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!