Our Little Weekend Trip - MANATEE SPRINGS

This is one of the springs in FL - Manatee Springs. It is about 20 minutes from the Gulf Coast. As you can see, this water is crystal clear. It is very, very deep and also very, very cold (73 degrees)!! Once you get in tho and start moving, it feels great. We got up very early and drove 2 1/2 hours to get here. We stopped and had some breakfast on the way. Then we went hiking around the springs and then we went swimming. On the way home we stopped for a delicious dinner. We had an absolutely wonderful day together!!

From the mission

Here are some pics from when we went to La Purisima mission last weekend. We will put more on shutterfly some time this weekend .

Enjoying NOT having wheels!

The view from my window last night...

Two things I have truly enjoyed this spring here in Tennessee...are the gorgeous Southern Magnolia trees and the sweet fragrance of honeysuckle in the air!

We walked from our house to downtown Clinton today. This little town has more antique shops in it than I have ever seen anywhere else.

We ran(or walked rather, haha) a couple of errands today...to Ace and Walgreens. We were out walking for 3 hours today! Great exercise.

We stumbled into a treasure today! We discovered this classic old fashioned soda fountain shop! You can savor their delicious milkshake from one of those tall vintage soda glasses. We will definitely be coming back here...I can't wait to show this place to Kevin! :)

Friends and Frog Cupcakes

Yesterday, Jean and Ben came over for lunch and a fun afternoon of playing and visiting. I made everyone a Frog Cupcake for desert...then the kids and Jean decorated their own frog cupcakes, their finished cupcakes are pictured below. The kids had fun playing w/toys, serenading us w/the lap harp, drums, and xylophone, and then outside for some bike riding. It was a fun day!

Homeschool Field Trip

Today, a group of us homeschoolers from Antioch went on a field trip to Sam Houston's Historic Schoolhouse. We were taken on a tour through the museum and listened to a history lecture on Sam Houston's life. Then we sat in Sam Houston's schoolhouse, which he founded in the year 1812 and was the teacher at the age 17. I could go on and on about all the history facts that I found fascinating today...but, that would probably bore many of you...so, I won't. :) The kids did learn how to grind and sift corn into flour and how the pioneers made their wooden roof shingles and wax candles. At the end of the slide show, you will see Allyson and a group of girls pretending they are teaching in Sam Houston's schoolhouse.

Funny videos

Found these old videos while I was going through back up cds. These were taken right before I came out here to live.

Embassy Suites

Saturday evening, because Kevin and I were both tired, we stopped for the night in Peoria, Ill. Beautiful hotel!

Needless to say, we rode the elevator quite a bit! :)

Our window...there were no rooms available w/the river view.

Allyson and I had fun exploring this place...

If there's one thing my little Ally likes, it's all you can eat buffets! In the morning, we feasted on an absolutely unbelievable free breakfast buffet...w/a chef available to cook your requests.

Videos below of some elevator rides...

After you have finished watching "Riding the elevator"...you will see the videos "Going down" and "Going up" are available for viewing as well.

Riding the elevator from Candace Hanna on Vimeo.

Tuesday at Sarah's

Allyson playing soccer w/the boys...



Best Friends Forever...

We had a fun afternoon of jumping on the trampoline, playing on the swing set, having scavenger hunts, and eating w/friends.

Sarah's trampoline from Candace Hanna on Vimeo.

HORSES!

Ok...I probably took too many pictures here at Uncle Bob and Aunt Jo's home, which is an over 100 acre beautiful horse farm! But everyone who knows me...KNOWS that I CAN NEVER GET ENOUGH OF HORSES!

The miniature horses...

This mini really liked Grandma...she kept nuzzling the top of Grandma's head :)

Time to go riding!

Just wait until I get my own horse...can you imagine all the horse pictures you guys will have to see then?

Uncle Bob gave the kids a ride on his four wheeler...Kaleb liked this better than the horses! At least Allyson is a horse lover like her mother! :)

This is my favorite picture! Taken outside the tack room.

Kaleb and Allyson riding from Candace Hanna on Vimeo.

Whitley hands

please go to kristinahw.shutterfly.com and password "pontiac" to see many more NEW pictures in folder 2010.

Happy Mothers Day

There is no sweeter more wonderful mother in the whole world, and we are all so lucky to to be your children. I wish I could have seen you today and given you a big hug and kiss. I know you had a wonderful Mother's Day because you got to be with the most wonderful Daddy in the whole world AND you have four children, three son-in-laws and five grandchildren who love you more than anything!! WE LOVE YOU!!

Around home

Standing in line for an ice cream cone...

Petting one of her "babies"...

Deciding where to plant things...

Below are videos of Travis riding the toy roller coaster(remember that toy, Aunt Katie?), Allyson chasing a chicken, and working in the garden.

Saturday, May 1st

"Chalk the Walk" ...that is what was going on in Mt. Vernon, Iowa this last weekend. So, the kids and I went to check it out. Some of the chalk drawings were really amazing...this form of art work is done often in Italy.

Doing some window and street shopping along the way...

This is Kevin's grandmother's farm...and we are very thankful that we have this place to staying during the week we are here. (can you find two little monkeys in this picture?)

Last Saturday Part 2

When we got home, the Kendalls and Olivia's parents came over for a visit. Caleb and Meradeth started watering the flowers and then ended getting completely wet. Then they got a hold of mera's markers.
After the Kendalls left, we all walked down the pool and went swimming and then sat in the hot tub.
At the end of the day, we went to Grammie's house and had ice cream cones and root beer floats.

Last Saturday

Matching outfits. Mera and Daddy were playing the guitar for a while when they woke up and then realized they matched! Then they walked down to grammie's house and Mera and Grammie realized they matched!
Then we drove to Avila Beach campground to visit Grandpa and Stacy. We had such a great visit and they loved playing with their grandkids.

5 Boys & 3 Girls

This is Papa and Grandma's load of grandchildren! Quite a bunch! :)
Sadie, Hanna, Levi, Travis, Kaleb, Allyson, Isaac, and Micah

Friday on the Farm

Kevin tilled, Allyson and Kaleb helped plant, Travis threw dirt around, and I took pictures.

Kevin has more work to do in the garden before it's complete...I'll take a picture of the finished product!