Spring Break Kick Off- Girl's Road Trip to Nashville

Lily Grace and I left early on Sunday morning to kick off  Spring Break with a girl's road trip to Nashville.  Our agenda, all things Taylor Swift in the city where she got her start. 

We had the absolute best time!!!!!  We stayed downtown at the beautiful JW in the heart of things.  We hit the ground running just a soon as we arrived.  We got in everything on our list and then some.

We both agree that the best part of our trip was the Bluebird Cafe where Taylor was discovered. (and where we made new friends waiting in line for over two hours to get in for open mic night)

Gracie, I can't tell you how special that trip was to me.  The laughs, fun and experiences are memories I will hold close to my heart.  And we will always have "Slowpoke, Cowpoke from Longpoc!"  

We are back home to wash clothes, pack another bag and grab Matt and Jackie.  We are off to Chicago to round out Spring Break with another Sweet 16 concert request, Tate McRae at the House of Blues.

We stopped by the lips mural next to Fidos.

Lily Grace loves Greek mythology so of course we had to swing by the Parthenon.  Yep! In Nashville

Some of the beautiful art on display

We loved the Athena statue.

This is also where some of the Percy Jackson movie was filmed.  Here's a couple of the pops and the original script for the movie.

Of course we got in some shopping.   We were able to hit the beautiful Green Hills mall which was our favorite as well as the Opry Mills mall.

Beautiful downtown view from our suite

Of course Lily Grace had to get her pic made in front of this green mural.  Green, green, green- the girls does love this color.

Washi tape mural

We made it to the Nashville wings mural.

This piece outside the art museum reminded us of Honey.  She loves roses.

We walked Music Row of course.

We promised Matt we would stop by the Johnny Cash museum and send him a pic.

She couldn't wait to get inside and see the Taylor memorabilia.  

I won't lie, Hee Haw got me a little excited.  It was like my childhood in that cornfield.  I totally remember watching that each weekend growing up.  

And seeing the Taylor's Red guitar, her trip was complete.

Her antics did keep us laughing.  

We waited a little over two hours to get into the Bluebird Cafe.  It's where Taylor was discovered when she sang her original song, "Tim McGraw."  The cafe only holds 75 people and it's a Nashville bucket list stop for most everyone who visits.  We actually had someone who didn't make the cutoff try to buy our spots.  We met another mother daughter duo from New Jersey who we chatted with along with a couple behind us while we all waited.  It was open mic night.  Inside the Bluebird you will find communal seating and sat with a girl performing for the first time.  Lily Grace got her autograph just in case her career takes off and we can say we saw her start.  There were 18 acts that night from all over the United Sates and as far away as Canada.  While some were memorable for different reasons, Gracie and I enjoyed them all as well as their courage to get up there and sing.  They sang their own original songs. Covers aren't allowed on open mic night.  We ate, listened, laughed and had an absolute blast.  The wait was definitely worth it.  We couldn't imagine this trip without having gotten to do this.  Even Matt was at home texting us anxious and hoping we would make the count since this experience was really high on our list.

Favorite memory

And there she is, a young Taylor.  It's amazing to see all the artist who have gotten their start here or stopped by to play.  The wall is full of artists. 

Each  morning Gracie and I would head up to executive lounge for breakfast and in the evening's we would head back for a late night snack over the city lights.  I swear this girl and her antics kept me laughing. 

Sweet 16 Kick-off with Conan Gray!

With her 16th birthday quickly approaching in April, Lily Grace asked for concerts for her special birthday.  

First up, Conan Gray in Indianapolis and we made a weekend of it.  With the car loaded with requested snacks, a road trip playlist and two very excited girls, we first made our way to Keystone Fashion mall for a little shopping. After a few hours at the mall, we had dinner at Lily Grace's favorite Italian restaurant.  

After dinner, the girls and I checked into our hotel and started getting ready.  Wow!  Getting ready for those two meant piling on the glitter and excitement for the sold out show.

It was super cold and snowed all day, but it most definitely didn't take away from the fun.  

Conan put on a great show. (and as always, his hair looked amazing) We all had fun dancing and belting out his songs.  

After breakfast and mass on Sunday, we piled in the car and made our way home.  Gracie and Jackie said the concert completely met and passed their expectations.  They've already planned to wear their concert tees on their next dress-down day at school. 

Gracie, I had just as much fun watching you as you did watching Conan.  Memories I will cherish. 

Up next, a road trip for all things Taylor Swift.

The girls found this Taylor Swift album at the mall.  

At least the snow had stopped by 6:30 when we got in line, but boy was it cold.  

 

Scholastic Art Awards Gold Key Winner

*Update: 3-25-22 Today, Lily found out that her piece has gone to New York. She won silver at Nationals. So proud of her!!!

Today we visited the Museum of Art to see a special piece titled, "Fractured Mask."

Lily Grace entered and won the Scholastic Gold Key award for Northeast Indiana and Northwest Ohio.  

We were so excited to see her drawing on display at the museum. Fractured Mask will be there a few more weeks. It will then hang in her high school until she graduates.

Year of the Tiger

 

Happy Chinese New Year!

Family

What a blessing!

2022 Happy New Year! 2022

 

And that's a wrap on 2021

Merry Christmas!

 We had a wonderful Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!  We always have fun, laugh lots and make memories to last.  We are so very blessed.  Family truly is the greatest blessing of all and no gift will ever match it. 

We enjoyed a wonderful meal downtown at Ruth's Chris before Christmas Eve mass.  

Right before the wrapping paper explosion.

We stuff each others stockings and it's always one of our favorite parts of Christmas morning.  I was thrilled with these notepads.  It's the little things you know?  I am a list maker.  These pads are my absolute favorite thing, but it can't be the yellow ones.  Told you, it's the little things.  These two know me so well. 

While it wouldn't fit in her stocking, LG was thrilled to get this big burrito blanket.  I have no idea but she thinks it is the funniest thing. 

Lily and I give Matt a hard time about his dry heels.  As a joke we put foot masks in his stocking.

Of course, Molly got treats.

Each year, Gracie gives Matt golf balls.  However, she personalizes them and Matt is always anxious and nervous as to what she has printed on them.  Needless to say, she didn't disappoint.  Too funny!

Molly with her new toy.

So excited to get a new wedge.

I don't know out of the three of us who was more excited about this gift.  You see, Molly loves to be sneaky and grab the oven mitts when I'm cooking.  The thing is, she also likes to chew them and when we go to use them, we end up getting hot spots where she has chewed them.  I keep complaining about it so Gracie gave me a new set and we have all used them since and commented how nice it is to not fear getting one of those bare spots. ha!

This girl loves green.  You've never seen someone so excited about a new retro green keyboard and mouse.  The kid was actually taking typing test online throughout the day to use it.  

Anytime Tory Burch is involved I'm excited.  

Love this kid to pieces

I got a cute new pair of Birdies, but it's the box that is just so beautiful, you hate to throw it away.

Matt is constantly telling Gracie and I that he's "resting his eyes."  Lily gifted him some socks this year that on the bottom actually say, "I'm not sleeping.  I'm resting my eyes." 

Gracie and Gran gifted Matt a new Patagonia fly fishing pouch.  He was excited to get that thing.  Gracie and I have been kidding him that is' really just a man purse.

Lily was excited to get her own new crossbody that she's had her eye on.

Some of the aftermath

After all that excitement, she's done for the rest of the day!