Cleveland

We spent some time in Cleveland with Aaron's family last week...Always a fun time with those folks!  Our day started out a little cloudy but it was a beautiful drive through the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee.

Atticus and Uncle Na enjoying a popsicle together :) 

Grandpa showing Atticus his HUGE book of shells!  They were using the decorative shells from the bathroom to find their match in the book. 

Atticus LOVED "playing" with Pepper....Pepper is Uncle Na's 15 year old dog, so I use the term 'playing' loosely...  I think Atticus enjoyed Pepper so much because she didn't run from him (most because her little feeble legs wouldn't let her), but it was sweet to see him be so gentle with her.

Kathy organized a sort of reunion with family and close friends to celebrate Aaron and his Aunt Juanell's brithdays that week, Merinda's new baby on the way, our cousin Jesse's spot at National Teen Talent (and we also celebrated her retirement).  It was lovey, everyone had a wonderful time visiting with one another.

My sweet boy !!!

We all went to the aquarium together one day.... saw all sorts of fish, sharks, stingrays, jellyfish, and more!  Lots of walking and Atticus did great!

We even got to see penguins!!!!

Turns out... Jesse won 1st place in percussion at Teen Talent (we didn't know the night of the party).  Awesome drummers run in the family!!!  Aaron, Jesse and Atticus!

Atticus and John picked fresh blueberries in their back yard and made us delicious blueberry pancakes for breakfast!  Atticus is a big helper and loved picking, washing and eating the blueberries!

It was nice to be back on Lee's campus...Has been several years since we actually walked through campus.  So much has changed but yet it still feels like another 'home away from home' to me.  Spent four amazing years here and made some of the best friends and best memories of my life here!!

While on campus we stopped by John's art studio...Grandma and Auntie M painted pottery with Atticus as well as a cool cuff made out of paper towel roll :)

Grandpa taught Atticus how to paint with wax!!  He painted a picture of Oscar, the fish that lives at the art studio (will post later)...but pretty awesome!

On our way home we stopped at the Nantahala Outdoor Center and walked around, through rocks in the river, watched the rafters paddle by and grabbed a snack for the road - will definitely stop there again!

We had a wonderful time with family and look forward to the next!