Badminton

Our new yard is the perfect spot for family games: wiffle ball, soccer, and (our latest craze) badminton.   This past week, we unpacked our net (a wonderful and generous gift from good friends), and immediately set it up in the front yard.  All week, the kids have been perfecting their shuttlecock skills, and we've had family tournaments at night. :)

Our new yard has nearly an acre of cleared, fairly flat land in the front, sloping up to a ridge and 4 acres of wood in the back.  The yard and the fact this is a good neighborhood for riding bike was one of the biggest attractions to this house.  There have been lots of happy surprises with the property: blueberries on the ridge, planted garden beds (with tomatoes, radishes, and kale!), flowering bushes and butterflies, and birds visiting our bird feeder visible from every window in the back of the house.

We miss our lake and our old neighborhood, but this we're off to a pretty great start with this new space :)

Eyebrows

We love Emory's expressive eyebrows :)

Grandpa's Lake

 

In early June, as we were between homes (with Mike having started his new job in East Tennessee before we closed on our new house), I traveled with the kids to Cincinnati.  We had spent 2 weeks in our old home by ourselves, but were ready to have some extra help and time with family.  We stayed 12 days with my parents, and Mike joined us for the weekends.  This was also Emory's first big trip and introduction to our extended family :)

Our first weekend with Mike in Cincinnati, we were all thrilled to spend the day with Grandpa (Mike's dad) on the lake.  This is always such a treat.  The kids had a ball!  

 

Steele Creek

Two weeks into our new home, with Mike out of town for work, we were pleased to have company and help from Gramma and Cousin Zoey - our very first guests!

We ventured out to explore our new area each day, and with the extra help to stay home with kids, I had the luxury of time to run errands and figure my way around our new grocery store.  I also got a few pictures hung and our living room painted, and the kids weeded the garden beds.

One of the highlights for the kids during our week (besides riding bikes and coaxing cousin Zoey into an Airsoft battle - she's a good sport!), was our trip to Steele Creek Park.  This park in the heart of Bristol has hiking trails, playgrounds, picnic shelters, a train, Nature Center, and soon-to-open splash pad . . . and a fantastic creek!  We picnicked on burgers, chili dogs, and frenchie fries from Pal's and the kids waded, splashed, swam, and slid in the wide, shallow, cold-water mountain creek.  This was a perfect refreshing outing for a hot summer day.

We're excited to discover these great spots. 

We were thankful to have Gramma and Zoey to visit so soon after our move.  It was nice to share our new home and explore this new place with family . . . and so wonderful to have the extra help!

*Our other new favorite outing: the downtown library with doughnuts at Blackbird Bakery, our new weekly tradition :)

Roll Over

Emory is growing more mobile - she's rolling over!

(3-1/2 months old)

Roan Mountain State Park

We've been doing out best to balance exploring this new location with unpacking boxes and settling into our new home.  This week, we put together 4 bunk beds (after painting one), and carted off a garage-sized load of empty moving boxes (woot woot!) . . . so this weekend, we took a break from the house and ventured off to explore another local state park: Roan Mountain State Park.

We are excited to be living in such close proximity to so many amazing state parks.  East Tennessee is a beautiful part of the country.  We had been told Roan Mountain had some of the best hiking and most picturesque views in the area - yes, please :)

The kids were troupers, hiking 2 different short trails in this first visit.  Both moderate in difficulty, with steep paths and fallen trees and mountain streams to navigate across.  It was wonderful to get out for an adventure. 

After our hikes, we drove to an scenic overlook near a restored mountain homestead.  Gorgeous!