Chattanooga!

We had a fantastic day trip up to Chattanooga! We'd never been up there in our four years in Georgia. First we hit Rock City, which is still technically in GA right inside the border, but it's part of the Chattanooga area attractions. It's an amazing place to see! A whole walking trail through rock formations, tunnels, waterfalls and creeks, caves and cliffs, all beautifully landscaped with incredible flowers and gardens.

 

 

Next we hit Ruby Falls, the largest underground waterfall in the world! You start by going down an elevator 26 stories into the mountain, then walk half a mile through the cave system full of amazing formations.

 

Ta-da! Amazing! They have colored lights and music playing like it's a Vegas show... haha :) But it's very beautiful! It's 140 feet tall, and they still have no idea what the water source is. That seriously intrigues me. Wouldn't you think there'd be mountain x-rays or something by now? ;)

 



"Western Sunset"- it was fun how they labeled and lit up different areas of the cave.

By far my favorite, most accurate formation:

View of Chattanooga from the top of the Ruby Falls tower:

Next was the Incline Railway: the steepest train in the world! It just goes back and forth, one mile up and down Lookout Mountain. The entire thing is angled and the aisle is stairs. The roof is all windows, and you ride up the mountain backwards so you can face out to see the view. 

British Soccer Camp!

Both boys attended a week long British Soccer Camp & had a GREAT time! British soccer playing college students come over for the summer to do these camps, and the kiddos absolutely worship them. Sawyer did it last year, but this was Hunter's first time being able to participate (now that he's four), so he was absolutely thrilled. Sawyer's team is on top with Coach Dean & Hunter's in the action shot below.

 

Beach Day!

 

We hit Acworth Beach for the first time, about twenty minutes north of us. The boys had a great time with their play group from church! This is one of the few days this summer that hasn't been rainy, so we made the most of it!

End of School!

Sawyer's last day of school was May 23rd. Here he is with his teacher, Mrs. Mustoe, and his certificate for receiving ALL THREES on his report card (equivalent of all As for elementary school grading).  We're so proud of Sawyer! Especially for his improvement in writing, his least favorite thing to do. He was the best reader in his class as well! He tested at a 3rd grade level. He loves reading small chapter books, like Magic Treehouse and Hardy Boys (younger version, not original).

This was his last year at Brumby Elementary, since we moved to a new house and will start at a new school for second grade.

 

The end of the school year also meant the end of being a Tiger Cub! Here he is receiving his Tiger Patch. Joe was his den leader, so he's helping lead the ceremony that day.

 

Congratulations, Sawyer! He'll miss his friends in his pack, but is looking forward to new friends at a new school, too.

First Pine Derby!

Sawyer had his first cub scout pine derby back in March! He was a tiger cub with the after-school cub scout pack, and Joe was his den leader. There ended up being some kind of 'scandal' (mix-up) with the derby, because his car actually won in his 'heat' (we have it on video), but the adult at the finish line said another car was the winner. Sawyer was obviously very upset, but handled the situation with grace, trying to explain and defend himself once, but ultimately listening to the adult leader and taking his car to go sit down & be done. I think it worked out for the best, though, because we had a sweet ending: All of the kids voted for "Best Looking Car" and Sawyer's car WON!  He got a trophy, while the winners of the races got little medals for around their necks.

 

Easter!

When we picked our closing date on our house, we didn't put it together that it meant we'd be moving on Easter weekend (oops)! Luckily we still squeezed in some Easter fun for these kiddos. My good friend Becky hosted a special Easter/farewell to Carrie play group, and it had a MASSIVE turnout! We decorated sugar cookies and had an outdoor egg hunt: in the SNOW! We couldn't believe there were snow flurries the week of Easter, since Easter 2012 was SMOLDERING.

 

 

Easter Sunday we had our best friends over for Easter dinner and an egg hunt in our new house. We were so excited to finally have a big yard to hide eggs in, but then it stormed most of the day... haha :) Oh well! Luckily we were in the new place with enough space indoors to make it not-too-lame.

 

(the youngest Easter kiddo, June-bug... she had a good Easter, too!)

The Big Goodbye

I knew it would be sad to switch wards (church congregations), but people were really acting like we were moving across the country!  Haha :)  We only went 20 minutes away, just the wrong direction, causing us to switch wards. But, like one friend said, for some reason it's like a Chinese Wall, where you totally lose touch with people if you're not seeing them at church all the time anymore. But I'm hoping to prove them wrong & keep visiting all my favorite people!

 

These were the wonderful ladies I was in the Relief Society Presidency with, over the Paper Mill Ward. We all became good buddies, so they took me out for dinner at La Madeleine before the "big move". We had an awesome 3-4 hour dinner together. :) I was just getting the hang of the Relief Society leadership thing, so I'm wondering if I'll be put into it in our new ward, too.  Part of me hopes for a less 'heavy' calling this time, too, so we'll see!

Two Week Difference!

What a difference two weeks in April makes! Love the view off our back deck.

 

Officially a Kindt House!

There is finally a Kindt house in Georgia! We closed on it on Monday March 25th. It's hard to believe it's ours! Some friends say it can take awhile for it to feel 'normal', so I'll give it a month or two. I'm still in shock that it even exists: a house that had everything we wanted (in our price range)! So now my brain has to comprehend that after two years of searching, I finally found the one that has everything, PLUS we actually GOT it. Shock shock shock. I'm so grateful I'm sort of sick about it.

 

Seinfeld

Jerry Seinfeld came through Atlanta on March 8th.  His show was fantastic!!  I really didn't know how a single person could stand and tell jokes for over an hour, but somehow he's figured it out. So many new jokes for Joe and I to laugh about, since we've basically tapped out all the ones from the TV series. :)

 

At the Fox Theatre! It's so beautiful inside.