| I never got a chance to write about our road trip home with my parents after Jennifer and Daniel’s wedding in Birmingham but it was a pretty fun time! So here goes. On Sunday morning we decided to make a couple of “must do while in Birmingham” stops. I mentioned before that my dad spent part of his childhood in Birmingham, but he also lived part of his adult life there with my mom and brother after he got his PhD from Princeton. I was born in Birmingham and only lived there for two weeks before my parents moved the whole family to Louisville. Throughout my childhood we visited my grandparents in Birmingham, usually during Christmas, and I have many many happy memories of my grandparents beautiful farm. My granddaddy was the pastor of the giant and beautiful Independent Presbyterian Church (IPC) in the middle of Birmingham, so we decided to drive by the church and get a few pictures before we headed out of town. Ian and I were both baptized here – it is one of the most beautiful churches I’ve ever seen. We didn’t go inside – I think we were there in the middle of a service – but we got a few pics of the outside and then went to find some breakfast. | No habia tenido la oportunidad de escribir sobre el paseo que hicimos con mi papas despues de la boda de Jennifer y Daniel en Birmingham, pero lo pasamos super bien! Asi que aqui va. El Domingo en la manana decidimos hacer un par de cosas que “teniamos” que hacer mientras estabamos en Birmingham. Mencione antes que mi papa paso gran parte de su ninez en Birmingham, pero tambien vivio parte de su vida adulta con mi mama y hermano despues que recibio su doctorado en Princeton. Yo naci en Birmingham y vivi alli solo por 2 semanas antes que lmi familia se mudara a Louisville. Durante mi ninez, visitamos a mis abuelos en Birmingham regularmente, especialmente en Navidad, y tengo muchas muchas memorias de mis abuelos en su Hermosa granja. My abuelo era el pastor de la gigante y hermosa Iglesia Presbiteriana Independiente en Birmingham. Asi que dicidimos pasar a verla y tomar unas cuantas fotos antes de volver a Nashville. Ian y yo fuimos bautizados alli – es una de las iglasias mas lindas que he visto. No pude entrar esta vez – estaban en medio de la misa – pero sacamos fotos de la fachada y luego fuimos a tomar desayuno. |
| My parents wanted to go to a little hole-in-the-wall place called Bogues that they used to frequent when they lived in Birmingham and sure enough, it was still in business. My parents were a little bummed because they completely remodeled the place so it didn’t have that run-down charm, but the food was still the same and absolutely delicious! We loaded up on coffee and pancakes, then hit the road. The drive home was through a terrible storm so it was slow going, but thank heavens for 3g so our phones kept us entertained. Actually, Javi and I had fun checking up on our dogs at the Dog Spot. We love being able to see them romp around like idiots on the webcams and the live feed through the phones has exceptional quality. Chupi and Chori were by themselves for most of the drive home and they were always fighting, so we were laughing at the thought of other owners looking at the webcams, seeing our dogs fighting and thinking “oh no someone has to separate them!” I mean they were really going at it…but it’s always just tough love between the two of them. | Mis papa querian visitar una picada llamada Bogues donde ellos ibanfrequentemente cuando Vivian en Birmingham y claro, todavia existe. Mis papas estaban un poco tristes porque lo habian remodelado asi que no tenia esa atmosfera de antes, pero la comida todavia es absolutamente delicosa! Nos llenamos de café y panqueques antes de lanzarnos a la carretera.El viaje de vuelta fue a travez de una tormenta terrible asi que fuimos muy lento, pero gracias al cielo por tener 3G en el telefono para mantenernos entretenidos. La verdad, Javi y yo nos entreteniamos viando a los perros en las camaras web del Dog Spot. Nos encanta verlos saltando y actuando como idiotas en las camaras y la transmision se ve muy bien en el telefono. Chupi y Chori estaban solos en una sala durante la mayoria del viaje y siempre estaban luchando, asi que nos reiamos con la idea de otros duenos viendo las camaras, viando nuestros perros pelear y pensando “oh no alguien tiene que separarlos!”. Osea, no se estaban hacienda dano…es la manera que expresan su amor el uno por el otro, amor duro. |
| The last fun little tale of the road trip was our final reststop before we arrived in Nashville. My parents go back and forth to and from Alabama enough to know where the Starbucks reststops are, and one of them is right next to a Nestle cafe. Has anyone else ever heard of a Nestle cafe??? I hadn’t…but it’s like…heaven and hell all mixed into one little coffee shop. So much temptation and glory. Anyway, my mom and I couldn’t resist going in and getting a couple of cookies for all of us to split with coffee…it was amazing. If you ever see one of these cafes, indulge! | La ultima cosita entretenida que hicimos fue nuestrau ltima parada antes de llegar a Nashville. Mis papas van y vuelven a Alabama lo suficiente para saber donde hay Starbucks, y uno de ellos esta al lado de un café Nestle. Alguno de ustedes ha visto un café Nestle??? Yo no habia visto una hasta entonces…..pero es como….paraiso e infierno mezclado en un solo local. Mucha tentacion y Gloria. Pero bueno, mi mama y yo no pudimos resistir la tentacion de entrar y comprar unas galletas para acompanar el café…fue increible. Si alguna vez ven uno de esos locales…disfrutenlo! |
| Now it’s time to kick off another weekend – thank goodness. Happy Friday! | Ahora es el momento de empezar un nuevo fin de semana – gracias a dios. Feliz Viernes!! |
Los Rodriguez Life 
One response to “Family Road Trip!”
It was a fun trip. Thanks for journaling our good time. Sweet (and not just cookies and pancakes!) memories.