One fun weekend and two crazy ideas

I had a lot of fun this weekend in Memphis. My old high school choir teacher and some alumni arranged a choir reunion and I loved it! I got to see some old friends and just had a great time hanging out with them and reconnecting. I also got to sing with a big choir again which was great. I really miss singing with an 8 part choir. The money for our performance is going to a scholarship for seniors from our high school who want to major in music. I look forward to next year's reunion and concert!

Now for my crazy ideas on which I would like input from all of you. Idea #1 : A cross country road trip with just Finn and I. While I was pregnant with Finn I had grand plans to visit friends and family I rarely get to see once Finn was born since I wouldn't be working (at a 9 to 5 job that is) anymore. However, that hasn't really happened. So, I thought it's now or never because we want to get pregnant again soon and I really don't want to go on a trip by myself across country with two kids under the age of 5. My question to you: any ideas on how to keep Finn occupied and make the trip the most enjoyable it can be for the both of us? I plan on going to Texas, Colorado, Utah, possibly Idaho, and then back to Tennessee. Is this feasible or am I crazy?

Idea # 2: Getting a part time job at my favorite bakery. The catch? My hours would be 1am - 9am on Thursday and Friday and 1am to 5am on Saturday. Has anyone worked these kind of crazy hours before? I haven't and have no idea what to expect. The extra cash would be nice and I've been wanting to work there. And honestly what other time am I going to work if I don't want to send Finn to daycare?

I would love to hear your thoughts and any experiences you've had that might help me decide what to do with my crazy ideas. Thanks!

Odds and ends

June has just flown past. It was a huge month for Finn - he started walking all on his own! I was so happy. I really don't know why I was so impatient about it. I mean, it only took him 20 months to do it. Although, I still have to carry him most of the time while we are in public because he seems to think that anyone who looks at him or talks to him is going to run off with him. That's good I guess. I've also learned that I say the phrases "Oh boy!" (as in "Oh boy that's a lot of yogurt on your shirt") and "There you go" (which I seem to say every time I give him something) a lot. I know I say these a lot because Finn says them now, and it's really cute. However, I'm learning a huge lesson right now - I have to watch everything I say now because he will repeat it. I'm not too worried because I don't think I say anything objectionable. Guess I'll find out if that's true.

I also took some trips in June. I went on a three day backpacking trip with some old friends of mine the Hydes and had a wonderful time. We went along the Noland Creek Trail in the Smoky Mountains. We started at Clingman's Dome and went to Bryson City, NC. We got rained on some but fortunately not while we were hiking, just while we were at camp. I couldn't have gone on this trip, though, if it weren't for my wonderful friend Ashlee who volunteered to watch Finn. Thanks Ashlee! I also went to Memphis for my friend Amber's wedding. I have known her for a long time - probably longer than anyone that I still keep in touch with. Her wedding was beautiful and simple - it was just a few friends and family in the backyard of the house she just bought a few months ago. I loved it. I also got to spend time with my family and see a friend come home from his mission.
We also spent a day at Ijams hiking. It was the first time we had gone with Finn in one of those kid backpacks. He cried when we first put him in there, but then he enjoyed it. After hiking, we ate our picnic lunch and watched Finn venture out walking on his own for the first time. Daniel and I enjoyed it also. We hope to go again soon.


So what else...I've also been doing some sewing and have started taking guitar lessons. I really enjoy the guitar lessons. I'm taking them from the very talented Jill Andrews (check out her website) . If any of you in the Knoxville area want to take guitar lessons, I would highly recommend her. I've also picked out the book I'm going to read for the summer (or what's left of it). I'm going to read The Grapes of Wrath. I've been wanting to read it for a long time. If any of you would like to join me, I was thinking about getting together the last Thursday in August to discuss it. Just let me know if that works for you. Hope you are all having a wonderful summer!