Paddle-Boating

Friday night we loaded our car up with camping gear and headed out to a local state park.  We met up with four other families from our ward.  We enjoyed sitting around the campfire savoring s'mores, banana boats, peach cobbler and popcorn.  The picture below is slightly dark...just imagine Seth using his campfire popcorn popper.

Our tent was set up on slightly slopped ground.  Every couple hours I found myself near the bottom of the tent and had to scoot back up to the top.  Surprisingly we slept into almost 9:30 am.  After breakfast we explored the campground lake.  Then we played a round of putt putt...I'm not much of a putt putter...I would much rather drive the ball.  Nevertheless, Seth scored a hole-in-one and I scored two.  

We also rented a paddle boat and enjoyed our picnic out on the lake.  It was the first time I had attempted a paddle boat since my sister and I got stuck in the little lake around Lagoon...this time around was a little more successful and much more romantic.

Our next stop was the fish hatchery...but we drove a little too far and ended up at the North Carolina and South Carolina border.  We took advantage of the opportunity to stop for picture.

The best part of the fish hatchery was feeding the fish...they definitely fought for their food.

Another fabulous weekend in the South.  I can't help but feel like we are running out of time here...we have so many things on our Southern Bucket list and only 8 months until Seth graduates.

Tiger trivia

It finally cooled down a little bit and we were able to pull out some of sweatshirts and jackets and enjoy being outside this past weekend.  Friday night we headed to the Botanical Gardens for an outdoor concert.  It was heaven to be snuggled up under a blanket listening to music.  The concert was free and they will continue every Friday night through October...next time we plan to take a picnic. 

Saturday, Seth scored some tickets to the Clemson vs. Auburn game for us.  It's hard to tell in the picture below but the pond was dyed orange...it really just looked muddy but still festive.

A little ACC trivia...

1. Which team has a mascot of a tiger? (A) Clemson (B) Auburn
2. For which team is orange a color? (A) Clemson (B) Auburn
3. Which state is Auburn located in? (A) Tennessee (B) Texas (C) Alabama (D) Arizona
4. When was the last time Clemson beat Auburn? (A) 2007 (B) Never (C) 1989 (D) 1951

The stadium was absolutely filled with tigers...Auburn apparently has the same mascot as Clemson.  Auburn also shares the color of orange and blue...which from a distant looks exactly like Clemson's colors of orange and purple.  We thought they were based out of Tennessee...but it turns out they are from Alabama.  The last time Clemson beat Auburn was 1951.  Prior to the game the series record stood at 33-11 with Auburn leading.    

Well we witnessed one historic game...Clemson pulled off a victory with a score of 38-24.  Auburn were the National Champions last year...our victory ended their 17 game winning streak.  After the game we tried to rush the field...most of the rushing was complete by the time we got down there...we did touch Howard's famous rock.

We ended the night watching the Cougars give the Utes the game on a silver platter...at least Sarah and Joe got to sit behind "The Jimmer."  GO UTES! 

Brasstown Falls

 

Saturday we headed to Westminster, SC for the Annual Apple Festival.  We enjoyed all of the booths and the fried apple pie that we sampled.  The festival also included a car show.  We picked out two of our favorites.  This 1940 truck was stunning..I think my brother Jeff would love this one too.

We also liked this 1970 VW Beetle.  It brought back some great memories and I think my sister Sarah wouldn't mind cruising around in this one too.  

 
Our next stop was Brasstown Falls.  It took just five minutes to walk to these falls from where we parked our car.  We spotted a  few campers on our way down to the falls and we may just have to head back for a night of camping.  Here is a shot of the upper falls.  

And here is a shot of the lower falls.  The mist coming off the falls was amazing.

I tried to get Seth to pull an Ariel on this rock but it was a little to slimy for his taste.  Just after this shot he spotted the largest worm he had ever seen.  He said he would have thrown it at me had he not been afraid of it himself.

After Brasstown Falls we headed to an apple orchard.  We picked half a bushel and also bought fresh apple cider as well.  Tonight we are going to make apple fritters...my mouth is already watering.

dodgy [ˈdɒdʒɪ]

Seth came home one night this week and told me he was playing in a dodge ball tournament...I thought he was joking...but he apparently wasn't.  He and five other guys from his program had signed up to play in a tournament on campus Friday night.  I went as a "dodge ball mom."  Seth's team played in three whole three minute games before being eliminated.  I had a blast watching all nine minutes.  

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARK!

One year older and wiser too...Happy Birthday to you!  We loved playing with you this summer and think you are one awesome ninja!

BE MARVELous

Seth and I are back at school and work.  Back to the grindstone you could say.  I decided to decorate my room this year and Seth was my inspiration...he even came to help me decorate.  My theme this year is "BE MARVELous."  The kids have loved it.  I told them that when they come into my room they have to "BE MARVELous" and do their very best work.  My door looks like this...

As you walk into my classroom I also have a "Hall of Heroes" where my students will draw a picture or bring in a picture of their personal heroes.

Here is another look at the "Hall of Heroes."  On the other wall I have comic covers hanging up with comic strips.

I rearranged my room and I like it a lot.  I know get to look at the window while I am completing endless medicaid paperwork.

I also have an area with a carpet for my preschool kiddos and a couple of student computers.

It looks like this year will be much easier...I already know all of my students, their parents and the teachers.  They also know me and how I run the show so the first week went very smoothly.  Something else that is helping things run smoothly is this language chart that I created.  It has various language activities that are quick and easy.  If any of my fellow SLPs are interested in making one, give me a shout out and I'll email all of the Boardmaker sheets I created.

Atlanta Braves

Saturday we headed to Atlanta for the Atlanta Braves vs. Arizona Diamondbacks game.  We decided to stop at the Atlanta Temple for a session earlier in the day.  Then we stopped by Super H-Mart, a specialty Asian food store.  We got slightly lost looking for the store and by the time we arrived we were both starving.  We were able to order some yummy food from the food court. 

After lunch we wandered around the market.  The produce section was incredible.  We tried golden kiwi...

We stumbled across a Jack Melon.  It was the shape of a watermelon but the texture on the outside was very unusual.  I searched for this picture online...and the inside looks interesting too. 

We brought two melons home with us a Hami melon and a Korean melon.

The seafood section was very lively...they had live lobsters, fish and crabs. 

After a few more errands we headed to the game.  If we look hot in the picture above it is because we were...it was in the low 90s with lots of humidity.  There is definitely a reason Atlanta is referred to as Hotlanta.

We had a great time at the game.  We loved seeing the downtown Atlanta skyline in the background.  Our hotdogs were delicious.  Each time a home run was hit, fireworks came out of this huge Coke bottle.  We got to see 3 home runs over the course of the game.  They also had pyrotechnics go off when a player struck out.  

My favorite part of the game was doing the tomahawk when the bases were loaded.  Seth's favorite part of the game was right near the end when a fan ran out on to the field.  He was quickly tackled by the five security officers that ran after him.

We stayed until the bitter end...the final score was Atlanta Braves 8, Arizona Diamondbacks 1.  It was fun to experience a Braves game.

But not so fun driving home from a Braves game.  This may have been our last trip to Atlanta.  We have checked everything off our list that we wanted to see...and we really hate the traffic.