Walker boys camping adventure

While I was gone to Nashville, Jeremy meticulously planned a camping trip.  Kirk has been asking to go "tent camping" for months, and Jeremy was just as excited as he was (although he'd never admit it).  They went to Carter Caves, and Kirk proclaimed that they had an "AWESOME time!"

Kirk was so happy in the tent, although he told me that the next time they go camping, they want a camper!  Haha!

Kirk's favorite part was mining for gem stones.  He has an entire collection of gems that he "surprised" me with when I got home.  Jeremy said he was so excited to do it (twice) and talked about it forever.

I love this picture of Kirk standing by a natural bridge that they found on their hiking trail.  Jeremy said Kirk hiked along for over 3 miles....and talked the WHOLE WAY. Ha!

This is by far my favorite picture Jeremy took.  Jeremy said Kirk thought it was cool that he let him walk ahead "all by himself."  I look at this picture and I see my grown up boy who still looks so small in the world.  He will be five years old soon....and go to kindergarten....and he can do so many things for and by himself.  He will always be my tiny baby boy, and this picture makes me think about how small he is, but how much he has and will affect this big world.  He has completely changed the world for me.  He is still a little boy, but I know he will do BIG things.  I'm so glad my boys had a good time on their camping trip and I'm so proud of them both for making it work and having a good time.  There are a lot of dads out there who wouldn't be able to pull that off, and this trip was just another reason why Jeremy Walker is the best dad I know.

Another yoga quote of the day....really meaningful and a reminder to be thankful for the things I have in this life.  I will continue one day at a time, and try to remember to make time for gratitude each day.

"Pretty girls smile the same way all over the world"~Nick Miller

My friends Angel, Amy, and I took our long awaited trip to Nashville last weekend.  Amy lives outside of Nashville, so we visited her home and then stayed in the city 2 nights.  It was amazing to be by ourselves!  We shopped in cute boutiques, ate in restaurants (too much food!) and just walked around with no particular place to go.  We talked and laughed and reminisced about our 18 years of friendship.   

Printer's Alley was so cute!  We had to pose for a picture.

Coyote Ugly was by far the best "people watching" that I have ever done.  We laughed and joked all evening. Nashville is made up of ALL KINDS of people.  Amy said that the sure sign of a tourist is cowboy boots and/or a hat.  Some folks were wearing both.  Nashville residents don't walk around in cowboy boots and hats.  They just don't.  

So the cowboys that took our picture asked to be IN a picture.  Whatever.  The hats and bow ties are too much, haha!

We THOUGHT this was a well lit area on the street (not so much).  We had such a good time and it was nice to check out of my mommy/wife life for a few days.  I did miss my boys, though, and they had a blast on their camping trip (pictures to come in my next post).

I have a "yoga quote of the day" app on my phone, and I got this quote while I was away in Nashville.  We had declared our trip "no social media weekend" and had agreed to not post pictures on any social media so we wouldn't hurt any of our other friend's feelings about not being invited/able to come, etc.  We also talked about how we are so glad we went to college BEFORE social media posted pictures of our every move.  We also talked about how it makes us feel sometimes....less than others, bad mothers/wives, down about our lives and comparing ourselves to others.  This quote put life into perspective for me.  Accept what is.  Be present in your life right now and know that it is exactly what it should be.  I had so much fun on the trip BECAUSE I am almost 40lbs lighter.  I am healthier.  We walked 2-3 miles each day.  I couldn't have done that a year ago.  My clothes are smaller (and cuter).  I get compliments from strangers.  I have been on a journey with my weight and improving what is INSIDE me for over a year now.  The journey is exactly as it should be.  Embrace imperfection.  Have compassion.  My yoga practice teaches me these things, and I must work harder to accept it.  I need to remember "namaste" means there is divine in me, too.