Mountains of Fun

The last time we went to the mountains, we promised ourselves we would go back often...and we did! I wasn't feeling too well on Sunday morning, so we played hookie from church. We were all very lazy, so the kids were allowed to watch a movie during naptime instead of actually attempting to sleep (which they rarely do on Sundays, it's an entire "day of rest" why do we need an actual NAPtime??). We left around 3:30 and got some more Kentucky Grilled Chicken (it really IS good, for those that haven't tried it) and headed to the Cades Cove picnic area, bypassing two of our "regular" spots. We played a bit in the creek there and then moved a ways down to the underpass near the campground and horse barn. It's one of our previous favorite spots and it proved to be that again on Sunday. Since the kids didn't nap, we actually had a lot of time to spend and weren't rushed to get home and in the bath, which was a nice change.

I'm going to have to dig, but I think I have this same exact picture from last year, same pose. Also, he's standing on a bank that I took his picture on when he was about 4 months old. Let the picture digging commence...

Oh, my happy girl! Kendall and I took a little field trip into the woods while Daddy and Cooper played with boats in the water. She was quite photogenic...proving my theory that in order to get any fabulous photos of my kiddos, I need to do seperate photo shoots!!!!

Too cute for words, really (in my opinion). He was SO very, very happy playing with the boats. He and Chip raced 4 boats...which turned into 3 eventually b/c Mommy made a pretty dumb mistake of taking a brown boat, which blends in nicely with the mountain water.

Yup. She's doing the jig.

This is his pure excitement over watching the boats race for the first time! "Who's gonna win??"

Putting it down in JUST the right spot.

For about 2 seconds, Kendall had ALL the loot.

Another perfect day in the mountains. Our peaceful mountain play time will soon come to an end, as everyone east of Montana will be joining us to watch the leaves change in about 2 months. We can still go and play, it just requires a camper and food for a week. The amazing thing about that mountain water is that it's basically the same temperature in November as it is in August: COLD. Painfully, bitterly cold.

A Day of Play

This weekend found us at yet another super-fun Carver Play Day. It was supposed to be another water play day, however, when we got there, the Daddies seemed to have little time to set up pools, water guns and slip-n-slides. They were a little too busy trying to figure out how to start a fire in Mr. Will's new fire pit. All we wanted to do was cook some hot dogs and maybe put together a few smores. You would have thought we were attempting to build a fire that would heat the entire Blount County for the entire winter. Alas, we were able to eventually eat hot dogs. The fire was large enough to cook them (well-done on one side, nearly rare on the other...but who's complaining?) and certainly warm enough to melt "smarshmellows" to make smores. The fire was not big enough to to heat your toes on an October camping trip, but it got the job done!

Hard at work. Why is it that a fire, or lack thereof, makes a grown man set out on a mission like no other?

Drew decided he needed to help the daddies get dinner going!

Cooper didn't touch a marshmellow or a hot dog, but he certianly enjoyed cooking them!

At first glance you might think "oh how cute, she was a big mouthful of smores in her mouth." However, it's two grapes left from dinner she kept her mouth for over an hour. Chip said he was embarrassed that his 2 year old was already dipping!

young love.

Jack just got finished showing me his clean hands. He was the only one smart enough to stay away from the ooey-gooey marshmellow mess!

My sweet girl...sans the grapes, finally.

A Family Weekend

Chip and I got an unprecedented two nights away from the kids to spend some quality time with friends. It was an amazing weekend, just for that! However, it got even better because the rest of the weekend was spent with family, family and then some more family!

The dinner crew, minus Grandy taking the photo (thanks!), all full on homemade pizza.

Vovo and Auntie "Shuzee"
Silly Papa. There are no other words.

Grandy and two of his six perfect grandchildren.

Four of six. One of these days, before anyone graduates from college or gets married, we're gonna get a photo of all 6!!

Kendall imitating the angel. You gotta love this kid.
Vovo and Cooper...and a car, of course.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY EDDIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bedtime Prayer

Last night Kendall and I were saying our prayers. I begin their prayers by the old dinner-time prayer, "God is good, God is great..." and end it with "let us thank him for our day (instead of "food")." Then we pray for whoever and whatever we want. Last night, Kendall and I prayed for Vovo. He isn't feeling too good these days and we asked God "to help make Vovo feel better." When we said Amen, Kendall said "now God makes Vovo feel better and now we are happy. Yes?"



I hope so Kendall! We love you, Vovo!

Good Night, Sleep Tight!

It's a sad day for me today...the last remnants of anything Baby in our house are officially gone. No more diapers, no more changing table, baby bottles are used for Kendall's baby dolls and baby wipes are now only used in the car to wash dirty hands. Until this weekend, I at least still had what looked like a crib...Kendall's crib had been converted to a toddler bed, but it still had 3 sides of her crib intact. However, that has all changed. Our little baby girl is officially a Big Girl now . Here is a photo of the new bedding and the bed that used to be a crib . There is also a video of when Kendall got home to see her new monkey bedding.

Ducks with Daddy

For whatever reason, feeding the ducks is usually an activity reserved for Mommy time...after school, or when I'm not working. I suppose it could be because I'm often (ok, always) looking for things to do outside since the kids are normally on their best behavior in the great outdoors. However, recently Kendall had a doctor's appointment on a Friday afternoon to check the ear she's had an infection in for about a month now (don't get me started). Since our pediatrician's office is adjacent to the prime duck-feeding spots in Blount County, the four of us loaded up for a fun afternoon (side note: Kendall didn't think it was the most fun during the first half. She left the pediatrician's office with not one, but two bruises she gave herself while we were waiting. One from a wall, one from a chair. I wouldn't make this stuff up). We decided to walk and feed the ducks on a Blount County landmark...The Island. The Island is in the middle of a pond along the Greenbelt and has been, for as long as I can remember, the prime spot for feeding ducks. However, I have never taken our kids because, as I mentioned, I'm usually going alone. An "island" with water on 3 sides (yup, I know that means "peninsula") is hardly the place to have a 1:2 adult-child ratio. The ducks did not disappoint us and came to eat in full force. And my camera was working just fine, as you can tell...I took plenty of photos...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KORI AND KALI!!

Today is Kori's birthday! Kali's was July 25th and being the AWESOME Aunt/Uncle that we are, we failed to actually call her, try as we might. Kali, you KNOW we love you LOADS. Sorry we didn't call to tell you that on your special day.

Kori, Happy, Happy Day to you, Girl. You're the BEST niece in the whole world (over the age of 9. If we're talking ALL nieces, you're kinda tied for first, sorry!).

Here's a special message for you...