Ohio/Tennessee

Patrick finally got us out to Ohio! We flew into Columbus and spent a few days with old friends. It was so nice to put faces (actual people!) with names and stories! Sadly, the only picture I took was of Maggie swimming at the hotel pool:
We then headed to Tennessee to spend a few days with Patrick's family. His sister just bought a beautiful home on Lake Norris and, MAN, did the girls have fun! Getting prepped for a boat ride:

Caroline fell in love with the air on her face. She went into a complete trance every time we were moving. Poor girl though--that life jacket had to have been uncomfortable!

Taking a snooze on the boat while everyone else rode the tube or went swimming:
As silly as it sounds, I was totally nervous for Maggie out there! She was in great hands though and they got "almost up to Grandma speed" according to Uncle TJ.
Pose girls...and they did!
Ruby the dog was loved (a little too much) by Caroline.
And just to prove I was there (taken at a Cracker Barrel restaurant on our way back to Columbus by Maggie the photographer):

This was my first time in this part of the country and I thought it was beautiful. Very green and lush. Tennessee was amazing! The Appalachians are SO pretty. One new thing for me was fire flies! I'd never seen one and they were everywhere at night. I just sat on the deck and STARED!

Maggie could not have been happier the whole trip (even when we had to yank a half burrowed tick our of her neck!). She was allowed to sleep in the same room with her cousins which we thought would last half a night at best. She slept great with the girls every night. That is...when she finally fell asleep. She would talk those poor girls ears off each night! We had a video monitor in the room and we could see her bouncing up and down, talking incessantly, while the cousins were barely responding at all. They were beyond patient and kind to our girls!

Thank you to all the Ohio folks for showing us such a great time.