McKennas 27th

Nashville Tennessee 

This year McKenna celebrated her 27th birthday in Nashville adding another location to her travel board. We utilized Air bnb. I can say the woman whose home we stayed at was nice and friendly but her cleaning skills left something to be desired..all said and done we slept 4 people a night for only 50$ and it was right downtown, also next to Hattie B's Hot Chicken, which I very highly recommend! (Best chicken I've ever had!)  Along the way we also at at 

Peg Leg Porker 

4 out of 5 Stars 

The only thing they could have done better would have been more food for the price but the meat was fantastic! 

The Loveless Cafe was also tasty! 

3 out of 5 stars

Known best for the Biscuits! Yes they were good but the wait was crazy long and the food wasn't anything special, they were moms biscuits! If you go try the Fried green tomato biscuit it is the best thing we tried! 

Pancake Pantry was so good!

5 out of 5 stars 

Good price, lots of varietys and all of them mouth watering! Sweet potatoe is highly recommended. Our waitress was also so helpful, funny, and experienced! Go if you have the chance! 

Hattie B's Hot Chicken 

5 out of 5 Stars

I don't have a picture but man oh MAN! Like the name it's hot chicken. Spicy that is. I don't even remember the sides (fries maybe?) In any case if you like chicken go, try it. We ate there 3 times in 2 days. 

We went and saw the Nashville Tennessee temple and it was beautiful as they all are although small when related to the Arizona temples. 

 The Parthenon (replica) where we got to see a myriad of art. And the gold plated statue of Athena. 

Yeah we're cool. 

We went to the Grand Ol Opry and Opry Mills and the Gaylord Hotel. 

 Did anyone not know about Mckennas fear of birds...? Well now you know.Haha 

 Downtown Nashville (Broadway) was our nightlife activity. We went bar hopping, sans drinking, and ended up dancing with a drunken woman trying to snag the attention of a man on the other side of the bar. By far the best part of the night aside from the spectacular views! 

Nashville Tennessee is officially checked off my bucket list! 

Georiga Summer 2015

My Fist (and Hopefully Last) Car Accident 
11/2014


Anybody who knows me at all, knows I am one of the worst drivers in the world, otherwise known as a distracted driver.

Distracted Driving: Noun
1. Driving a vehicle while engaging in an activity that has the potential to distract the driver from the task of driving.

Yes that is my Honda.. yes I was so soo sad when I flipped her into a ditch and yes.. Ava and I are okay.

I was headed to the Dairy Queen in Carrollton for a frozen treat when I had the brilliant idea to take Centerpoint Rd.

"I'll be fine," I tell myself "Tanner takes this road all the time and he nothing has ever happened to him."

 All is going well and I'm starting to think my fear of Georgia backroads and their lack of shoulders is unjustified. I  decide to take Hog Liver Rd, (at the Fire station) mostly because the road splits this really pretty lake that has houses lining the outside, and it's so picturesque.   In any case I am driving along at a normal speed coming around the curve and being the distracted driver that I am look into the rearview mirror to gaze upon my darling daughter.

BOOM.  Mistake #1

Wrong decision. I didn't account for the curve.. didn't adjust my steering wheel. Too late though for that though. When you realize your driving off the side of the road you think Oh crap.. I can fix this and then...

BOOM. Mistake #2

Apparently I way overcorrected.  I sent the car fishtailing onto the opposite side of the road to which I overcorrected AGAIN. At this point I am thinking OH CRAP! I remember looking at Ava in the rearview mirror and seeing her scared little baby face, and her hands in the air trying to grab onto anything near her, while I held onto the steering wheel for dear life.  I remember everything in slow motion. I feel like the whole accident happened in slow motion but I know that can't be true. Slow motion doesn't flip your car into a ditch.

The car drove off the right hand side of the road and flipped trunk over hood. The glass didn't shatter until after the initial roll when the car was rocking back and forth. I remember excessively blinking, to get the glass out of my eyes and then looking back at Ava who was hanging upside down by the straps of her carseat. I have to get her down and make sure she okay! I unbuckle my seat belt and fall onto the roof of the car with the rest my belongings and am trying to wiggle into the back seat. No such luck as my leg is bent under the dashboard of the car and I can't get it out without opening the car door, which at the moment was impossible.

Luckily I remember seeing a neighbor working on a shed in his front yard. At this point I am rendered helpless and begin honking my horn. I mean really laying on the horn for what felt like 5 minutes. I watched the gentleman run up to the car and I am yelling for them to get Ava first. They were able to open her door and pull her out and then came around and opened the driver door at which point I rolled out. I must have had a serious adrenaline rush because I remember trying to stand up and not being able to. With the assistance of my rescuers I was able to make sure Ava was okay and call my husband.

The fire department showed up, A State Trooper arrived, Tanner had finally gotten there and the rest was taken care of for me.  My car was towed, a report written up and I was taken home. (Sans Ice cream, I might add..) That was the most expensive Blizzard I never had.  My favorite and first car was a complete loss.

In the end, everyone was okay. I am eternally grateful that the car seat worked, that it was strapped to the car properly, and that I had Ava's buckles in the right spots. For the neighbor rescuers, I made Cinnamon Rolls and took them back as a thank you. I learned my lesson that day. The road ALWAYS comes first.

 Take it from me, it's not worth it to be a distracted driver.

Be safe, watch the road guys.

