls over a fire

Y- Yummy Asian food weekend

 

H – Hiking and biking through Desota State Park

I – Intense bouldering action packed day

A – A Rocket Launch!

T- Taking baby Hiatt on its first caving experience

T- Tons of hours spent at work

Happy Easter 2013

Andrew Hiding Easter Eggs

Last weekend we were able to celebrate Easter with Christina and Andrew for the first time since they moved to Alabama.  We ALSO got to celebrate with my parents and Sadie the wonder dog!

Although it was rainy, we still had fun.  We went on an Easter Egg hunt throughout the house, ate lots of food, attended church, watched/slept through the bunny picnic, and ended the weekend by having my mom and dad come up to Lookout Mnt. for a day of camp. 



Lunch by the falls at camp

The day at camp included eating lunch by a waterfall, hiking, and relaxing with a game of cards and dinner before mom and dad  headed back to Hunstville. 

Hope everyone's Easter was just as enjoyable as ours!

 

 

"Then the angels declared, He is not here, He is risen."  Luke 24:6 

“You like pool parties?”

canyon waterfall

Another item got crossed off our Southern experience list…a visit to Chic-Fil-A!  Thanks to the generosity of Christina and Andrew, Jesse got to enjoy his first meal at this fine chicken establishment.  We also got the privilege of experiencing “Southern Hospitality” from a middle aged woman who decided to get her Saturday night off to an early start.  She invited us (along with everyone else in the restaurant) to her April 20^th pool party, told us stories about dwarf tossing, and then stumbled on her way. 

Jericho

First Chick-Fil-A

Of course, nothing could spoil our appetite after a long 6 mile hike to the Walls of Jericho.  It was steep, but worth it.  Along the trail, we got to see a hundred-year-old cemetery, traverse some pretty cool foot-bridges, see waterfalls, and climb up the amphitheater-like canyon walls.  

…and as if the day couldn’t get better, we ended it with a pot of fondue J

The Southern Experience Begins...

We started to check off some of the things we wanted to experience while in the South. 

So Far on the List…

#1 Unclaimed Baggage Store –  A wonderful store where all the unclaimed baggage across America gets sent to.  It was much bigger than we expected and found a few good bargains…although it does seem a little weird there was so much used underwear for sale

#2 Jack Daniel Distillery­  -  We finally joined the long list of Williams’ Family members who have made the pilgrimage to Lynchburg TN.  Highlights included free lemonade, a mini blizzard outside,  visiting the shops downtown…and almost getting drunk off the air around the distillery. 

#3 Spending time with Christina and Andrew - One of the best things about living in the South is being closer to my Southern sister and bro-in-law.   So far we have been able to visit them in Huntsville and they have come seen us atop Lookout Mountain.  This weekend, we hiked to DeSoto Falls together, crawled through rocks, and saw Welsh Caves…which may show pre-Columbian settlement by Europeans- holy smokes.     

 

There are still many other things we want to do while down here, including visiting Mammoth Cave, sampling a mess of Crispy Cream donuts, a trip to Chattanooga, eating Chick-Fil-A, hiking some of the Appalachian Trail, and hopefully seeing much much more of Christina and Andrew!

What Happened?

S. Dakota Hike going  up to Mount Rushmore

You might not know this because of our lack of blog posting, but eventually they made us leave the Tetons…and so just like none of the pioneers ever did, we packed our bags and headed East.  First stop, S. Dakota via Yellowstone.  We spent several days backpacking through the Black Hills, spelunking, and car camping in National Forests along the way.  We also made sure to spend some time in our beloved Nebraska; visiting Chimney Rock, Scotts Bluff National Monument, Agate Fossil Beds, and finally ended our journey with camping and fishing at Lake Ogallala. 

Agate Fossil Beds

The next few months were spent living and working temporary/seasonal jobs in Lincoln.  Laura and John got married, we spent the Holidays with family, were able to rejoin our Bible Study, and much fun was had by all.  But of course, we have a tendency to not stay in one place for too long and answered adventure’s call once again…IT WAS TIME WE BECAME SOUTHERNERS!

We will be spending the next few months in Mentone Alabama, atop Lookout Mountain, drinkin’ moonshine, eatin’ crawdads, and teaching kids about nature.  We done become outdoor educators. 

Look out Alabama, here we come….oh wait, “are”….because we moved here a week ago.