Well, technically it's tomorrow but we celebrated today. We had forecasts of severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings and Jack was running fever this morning but by party time, it was perfect. We had no rain, few clouds and Jack was just about his normal self. We were able to take Abbott's high chair outside and let him dive in. Soon after we made it back in the house and Kelly began opening presents, the skies opened up and it poured, hailed and was very windy. Someone wanted us to have a great party today and to them, I say "THANKS!" Abbott loved his cake and it was so fun to watch him get all messy. He wasn't too interested in opening presents, but he was interested in playing with them and so was Jack. Kelly would open one and Jack would take it over to
Popo and say, "
Popo, will you open this so I can share it with Abbott?" Which really meant, "so I can play with it." but we had discussed that the presents were for Abbott but that he could probably play with some. It was a really great day and it couldn't have gone much better!
In case the cars didn't give it away, you knew this was the place by the balloons and star!
We had a nice wagon ride where we found lots of flowers (weeds).
Abbott has 2 pretty yellow flowers and Jack has a "little tiny flower".
Abbott loved his balloons!
While Jack and Abbott were napping, a few people got in a game of
Bocce ball. Kelly and Dad won.
YAY!
Kelly made these cute cakes for Abbott's birthday. Janet made an extra one in case this wasn't enough. I don't think it got cut into at all.
Look at these cute boys with their
Wannie & Poppa!
So cool in his sunglasses.
There were just a few people there to help Abbott celebrate. This is about half.
He is really excited to dig in!
Jack's wondering why only Abbott gets cake when we'd been telling him all morning that he was going to get to eat some cake.
MMMMM, he really liked his cake!
Kelly likes it, too!
He was messier than he looks, but doesn't he look so cute?
He got some cute rock & roll shoes, along with many many other gifts.
"All for me!"
Jack was very good at helping Aunt Kelly open Abbott's presents.
One present.
"
Yotsa presents!"
Here's our live
doppler radar. Red is not good.
Tim, Justin (Ryan's brother), Jack & Abbott all playing with some new toys.
Jack, Abbott and
Moma Jo.
Jack was a little tired of the party so we came back to the hotel where he got his second wind. He and
Wannie and Poppa played and played and were just plain silly, if you can imagine that. We had such a great day and we're looking forward to the rest of the weekend!
Here's the gang minus Jack, who didn't want to look at the camera.
On of the towers at the distillery.
The big white building on the hill holds 1 million gallons of whiskey and there are 77 buildings across the distillery. Our tour guide explained that of the 77 million gallons of whiskey here, they get one pint a month. He seemed bitter about that.
Popo and Abbott in front of the old REO Speedwagon fire truck.
Jack decided after Popo and Abbott did it, that it was ok for him to do it, too.
My dad and my Poppa.
The natural spring that runs through the distillery and where they get the water they use in the whiskey.
Jack & his "Momo" stance.
Poppa said he almost lost Wannie today to the other Jack. I think she still would have picked him!
Kelly & Abbott with Jack. Abbott sure does look interested in him. My Jack's not so interested in him.
Here's the fermenting whiskey.
Popo and Abbott on the tour.
This is a barrel full of charcoal. The whiskey drops one drop at a time. When the charcoal can't be used for the whiskey anymore they bag it up and you can use it in your BBQ.
Kelly is taking a whiff of the whiskey barrel. She stayed there for about 15 minutes... I'm not sure why.
I just thought this was a cool mural.
The grounds are so pretty and peaceful.
Everyone got a little weary.
That's a lot of barrels of Jack.
After the tour we went to "metro-Lynchburg", which was actually what the city limits sign said. Downtown is a quaint little square with Jack Daniel related stores and some restaurants. We ate lunch at the BBQ Caboose and shopped a little, it was great. 
If the only way is the wrong way, which way should we go?
Jack & Abbott had fun picking flowers (or weeds) and putting them in the bucket.
Jack had fun blowing, with a little spit, the dandelions.
This is the face of a super cute, absolutely worn out boy. He sure does know how to test the limits at times, but he missed out on a lot of sleep and didn't feel 100%. I hoping the week of rest will be good for him so we can go at it again. Jarred has about 4 weeks until he takes his test so start thinking about him and praying that he does well so he will pass the first time and be done with it! 
