The end...

We are home safe and sound and truly had an enjoyable summer. Not ready for school mode just yet, so we are just doing what we have to do.

Our time in TN were very fun. I was nervous that David wasn't going to like being in the middle of the woods, in a log cabin, but he was fine and is looking forward to returning.

Dollywood is not somewhere we need to go back to, but we had a nice enough day. The park itself is beautifully kept, but the attractions won't be confused with Disney World any time soon. We had dinner at Dixie Stampede and that was actually alot of fun. The show was cleaver, and action packed. There were live animal races-- Nothing like witnessing a pig race, in Pork Chop Downs. The dinner was served without silverware. Jeffrey was happy about that. We went with Gramma Joan and she was excited by how much fun Jeffrey had. It was a long day and we all collapsed when we got back home. The next day, David and Jeffrey went to explore the Lost Sea Discovery. It was an adventure and they had a great time in the underground caves. In the middle of the underground, there is a full sized lake, which was big enough to see via a boat ride. I passed on this one and went to a great scrapbook store, an hour away, in Knoxville.

Our trip was cut a little short because David's father has had some health concerns. He is hospitalized and hopefully we'll have a better idea of where things are at, by Tuesday or Wednesday. He turns 95 on September 1.

We drove straight home in 14 hours. It was not that bad, but we didn't want to stop, unpack the car, go into another hotel etc. We got home at 2am Friday. We are still sort of blurry, but taking things as they come.

Thanks for following our adventure-- we have started planning next summer, starting out in Houston. For now, we have some grand ideas, but it is too early to really plan anything solid. Jeffrey definitely is going back to Magic Tree House Camp-- one more year reprieve from overnight camp.

Enjoy the Dog Days of Summer. We have murmurings of hurricanes lurking, but the way I see it, we are going to be fine. We installed shutters two hurricane seasons ago and I feel entitled to no storms for at least 15 years--that way, I'll feel we got our money's worth.