For the Fourth of July, we went to spend a long weekend with my grandparents. If you have been following this blog for any amount of time you know how much I adore my Mamma and Pappa. They are in their eighties and we love being with them. They went on most of my family vacations growing up and I have so many memories of spending time with them. I love that my children know and love their Mamma and Pappa, too.
We headed up into the mountains for a picnic and it is becoming a running joke in our family that if we go to mountains, no matter the time of year, it will be freezing. Well, this time, July 3 was NO exception. A cold front came through and it was SOOO cold (in the low 50s cold)
Love this pic! it's also the only one of wild-man, aka Nathan, that you'll see by the water or on the rocks. He simply could not be let go of. He had no fear!! If you look closely, you'll see him shoving jay's hand away in this picture!
The kids loved climbing on the rocks! (Watch out though, they are SlIpPeRy!! by the end of our climbing, Jay and Jacob both had fallen into the freezing cold river!)
little miss long-legs!
This is the strangest creature I have ever seen. That "head" with the two eyes and "tongue" is actually its tail, and those aren't eyes or a tongue at all. We think it's some sort of adaptation to scare off prey. The head/tail bobbles like a bobble-head doll! Very interesting! We spent a long time studying this little guy!
After our picnic, we spent a night together at the Wilderness of the Smokies Resort. It is the one with the indoor/outdoor water park. We had a great time and if you're in the area, it's a fun place to stay. As I mentioned before, a cold front came through and we were FrEeZiNg and there were several slides our kiddos weren't tall enough for, but overall, it was super fun!
After our picnic, we spent a night together at the Wilderness of the Smokies Resort. It is the one with the indoor/outdoor water park. We had a great time and if you're in the area, it's a fun place to stay. As I mentioned before, a cold front came through and we were FrEeZiNg and there were several slides our kiddos weren't tall enough for, but overall, it was super fun!We all slept in one room, which the kids thought was SO much fun and everyone did wonderfully!
Nathan thought he was going to get to sleep with these two. Sadly for him, he had a pack-n-play in the corner!
When we got back to Knoxville, the boys helped Pappa comb his hair. Apparently, we need to work with Mr. N on his technique... he's a little rough!
Some boy play time!! (Daddy was outside cutting their grass!)
Thanks again for hosting us, feeding us, taking us on a picnic, and just being so great! We love you!
Nathan thought he was going to get to sleep with these two. Sadly for him, he had a pack-n-play in the corner!
When we got back to Knoxville, the boys helped Pappa comb his hair. Apparently, we need to work with Mr. N on his technique... he's a little rough!
Some boy play time!! (Daddy was outside cutting their grass!)
Thanks again for hosting us, feeding us, taking us on a picnic, and just being so great! We love you!
What a year this one has been for you! You loved Kindergarten, excelled in your reading, played on a soccer team for the first time, went to Disney World, and learned how to ride your bike without training wheels...
Look at him now!
