The next leg of our trip (yes, I'm STILL blogging about our trip.  So much to cover!) was a brief, but wonderful stay at my Uncle Larry and Aunt Cherie's house in Tennessee for a family reunion.  The Maust family is spread out over quite a few states, and it seems we don't get together near as much as we used to.  Sad, very sad indeed.  But these short few days were cherished as we reconnected and caught up on each other's lives! 

   First of all, let me give you a brief tour around the house.  They bought an old mill house, (it has a water wheel on the side that I neglected to get a picture of) and fixed it up all purty-like.  Honestly, it's gorgeous.  They put so much work into it, and it has literally transformed over the years from what it once was. And I didn't even get pictures of all of it or the lovely guest house, where we stayed.  But here are a few of the pictures I did get. 

    This front porch greets you as you walk up the steps and into the front door, and is a place where people liked to gather in the mornings with a cup of coffee and a conversation.  Every home should have a front porch, in my opinion. 

   Moving inside, a place that beckons you in is the kitchen.  I love the high ceiling and the bins for her dry goods, and I'm so jealous of her huge pantry!





    Walking up the stairs (behind the couch the two boys are on) opens up into this den, or family room, that was a popular spot.

 Here's a sunny little nook for reading or putting puzzles together, and is positively inviting.



    We tried to pack in as much fun as we could into our few short days, and I think we succeeded!  The trip consisted of: 
 1. A bridal shower for Bito and Jackie!  It was so great to get to know her fiance, and welcome him into the Maust family.  As part of the shower, they had to bake a cake without a recipe! 

2. Four-wheeling!  They have some of the absolute greatest places to ride four wheeler.  County "roads" that are more like cow paths that cross streams and twist and turn through the thick woods. 
3.  Water-falling.   Yes, it's a verb.


4.  No trip to Tennessee would be complete without spelunking!  Uncle Larry, our fearless leader, led this motley crew through the caves that night.  Somehow, the swarms of bats, steep climbs up and down slippery clay, repelling down the rocks, and crawling through tight spots was all a bit harder and scarier than I remembered!  Same caves though, so I must have just gotten weaker and wimpier post-baby. :)
5.  Campfires and roasting marshmellows
 6.  And of course, spending quality time with family.  I say we make this an annual event!  Who's with me?