Visit from Grandpa & Grandma

After we got home from Idaho my parents came to Tennessee for Tyler & Abby's reception. Since they were already here they decided to come up to Kentucky and stay with us for a about a week. We were so happy to have them. The kids had so much fun hanging out with grandpa & grandma at our house.

Here we are hanging out in Nashville.

My parents took a tour of the Ryman Auditorium - home of the original Grand Old Opry. My dad loved that! He got to stand on the stage, hold a guitar and my mom took a picture of him. If anyone knows my dad he grew up with and loves the old country music, this was the highlight of his day.

Inside the lobby of the Ryman Auditorium.

My parents also got to go to the Country Music Hall of Fame.

We took my parents to a few Civil War sites. Since Idaho wasn't even a state during the civil war I feel like us westerners don't really get a feel for the civil war and really don't know much about it. Having lived in the south for the last few years Alan and I have become more and more interested in the Civil war. It was fun to take my parents to some of the sites. We got them interested in it too. What an interesting time in our countries history. It is just so fascinating!

Here we are at Fort Donelson. It was a Confederate fort until the union took it over. It was a great victory for the union since it was right along the river.

A big barge hauling cargo on the river.

Remember how I mentioned that I don't know very much about the civil war...well on this little visit I proved it. If you notice Jonathan's grey civil war soldiers hat...Alli and Jonathan wanted to buy something from the gift shop (they had brought some of their money). Jonathan decided that he wanted this soldiers hat. I thought that it would be a great remembrance from the south. If you are from the south and are familiar with the Civil War you would know that the confederate soldiers wore grey and the union soldiers wore navy blue. (and that is still a big deal around here). We didn't find this out until we got home and a friend of ours informed us. Oh well, chalk it up to experience and the ignorance of a westerner.

We went to the Mammoth Cave which is the world's largest cave system. There are tons of tours to take from an 8 hour intensive tour to 10-30 minute self guided tours. We went on a tour called the "Frozen Niagra." It was just right for the kids. Everyone loved it except Olivia. She wined and cried the whole time. Finally I had to walk back out by myself and get out of the cave and then she was just fine onced we stepped outside.

A picture inside the cave. It was really cool. Pictures just don't do it justice. We didn't actually get a picuture of the "Frozen Niagra."

We went on a little hike outside the cave.

On the way home from Mammoth Cave we stopped at the Jefferson Davis Monument. Those of you who don't know, Jefferson Davis was the president of the confederacy. Just a little interesting fact-Jefferson Davis and Abraham Lincoln were both born in Kentucky. We took the elevator up to the very top. The monument is in the little town of Fariview, Kentucky-Davis' birthplace.

This is the view from the top of the monument.

It was so great to have my mom and dad here visiting. We had a wonderful time! Thanks mom and dad for making time to visit us. We love you!