Wondering if I could convince Parker to dress like a fifties boy everyday.

July Happenings

We've had a fun month, full of trips and other fun events. And a few days of nothing, too!

Collin and Miles getting pumped up in the hot tub at Collin's house.

Audrey and I were invited to a screening of the new American Girl movie (Saige Paints the Sky). A girl from our stake (the blonde below) is the star! It was really fun.

Audrey, with Sidney, her costar, Madie (Audrey's friend) and Maddie (Madie's friend)

Cousin Jackson ended up in the hospital for a week after a bout with Rhabdomyolysis. Yikes!

Neal and Audrey both got new glasses this month, and we had fun trying on silly frames while they were shopping. Of course, these look silly to Miles, but little does he know that before he was born, Neal had some just like this!

Audrey and Trooper spooning. This crazy dog.

Biltmore Trip

Oh Neal and I had the most fabulous time visiting the Biltmore Estate and Asheville, North Carolina. We were given two free Southwest tickets to use at our leisure (before October), and after going back and forth about a suitable destination, we decided to go somewhere totally new. I had seen some photos on an instagram feed I follow of the Biltmore estate, and the girl mentioned that she was staying there. After a quick internet search, I found the extremely highly-rated Inn on Biltmore Estate, and booked a weekend for us! What a pleasant surprise it was; this trip was fantastic and the place exceeded all of our expectations! Our kids were able to stay with a mix of family and friends, and we are so grateful for all the wonderful people in our lives who make things like this possible!

We were flying stand-by, and weren't sure our arrival time would afford us any daylight at the Biltmore, so we stayed in nearby Flat Rock to save some dough. We spent the afternoon and evening in Asheville, a place I have always read about. It was lovely, full of hippies and interesting people and shops. The town is set right up against the Blue Ridge Mountains, and is completely gorgeous! We ate at the Tupelo Honey Cafe (yum), watched some musicians in the park, visited Malaprop's Bookstore and The Chocolate Fetish for some delicious truffles.

Before check-in time at the Biltmore, we drove along the Blue Ridge Parkway, took in breathtaking views and visited the Folk Art Center, where we picked up some gifts for the kids and a mini painting to add to my collection. Then it was on to the Biltmore Estate and Gardens for a day of beauty! 

Our fancy room.

The view from our window!

We took a hike the next morning, through the forest to Antler Hill Village, a little shopping and dining area below the inn.

The Inn from our hike starting point.

 We cooled off at the pool for a bit before heading back over to the house.

 We went back to the Inn to change for dinner (fanciness). The food in the Dining Room was so delicious.

Took a short walk after dinner.

View from breakfast before checking out. I really hated to leave this place, but made Neal promise we would come back. I hear it is positively magical at Christmastime.

Aunt Zilla Cook's 95th Birthday Party

Neal's great aunt, Zilla, turned 95 last week, and her church friends, daughter, son and daughter-in-law planned a sweet little western-themed party for her at their church. We were so pleased to be able to attend, as Aunt Zilla is such an amazing lady! She is the younger sister of Daddy Jeff's mother, May Ella Jackson (Horn). Daddy is 80, as we know, and his mother died years ago (1986). Zilla was born in 1918, 14 years after her sister. There were infant twin boys born between the girls, but they didn't live very long.

Aunt Zilla is a big fan of Texas peaches, so we packaged some of ours up and brought them as a gift.

Neal and Martha with their cousins, Andrea and Meredith, who are Aunt Zilla's grand daughters. Their mother is Zeldajean, Zilla's daughter.

 Daddy and Gail with Zilla, her son Jack, and his wife, Jeanne.

There were some dedications, and I filmed Daddy giving his. It was really sweet.

 The boys with Daddy Jeff.

Us with Aunt Zilla.

Some of the entertainment. The party was wonderful, and we were so happy to be there!

Perot Museum

The Perot Museum is always a great place to visit. We brought our new friends, the Roessners, and met up with our old buddies, the Johnsons, for a great day!

They had this fun exhibit called the Recycle Reef, where visitors create creatures and items out of recyclable materials, then add them to the massive "reef" with everyone else's creations. Miles and I made Bear on an Album surfboard.

Audrey's shark and Parker's jellyfish and marker raft.

Miles and Collin broadcasting the weather.

Scraping cells from their cheeks to examine their cells.

Audrey on a frog outside.

Louisiana Trip, Part IV

It's always fun, when gathering in large groups, to wear matching shirts and take photos! We did just that, and they turned out great!

All of the cousins except 6 (Ryan, Christine, their two kids Simon and Carmen, were in Utah with Morgan; and Meredith is on her mission.) Not too shabby for the backwoods of Louisiana!

 The whole crew. We were many.

 Daddy Jeff with Johnny and Nicholas.

 We switched locations.

Hangin' at the pool. We had a great trip!