What a Weekend!

Our weekend started early Friday morning when we headed up the road to Kentucky to check on my mom. She has been terribly sick for a couple of weeks now and I was getting worried about her so we wanted to go check in and make sure she was getting better -- and I'm glad to report that she is getting better.  It was a beautiful day Friday, 75 degrees and sunshine so we were able to enjoy their new screened porch that they added onto the house this summer.

It's really different. Im so used to going in and out of the other door but it was really nice. We were able to sit on the porch until really late that night. Here's the view from inside looking out

Very peaceful and relaxing (after Fred-n-Ted stopped blowing and picking up leaves)! Mike and Kim and Spencer came out and we enjoyed the night together! Since most of you haven't seen the new porch, here is the new view coming out of the Florida room.

Another BIG highlight of the day was when we went to see Mike's new car lot in Barbourville. After grabbing some local homemade lunch.. Mike took me on a tour through the little town where I grew up. It was amazing! The town hasnt really grown but a lot of things have changed.  The biggest treat was when he showed me my old Elementary school where his wife, my sister-in-law, Kim, teaches first grade.  Mike, Fred, and I ran up to her window outside her classroom and peeked in. She didnt even know we were coming to town so we really surprised her! Then we got to go inside "Mrs. Jones" classroom and meet her 29 first graders that she teaches all day long by herself without and aide!!!!! Oh dear Lord, she truly has a gift because these children were extremely well behaved. They were having a birthday/halloween party (the girl in the background is a mom.) Some of the kids asked if I was Mrs. Jones sister and I take that as a great compliment!

Then Saturday morning we got up and after purchasing some Grippo's we headed to Kodak, TN for Timothy Sterbens wedding, (yes, on Halloween) It was supposed to be outside by the river at Tom and Brenda's Log Cabin Home with a horse and carriage etc... but it rained so it was in the foyer of the church.

Two very handsome men

His new wife, Laura, actually made her own wedding cake. Isn't it gorgeous! It was sitting on a real slab of wood just chopped this morning for her cake. I loved the two little blue birds on top and the sign was pointing to the wedding. Each layer was a different flavor!

All of her decorations were from Dollywood. Her father is the owner of Challenger, the American Bald Eagle that is in so many productions. Challenger was the ring bearer and flew the wedding rings in at the appointed time. He was AMAZING. He doesnt even look real close up.

Tim and his new bride, Laura Jean. Her dress was gorgeous. It doesnt show in this picture but it was a very antique bronze-like color. It looked vintage but it wasn't. Wish I had gotten a better picture.

After enjoying a wonderful BBQ meal, we rushed home to go to Rachel's Fabulous Halloween Feast that we go to every year but learned on our way home that Ella Rose was at the doctor's office and was just diagnosed with the flu, an ear infection, and had a fever.  Marissa and Kevin struggled with what to do because we all love going to Rachel's but we didnt want to get any of her children sick so we decided to just go eat and let Ella wear her costume at the restaurant. We figured she wouldnt get close enough to anyone there to make them sick. Marissa had motrin in her enough to last through the meal.  They were dressed as "Earth, Wind, and Fire." Ellas was "Earth." Marissa did a great job on her costume!

Ellas hat has grass and little butterflies dancing on top of her head!

It was a great weekend and now we get one hour extra sleep tonight to help us make it to church in the morning!