Back to Kentucky...

On this trip driving Heartbreaker back up to college, we took a slight little detour to Fort Campbell, Kentucky. It had been awhile since we've been there, so it was fun to see familiar places. Since it was during the week, we were even able to see some of Heartbreaker's early stomping grounds... Good Ole Jackson Elementary...he went there from 3rd through 5th grade.

And as you can see from the photos of the teachers and friends we were able to see, he has grown a little. :o)

(photos by me or Mr. B)

(CLICK on image to see larger view)

counterclockwise from top:

1. at a Tennessee gas stop...just thought the tree growing right out of the rock was neat...a bit of nature next to a bit of modern conveniences...the light pole.

2. Heartbreaker crashed out in the back seat...(since Mr. B was driving, that meant I was the sneaky photographer...which is NOT the norm, since I am usually knocked out asleep on a road trip!)

3.-8. Heartbreaker (the Giant) and some of his favorite elementary folk

center pic: some Kentucky cornfields and blue skies...it was beautiful!

I was hoping to come across some old pics from when he was there, so that it would show just how much he had grown. ...but I did come across this:

(please do not click on this image to see a larger view! haha)

No, I don't typically push my way into every school photo our children are in...honest! But this 4th grade school picture day was on one of the days that I was volunteering (actually, besides being a crossing guard, I was at all their schools a LOT...I loved being there and it was fun getting to see our 3 in action). ...and so the school photographer had me jump in for this last picture. ...I am so glad that none of our kids minded me being around their schools. haha

...after seeing a couple of former teachers that were at the high school, we continued up to Lexington. We were able to visit, although "theLuckiestMrs." was in her friend's wedding that was out of town for part of the time we were there. But we enjoyed every moment we did have.

*Oh! if you are in the area...a little home-owned place called "GUMBO YA YA" is a must! The food was awesome (especially their bread pudding! ...the owner's mom owns a bakery and makes all his desserts), the setting is small, but cute (I'll have to remember to get some pics from one of our kids, since I didnt take any), great music (some oldies, jazz, Elvis, etc), the prices are so, so reasonable... and it's just fun saying "let's go to GUMBO YA YA!"*

(photos by me)

(CLICK on image to see a larger view)

counterclock-wise from top:

1. bricks in front of the high school that we bought for each of the girls...

2. "Senor T" (Heartbreaker learned so much from his Spanish I teacher when he was in 8th grade, that in his Spanish II class as a 9th grader, he was more than prepared); Heartbreaker; Frau L (both girls had her for German I, II, III and beyond :o)...they loved her!); and me.

Both of these teachers were and still are as energetic and enthusiastic as any person can possibly be!

3. Mr. B and I (Heartbreaker took this of us at a favorite Mexican restaurant right outside Fort Campbell's main gate: Pancho Villa). We had our "regular"...Mr. B: "Heuvos Rancherors con tortilla de maize, por favor." Me: "Chimichanga..."

4. Little Miss & her beau, when we ate at another Mexican restaurant, this time in Lexington... (this was the first time we were able to meet him. A very talented musician, amazing singing voice, and very easy to get to know. It was so good to finally meet him...

Mr. B had his "fatherly-over-coffee-get-to-meet-cha-one-on-one" time with him, while Little Miss and I went to Michael's and TJ Maxx. (That little tradition of Mr. B's will have to be told in a post all it's own :o)

5. Sunday, we left and headed back down to Fort Campbell area...we stayed at the military guesthouse. This eagle is HUGE! maybe about 5 or 6 feet tall.

6. Monday morning, when we went to get some continental breakfast off of the lobby area, we met some of Mr. B's battle brothers, military men... There is a kinship there, no matter what war or era served. These men were there during Ft Campbell's Week of the Eagle. Each year, time is dedicated through activities, events, remembrances of those that served with the 101st Airborne Division. It was an honor to meet these men that are a part of our military history.

Pictured are: Mr. B; Airborne Division Chaplain; "Johnny", 1961 Vietnam era vet; nephew to one of the original Band of Brothers; and "Vinnie".

Vinnie, was the aide to BG McAuliffe in Bastogne. BG McAuliff was surrounded and given a paper to surrender. To which (and Vinnie was witness to and said no matter what the rumors were) BG Mc Auliff did NOT curse at all, but simply stated in response "NUTS!". It was awesome to hear Vinnie's stories! He is 91 yrs young, fiesty and has a great sense of humor!

7. On the road again as we head back to Georgia, we pass one of the many old tobacco barns. These are where the tobacco is hung to dry.

8. Actually Sunday, (I didnt put the picture in the right sequence) in Clarksville, TN, we went to visit Coach L and K.

*side note* Part of Ft Campbell is in Kentucky and the other part in in Tennessee. When we lived on Ft Campbell, we had a KY zip (since the main post office was on the KY side) and TN area code (our home was on the TN side of Ft Campbell). (During the 6 years living there, we had to explain that over and over when it came to service repairs or shipping info. I'm sure some probably thought I was pulling their leg).

Mr. B, Coach L, and K. Coach L was both of our daughters' biology and/or anatomy teacher in high school. He is a great teacher, but a tough teacher! I always said that I would never take a class from him... well never, say never... I wanted to take an anatomy class; and he was also a professor at Austin Peay State University. His class worked with my schedule... I had the worst 1st exam ever! Cried, I tell ya! (and would ya believe that when we were visiting him and K, he remembered that grade!!!!) Anyways, thankfully I got it together, did well the rest of the term, really learned from him, and pulled a "real" A. I say "real" A, cuz at the girls' high school, you had to get a 93 for an A. And since they had him and got those A's, I couldn't break that streak!

...it's fun to say that Coach L taught all the Botelho girls... aw, the boys missed out. It was so good to see Coach L doing well. He's going through cancer treatments now, but is very positive and enjoys time cooking with K and seeing his two sets of twin grandbabies! So, we had a great time visiting them and eating some amazing pasta and dessert that K prepared for us.

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Oh, one more thing...

(photo of Personalized Sketches original framed)

(CLICK on image to see a larger view)

I was able to leave a little thank you drawing for our daughter's friend's mom (who graciously opened their home and prepared the most outstanding, incredible multi-course dinner and dessert!) This wedding shower was in December (this thank you was way over-due!) and was hosted by 3 of our daughter's dear friends (also dental classmates). I'm so thankful that I was able to fly up and surprise her. Especially, since we live out of state, I was going to school and wasn't able to get to her other showers or help as much as I would have wanted with her wedding planning.

(close-up photo of a Personalized Sketches original)

(click on image to see a larger view)

Their home is gorgeous! And they put up over 50 Christmas trees throughout their home. Each tree has a different theme. It truly is so beautifully and elegantly done.

(CLICK on image to see a larger view)

counterclockwise, from the top:

1. one view of the beautiful table and food; Mrs. T prepared each course herself! starting around the table is "C" (theluckiestmrs' mom-in-law (and I must say...she really is a wonderful MIL), me, theluckiestmrs, littlemiss...

2. opening up a gift ( I love her expression)

3. another view of us at around the feast. you can see a couple of trees in this room.

4. more gifts

5. in front of the foyer-entry way-tree

6. part of the shower invitation (I took sections of it, in the attempt to crop out names and addresses... the poem is so cute. and the RSVP that says Please say "I do" was too cute also.

7. a group photo next to another full size tree. (I wish that I had taken more of their amazing trees!)

8. our daughter, aka theluckiestmrs, and her 3 sweet friends that helped make this shower possible.

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Blessings & Aloha!

Thank you for stopping by... please leave a comment, cuz I love to see who was here and appreciate what you have to say :o)

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