North Side Story

After the graduation celebrations were over we packed up our car, including an extra person and headed north.  Morgan was planning to spend just over a week with us before flying back to Alabama. 

We made a few stops on the way to prevent our guest from having to ride too long in between the kids on the 12 hour drive home.  The first was at the Ave Maria Grotto in Cullman Alabama.  We have passed it several times and never timed it right to stop.  It is a park located on the property of St. Bernard Abbey.  The Grotto consists of a winding pathway through the woods in which 125 tiny replicas of religious and noteworthy structures are built from concrete, stone, wood, glass, and random other materials.  The tiny buildings represent the life's work of Brother Joseph Zoettl. 

Jack, taking a break on one of the benches.

I took plenty of pictures, but this just gives you an idea of what we saw.

 After a long drive which caused Morgan to consider going back to the abbey to become and nun, we arrived home.  We had plans, activities and fun.  And, I took very few pictures.  But, I did capture cake pop making.  Lilly received this no bake cake pop kit for her birthday and we thought it would be a great idea to let her make dessert for everyone.

The cake pops were fun to make and decorate, but only Lilly was brave enough to try one...and then eat the rest.

Later that week we tried to think of activities that everyone would like.  We went to the zoo, where Lilly insisted that I take her picture on almost every rock we passed,

 Jack got a shoulder ride.

 We saw a lion.

 Lilly raced a cheetah...and Morgan dodged the camera.

We did several other things; went to a movie, ate Greek food, Morgan and I commandeered the living room TV for chick flicks every night and sent Bryan high tailing it to the bedroom TV.

But, the icing on the cake, and the main reason for Morgan's visit was this, our Big Night Out to see 'West Side Story' at Clowes Hall.  It was Morgan's first time to see a live  Broadway musical, and my first time to see 'West Side Story'...not to mention my first time to see a live Broadway musical with someone who was as excited about it as I was.