To quote one of Maddy's favorite "horse expressions" (ala Farmer Boy), the kids watched with "wide eyed wonder". (This is vastly preferable to Maddy's other favorite horse expression...."stern disapproval".)
The cook put on a good show, especially when the flames came out!
On Saturday morning we finished packing the apartment. Sadly, we had to say goodbye to the recliner that had become the bane of my existence. This (damn!) recliner was the cause of so many arguments, it's actually a miracle that I never threw it off the balcony!
Then it was on to the Huntsville Space and Rocket Center.
The space capsules seemed just about Maddy and Audrey's size. It's hard to believe full-grown men flew in these!
We got some lunch in the "Mars Grill". Audrey says, "I just feel like, somebody's watching me...."
After lunch (with nice full bellies, ready to be jostled about...) we did some ride simulators. Bob is very prone to motion sickness, but Maddy inherited none of that! She begged to go on the "G Force Accelerator" (which I remember from my last time here as a kid) so obliged her. I didn't get sick, but these rides were definitely more fun as a twelve-year-old than at my age. Maddy loved it though.
Thankfully, the kids were too little for the real "Space Shot Simulator" but they could go on the kid version, sans adults. (Bob and I dodged a bullet there!)
Before we left, we got to check out the photo they took of us on the way in. Also known as, the most awesome family photo ever. In Bob's defense, when they took the photo they mentioned that the final result would look as though we were floating in space. Obviously, Bob is method actor at heart. He takes direction really well (and very literally!) Audrey was acting the role of grumpy toddler.
After all that "wide-eyed wonder" at the Space Center, we drove on to Knoxville for the night so we could be ready to launch to the houseboat in the morning. By the time we pulled off the highway for the last 30 minutes of the drive to New Tazwell, the kids were practically vibrating with excitement.
Within on hour of arriving we were in the water for our mandatory, watery family portrait. Luckily Bob's "floating in water" looks a little more natural than his "floating in space".
Then somebody convinced Uncle Patrick to take us out on the "fast boat" for a ride....
...and a swim. What a difference a year makes in Maddy's desire to hurl herself into the water from great heights.
After Audrey's nap Grandfather wanted to take everyone on a ride in the pontoon boat. It was good to have some time to get used to Uncle Charlie's new hairdo.
Bob found some time to tap into his inner Lego architect. Many serious hours were spent pondering the best way to honor the "Fox's Den" with a Lego recreation.
The second day we took a cruise on the houseboat to a camping spot for the night. Luckily, Grandfather had plenty of helpers to share the driving.
Personally, I think nothing's more relaxing than cruising down the lake at a nice slow pace. Maddy does not have the same opinion. I don't even want to know how fast they went on this jetski.
At least she could be convinced to get off the jetski sometimes. It only takes a hot tub.
Grandfather parked us in a really beautiful place. So peaceful. Especially when Bob had both kids in a rowboat...out of earshot.
The cove we parked in was off the beaten path, so Bob let Audrey have a turn on the jetski. I'm afraid she enjoys the speed just as much as Maddy does.
Luckily we had some ice cream with which we could lure her off the jetski.
And since we were having turtle withdrawal after our daily turtle encounters in Birmingham, we were lucky that Cody caught a turtle so we could get a good, close look at it. The turtle didn't feel so lucky and was thrilled we he got released back into the lake!
The next day we cruised back to the marina, passing the time with a very competitive game of UNO. I'm pretty sure Cody went easy on us.
That evening Uncle Rick and Aunt Mary Ann came for a visit and to have some fried chicken. Maddy and Grandfather worked on their cannonballs to work up an appetite.
After dinner, we wanted to have one last boat ride on the "fast boat".
It was a great night for a ride. So relaxing...
...until Maddy took the wheel.
The next morning we had to pack up and leave. Nobody loves that part.
After a stop in Danville to visit Aunt Patti we drove on to New Haven. Great-Grandmother Johnson had some pot pie and some ice cream waiting for us.
The next day we had more visiting to do in Louisville. We met Great-Grandma Fields and Aunt Paula for lunch. The kids enjoyed some more "chicken on the bone". (This summer, after all that agricultural education we got from reading Farmer Boy, I'm pretty sure Maddy understood what "chicken on the bone" really is. At least we know for sure now that she's not a vegetarian)
We stayed for a couple hours and managed NOT to break anything. That was a miracle.
Maddy got a special treat after our trip to Louisville...we went to Thomas Nelson High School to watch Cody play soccer. The good guys won and Cody got a lot of playing time which was very exciting. And then after we got home, the soccer star even played with Maddy a bit in the yard. She had such a great time.
And just to make sure that Grandma didn't miss us too much, we decorated her patio for her.
Bright and early the next morning we hit the road for home. Around lunch time, right as the kids are needing a break from the car Bob yells suddenly for me to take an exit, he's seen something he wants to go take a picture of. So twenty minutes later we arrive at this...blimp garage?
I was obviously very impressed. I'm not anti blimp garage necessarily, but adding extra time to a long drive = not my favorite thing. But we made it too our rest stop, eventually. An Audrey recovered well from her brush with starvation.
The kids were amazing in the car. Whenever Audrey got tired of us she just pulled her pink blanket over her head and made her own privacy zone. Very effective!
It's nice to be home. I'm so proud of all Maddy accomplished but we also had a lot of fun too. It was a great trip! It's hard to believe the summer is almost over.
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