Potty Training

Just thought I would share my frustration. My dearest ava baby WILL NOT keep any diapers on. She will take off her pants, shorts, or skirt in order to take her diapers off when they are dirty. I feel as though she needs to be potty trained I got the 3 day book and read it. It's says positive reinforcement and bribery. That the big secret! Well so far it's been two hours and Ava had peed on my carpet three seperate times. Twice after I had her sit on the toilet and try to pee then she got up and went on the carpet. I'm at my Witts end already. Maybe she's not ready maybe I'm not ready. Who knows. I do know I'm almost out of underwear for her and it's been two hours I'm also VERY low on patience. Heeeeeelp meeee.

Update

Okay so it's been a while I figure I should write everything that's been going on since we've been in the peach state! I've been a stay at home mom since we moved and LOVE IT!! I play with Ava, clean the house, and make meals! (Which I adore!) it's been amazing! 

Sometime we go to the splash pad in Carrollton.

And go to back to school fairs with face painting and balloon animals.

Also Tanner and I have driven into Atlanta and we got to eat at this burger place called The Vortex. Tanner got the burger called the double bypass, it was soo delicious! 

Also there is this place called Gumbeaux's Cajun Cafe in Douglasville. They have the best gumbo and a Banana Foster that is to die for! (Only 5 Bucks!)

So things have been really good buuuut things have also been a little weird...our neighbor across the street burned his house down in the early morning hours. Talk about sketchy! He got arrested for 1st degree arson. 

Then last Sunday at church two of the women in relief society got into a fight, one choking the other. In the middle of church!! Come on now, Your supposed to mind your p's and q's in the church building!! 

On the brighter side the sister missionaries are really into member involvement. In fact the other day they brought over an investigator! She was a very nice lady. A little abrasive (like tanner) but very nice and organized! She had so many deep doctorine questions and all I could think was Dang! Tanner and her could debate for hours on end! Before she left she grabbed my number so I'm hoping we can get back together! 

Georgia is so Fun!!! :) <3 

Moving out!!

I'm moving out to Georgia!!! I'm so stinkin excited! We got word yesterday that we own a house in Temple, GA! I already feel like it's my home and I've only visited once. Hopefully My first impression is right :) 

Temples are Heaven on Earth

Today is Sunday. Technically my work Friday, but still a sunday! This morning when I woke up I was all snuggled up next to tanner under the warm blanket talk about a good start! Tanner got up first and woke up, changed, and fed miss ava lane who coincidentally was also in a good mood. Yay! I tidied up the house and did the dishes and then we went to get out temple recommends renewed.

 When you go in for the interview they always start out with a prayer, To put you in the proper mindset and invite the Holy Spirit to help guide our decisions and help us to do the right thing. I'm thinking maybe I have been away from church too long.. when he said the prayer I was on the verge of tears the spirit was so strong. It was Incredible! This week tanner is going out of town and I am gonna try and get to the temple by myself for the first time! I am a little nervous but it's nothing to be nervous about. The temple is so beautiful, and calm, and peaceful. I always hear people say you leave you worries and cares outside the temple and they will be waiting for you when you get back...it's 100% true. In the temple you just feel like everything is okay. And then when you think about it (not to be corny.. but) temples are Heaven on earth!

"How far is heaven? I testify that in the holy temples it is not far at all—for it is in these sacred places that heaven and earth meet and our Heavenly Father gives His children His greatest blessings.

As we touch the temple and love the temple, our lives will reflect our faith. As we go to the holy house, as we remember the covenants we make therein, we will be able to bear every trial and overcome each temptation.

The Lord has indicated that the greatest work we parents can do is performed in our homes, and our homes can be heaven, particularly when our marriages are sealed in the house of God.

Worthy young men and young women as young as 12 years of age can be proxy for those who have died without the blessings of baptism.

If we do our duty and trust fully in the Lord, we will fill His temples, not only doing our own ordinance work, but also having the privilege of doing work for others.

In the temple, the precious plan of God is taught. It is in the temple that eternal covenants are made. All that occurs within the walls of the temple is uplifting and ennobling.

In a peaceful sealing room I had the privilege to unite for eternity, as well as for time, Brother and Sister Nield and their daughters. Tears were in their eyes, and gratitude was in their hearts. We were next to heaven.  -Thomas S. Monson 

I read this the other day and just thought YES! It's so true, all of it's true and wonderful! To avoid crying I will let this be the end of my post! I love The Lord and Jesus Christ and am so grateful that I have been blessed with the things that I have. Especially the opportunity to enter the temple.    <3. <3. <3.

Mesa Arizona Temple 

101 S Lesueur, Mesa, AZ 85204

Gilbert Arizona Temple

3301 S Greenfield Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85297

Superwoman

I have a question. I would like to know how women are expected to do it all. How is it at all possible?! I am feeling so overwhelmed and fed up with this nonsense! I am expected to 

•Cook/Eat Healthy 

•Exersize

•Work Full Time 

•Training Classes (For Work)

•Take care of a Baby Full Time

•Visiting Teach 

•Scripture Study

•Keep a Clean House 

•Yardwork

•Church

This is not mentioning the things that I would like to do or appts such as 

•Hometeaching

•Going back to School (College) 

•Dr's/Dentist Appts 

•Beauty Regimines (Me Time)

•Develop a hobbie, talent, or skill

•Enjoy time with my husband.

I am having such a hard time I feel like I can't do it. I'm being stretched in so many ways that I can't hit anything 100% and it's driving me crazy. I feel like I can't enjoy my baby or my husband because I'm trying so hard to get it all done. I don't know what to do...if anybody can, help. 

For those of you doing it I give you props. Good job!