Short Trip to Franklin, TN (July 2-3)

Just before the July 4th weekend, we took a quick trip up to Franklin, TN, one of our favorite places!

Being a very short trip, Johnny didn't have a lot to try to fit into the back of the van.  :)

I think he was saying "Are you SERIOUS?  This is all we're taking!??!"

Ready to go!  (Hanna fell off her bike days earlier...thus the nose)

We left home sometime in the afternoon and got to Franklin about suppertime.

Johnny and the kids swam in the hotel pool before we went out to eat.

No pics of the pool - the water was COLD!

Johnny and Chase watching the chefs at work at Macaroni Grill.

Looking forward to some good food!!

This was so cute - all the girls lined up watching...while we waited to be seated.

Our server really enjoyed the children throughout the evening.  She talked with each one personally, sitting down to look them in the eye as they chatted....and then somehow they all got "kids sundaes" even though they didn't all order off the kids menu!

Nothing better than fabulous food you don't have to cook yourself!!  :)

I was happy!

Best of friends, Jessie and Chase.

The 4 youngest - Hanna, Jessie, Chase, and Allison

In the van the next day, Marissa decided to "work" on her (homemade) laptop computer!

Needed to send out some e-mails, I guess!

Shortly after we arrived in the "Main Street" part of Franklin.

Chase got a hold of Johnny's mocha at Starbuck's!  :)

Jessie (at Starbuck's)

Trying on hats at one of the boutiques...

While some of us stopped to rest on a bench, these 2 found something to climb on.  

Probably some violation of the code in Franklin, I'm guessing.  

Hanna got too tired waiting for our lunch to arrive at Puckett's.

We always have lunch here.  :)

And it's always good!

There's a Chico's in Franklin, (one of my favorite stores!) and the salesladies there told the girls to try on anything and everything their little hearts desired.  

Seriously?  

Yes!!!!!!

Marssia's so chic!

Can you tell who's CHICO, and who's Ballenger?  :)

The girls' favorite place in Franklin is this toy store right on the main drag.  

Lots of really neat, interesting, unusual things to see and play with.  

Rarely do we buy much (too expensive!), but it's a great place!

Emelie took this photo and the next one...as we were driving away.  I think she wanted to capture "Streets of Franklin".

On the way home we stopped at a new Nestle Cafe in Athens, AL.

Almost home again.