Through the Big South Fork

Yes, I know we are almost a month late on this. Sorry!

After the Fourth, things were a little quiet. On Friday, it was my Pappaw's birthday so Miller, Dad and I went out to lunch with him and Mammaw. Miller made a mess eating but entertained everyone.

Saturday, we had lunch with Nolan before he left to go back to ND and then Miller went to Tine's house for a bit so I could get ready. It did not last long because I got a call he was being whiney and would not do anything. Thank goodness only they live a half a mile away. 

Sunday, we packed up and went driving up to Big South Fork with mom and her friend Richard. We saw some awesome stuff on these back roads.

We stopped in the town of Rugby. I had never heard of this awesome place. It is an Victorian English commune that is in the Cumberland Mountains. Such a neat place.

 

Some of the buildings.

The equipment in the Print Shop. 

The church. I did not go into the actual yard so this is obviously from behind the fence.

This house reminded me of the one from "Little Women" which I always wanted. 

After Rugby, we made our way to the Alvin C York hometown and went to the grist mill. I took Miller's 9 month picture here. 

We went inside and looked around. It was more just to get some relief from the 100 degree plus heat.

It was really pretty with the stone dam. 

Miller was so hot after taking his pictures so mom just plunked him down in the water. She could not wait for me to put his swimsuit on. 

We got back in the car and Miller napped while we drove. We went through the Big South Fork State Park. We really only got out once to go to this overlook.

 

 

 

It was a fun day...long, but fun. We were so hot and I am pretty sure I was dehydrated after everything. We treated ourselves to some ice cream for dinner that evening. 

Miller's Nine Month Pictures

We took Miller's 9 month pictures while we were in Tennessee. Besides the first one, which was taken at my parents cabin, they were taken while we were in Big South Fork. This was not the setup I wanted to do originally but I am saving that for his one year pics.

 

 

My child likes to grab at the grass and put things in his mouth. This was him throwing up a twig. He later threw up a rock. 

I think this looks like his football pose. 

Mom just plunked him the water but I could never get him to look up at me once he was in there. 

This were the least complicated of his pictures that I have done so far. I have learned a lot the past few months and feel so much more comfortable doing this. Hope you enjoyed them!

Miller's First 4th of July

We are closing in on the last of Miller's first holidays. Now why does that make me sniffly?

The Fourth was kind of a weird holiday for us. We did not have one big day but a few things spread out over 3 days.

On Sunday we went over to my grandparents house for a cookout with some of our Miller family and even Ben's parents who were driving through town. Here are the ladies chatting in the dining room. 

Miller finally got to meet his godfather Nolan, who was in from North Dakota. 

This is just a funny picture of Miller after he took a bite from Ben's doughnut. 

Tuesday we had a another get together at my grandparents house with other family that was in town. On the actual Fourth, we got up and went to visit my mom at work. Then we headed to my parents house where we hopped in their car and drove up to their cabin in the mountains. It was our first time going there and it was really nice.

I love this because Miller spotted me taking pics. 

Here is the view from the front porch. It is so much prettier in person. 

The front of the house. 

We hung out at the cabin for a bit and then we went down to town where we ate lunch at Tellico Grains. So yummy!

 

Miller and his Poppy. See the matching chins.

We came back to Knoxville, got in our car and drove downtown to drop Ben off at the bus station. Miller has become such a daddy's boy and cried when Ben got out of the car. It broke my heart.

We went back to my parents and had a little cookout. Miller loved eating the corn on the cob in his swing. 

Then Bobbie gave him some watermelon and it was all over. They kid loved it! He would gnaw it down to the rind and we would try to move him to the flesh and he would get so mad. He had juices running everywhere. My dad had it in his ear and belly button. They both had to shower off afterwards.

When we left their house, I saw some fireworks on the drive back to moms but Miller never saw them. I guess we will wait until Labor Day to show him some fireworks.