Quick Nashville visit

Last fall Helen had asked whether we would come a certain weekend in February instead of her birthday so she could go to a church retreat weekend. Of course!

So, Thursday Feb 13 we drove the 600 miles. This time with my KIA Telluride. It rained most of the way but we were very pleased how it performed. We were in time to pick William up from his school after an after-school event.

We also brought him to school on Friday morning. Valentine's Day! Helen left shortly after breakfast and we had some time to get organized before we picked William up again at 3 pm. 

We had a good time together. Unfortunately Saturday and Sunday the weather was not nice at all and VERY cold. Freezing. William helped make Friday night's pizza. A recipe from Auntie Sarah. It was very good.

A minute later the last piece was gone too even though it was from the side without his pepperoni. No leftovers!

We played games and read.

And William helped make a pumpkin pie for him. James and I are not keen on pumpkin pie but William likes them. This time it seemed more the making then the eating though. Could it be that he finally had enough of it since fall?

Saturday we had to go to the LEGO event at the large library downtown. He had entered but was not pleased with his design. Considering that all his LEGOS were in storage and he had only a minimum of pieces at hand to use we think he did very well. I should have taken some close-ups of "Volcano Island". There is a swimmer in the ocean and all sorts of things going on.

He walked around with interest looking at all the different entries from different age levels. It was very interesting. Somehow there were a good number where we seriously wondered how much the children did and how much the parents. Lucky we were not the judges.

The dog was pretty impressive. It is looking at a dirt hole. Underneath is a mole in a burrow.

A guitar, of course, this is Nashville.

And a "presidential abduction" including the right hairdo of that president.

At 2 o'clock was an event of "the science guy" (except it was a lady). It was very clever and fun.

Helen was back Sunday evening but had to work on Monday. William was not in school because it was President's Day. It was a glorious day and it had suddenly got warm so we "had to" be outside. James, William and I went for a little stroll on the greenway starting at the dam and going towards Kohl's. The water was coming wildly out of all open gates of the dam. 

We had not gone far as the walkway and found a stretch next to the river which was flooded. We went left into the bushes and managed to get to the other side to continue. No complaints about it from William. It was quite slick but luckily nobody fell.

We had a nice walk and then suddenly came to a screeching halt again. This time there was no getting around it. But since we had walked far/long enough and had to go back the same way anyway we did just that. But first William had to take some photos.

Back at the first "puddle" we looked for a little different way. 

I think we did about 4 miles altogether. Then we went back at the house for lunch.

In a while we decided to go to the zoo. William (and Mommy/guest) have a yearly membership which makes it very nice. Since it was a holiday the zoo was very crowded but it didn't really matter. 

Grandparents duty is to spoil. See them in the line? William really wanted Dippin' Dots. 

He said he never had them and after trying said he liked it. He was nice enough  to give us a sample. Not our favorite but that doesn't matter.

He went on the hanging bridge twice.

Tuesday we left early and drove all the way back to Virginia. We never like leaving Helen and William. But at least we had some time with them and are grateful for it.

We had fog and rain. But it could have been freezing/worse.

That truck on the opposite line was not very lucky. He gave up a huge cloud. The photo doesn't really show it.

It was the first long highway trip of the Telluride and we discovered clicking the ECO button does save some gasoline but otherwise doesn't seem to make a difference in the driving. Pleased.