Families are like peanut butter...rich and creamy or full of nuts - one spoonful is never, ever enough!
These last couple of days with the whole family visiting us on the Domain have been filled with laughs, hikes, walks, great food, and even better times. I am going to miss them all so much when they leave Shawn, Riley, and I here after this weekend. Our time together continually reminds me how amazingly blessed I am to have such a supportive, loving, and fun family. Thanks for all of the many memories - from laughing like crazy playing catch phrase to hiking to Bridal Veil Falls with the girls to enjoying a lunch buffet at Crust with the whole gang. I love you all so much. Thank you for spending your vacation with us this summer. I miss you already!Thursday, July 3, 2008
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
More Family Vacation...Hiking and hanging...
The family fun - spanning four generations - continues here in Sewanee, TN. It has been great hanging out, going for hikes, cooking, watching movies, and just spending time together. Here are some photos from the past two days...

Riley hanging out in her pillow...
Riley and Mommy...
The Memorial Cross the girls hiked to on Monday afternoon...
The hikers...
Uncle Brendan and the Babe...
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Family Visit Day One...Into the City
Today was the first day of our family's visit to Sewanee. Since the weather was not all that favorable at first, we decided today would be a great day to spend a couple of hours at the mall and in Chattanooga. There, we saw an IMAX movie about dolphins and whales. Way cool.
Brendan, Claire, Allison, and me.
Uncle Brendan's first full day with Riley!
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Our First Family Hike...The Perimeter Trail
This morning, we loaded Riley into her Bjorn and trekked off to Morgan Steepe and the Perimeter Trail. A solid hour and half later, we returned to our apartment, sweaty, refreshed, and a bit tired...:) Especially Riley!
A view from the Domain looking over at Morgan's Steep.
Shawn being silly...
Shawn and Riley at Morgan's Steep
A turtle we met along the way.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Riley Rolled!
On Monday night, Shawn was putting Riley to sleep in her pack and play. Instead of falling asleep, Riley rolled over from her stomach to back three times! I missed it the first time, but rest assured that I was there and cheering like crazy for rolls two and three.
In other recent developments, Riley has started to smile ALL THE TIME. Well, all the time I am not trying to trying to take her picture, that is. She has begun to coo and "talk" more also. The other day, we had a conversation that went something like this:
"Hey Riley-kins!"
"Ahh-oh"
"Oh really? Is that so?"
"Uh-ooooh"
"Seriously?
"ehhh-ah-ooooo"
It was one intellectually stimulating, deeply philosophical conversation!
Sunday, June 8, 2008
I'm Published!
Very exciting news: my first story made its way into online publication!
Following the urgings of my mom, I submitted a shortened version of a story I had written to the Ladies Home Journal Contest: Believe in Happy Endings. Just recently, the stories and pictures of the top ten writers were published on Danielle Steel's Beauty website.
Hey, it's a start!
Enjoy the story.
http://www.daniellesteelbeauty.com/home.asp
Following the urgings of my mom, I submitted a shortened version of a story I had written to the Ladies Home Journal Contest: Believe in Happy Endings. Just recently, the stories and pictures of the top ten writers were published on Danielle Steel's Beauty website.
Hey, it's a start!
Enjoy the story.
http://www.daniellesteelbeauty.com/home.asp
Our Summer on the Domain has Started...
"The Sewanee School of Letters, an innovative summer Master’s Degree program in English and Creative Writing, is the newest literary initiative on a campus known for them."
After a little over eight hours in a fully packed Rav4, a chocolate fudge frosty shake, three naps, three states, and two stops for Baby Riley, we arrived in Sewanee for our summer on the Domain. We started moving in around 4pm, and took a break for dinner at around 8pm. This is the first time Shawn and I have lived in an apartment together, and we are excited for the adventure.
For those of you who have not been to Sewanee, I am sorry. The campus is beautiful: stone buildings, mountains in the background, green and clouds and inspiration everywhere you look. Oh, and the best water you have ever tasted! Seriously!
Riley slept well in her pack and play last night, and she seemed to enjoy her first day at the University of the South. Together, the three of us watched Nadal take Federer, took a walk so I could finish registering, and traveled to a nearby Super Walmart to stock up for the next three weeks. A great start to the next six weeks!
Classes start tomorrow at 10am, and I am planning on my first run sometime before that. I will be sure to keep you all updated over the next month and a half.
Like all college students, I know how exciting it is to receive mail while away at school. Just in case you feel motivated to break out the stationary and stamps, my mailing address is below.
Lindsey Harding
School of Letters
University of the South
735 University Avenue
Sewanee, TN 37383
Otherwise, feel free to keep in touch via phone calls, emails, and blog comments - and, I will do the same!
Here's to a second summer at Sewanee! Already, it feels like my home away from home.
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