Our Family Vacation

WILDERNESS AT THE SMOKIES

We had a limited amount of time to take a family vacation this year so we decided to try out a new resort in Sevierville, Tennessee. We went to "Wilderness at the Smokies" which has a waterpark on site~ While they are still expanding we had a wonderful time.
The current waterpark is not very big but it was plenty big enough for what we needed it for!
It was very nice to be able to go right upstairs to our room if we needed to during the day at the waterpark. The server at the hotel restaurant said once they finish the resort completely, it will be the biggest waterpark in the United States. We will definitely consider going back once it is completed.
The kids had a BIG time and never noticed how small it was. It kept them completely occupied. We have discovered that Courtlyn is quite the water bug. She would have stayed at the waterpark every second of every day. Taylor had a good time going down the three waterslides. Her daddy and I took a few turns down the slides ourselves. Kids at heart, we are. And don't think for one second that Courtlyn got left out........


Outside The Peddler in downtown Gatlinburg waiting on dinner. Which was YUMMY.

Courtlyn and Daddy hanging out with a float?

Well yeah! They put it to good use!

Taylor's float got plenty of use!

Time and Time Again!

My cute family watching the Fireworks in Pigeon Forge

Taylor single handedly help up the Wonderworks Museum.

( Which is upside down! We really liked hanging out here~ )

Taylor and Courtlyn in a Spacecraft

Taylor attempting to climb the Rock Wall

Taylor and I experiencing Hurricane Force Winds

Courtlyn showing off her new Princess Bathing Suit and her Cheese Face!

Daddy and Taylor trying to lift their own weight

My beautiful babies on the Fourth of July

Summer Is HERE!!!

Taylor participated in our Church's Pinewood Derby for the first time this year. She didn't win but it was fun just getting to participate. In this picutre she's hanging out with two of her closest buds, Morgan and Abby. Her other big pal, Kailey was there somewhere but unfortunately missing from this pic =(

Courtlyn is very independent and is now dressing herself with a pretty good success rate. Even though yesterday was one of the hottest days of the year, she decided she wanted to wear her winter coat over her summer outfit! She was so cute!

The other day we were at Nana's and Courtlyn disappeared for a minute. When she resurfaced she was donning Nana's houseshoes. Her new thing is parading around the house in everyone else's shoes. She enjoys my heels the most and walks better in them than I do!

Our friend, Stephanie gave Courtlyn this ball cap and she LOVES it. I'm quite amazed but she wears it all the time! Isn't she CUTE!

Taylor and Abby played their last soccer game this Saturday. It was HOT! This is a pic of the girls after they dumped water from the cooler all over themselves!

A Night out with My Daddy and John P.

Me, Dad and John....just hanging out ! Dad and I had an unbelievable opportunity last week to meet our lifelong favorite musician/songwriter that ever walked on earth. No exaggeration.

For those of you who've known me forever you know what a die hard John Prine fan Dad and I are. So you know I mean it when I say that we were completely and totally beside ourselves in the picture above.

John Prine held a benefit concert last Tuesday night at The Belcourt Theatre for Gilda's Club of Nashville to raise money for Cancer Awareness/Support. I bought us both a ticket to attend the concert and the Meet and Greet afterwards. The tickets were a little pricey but I tell you what - I would have paid double if they'd asked me to. It was for a great cause and I got to touch, talk to and breath the same air as my musical hero. And please notice above that he is touching me too. =)

The concert was AMAZING. Dad and I were some of the first few people in line so we got to choose our seats. We chose the 4th row back square in the middle...they were honestly the best seats in the house.

I'm well aware that most of you reading this have never heard of John Prine. Well let me tell you that you are missing out big time. There's never been another songwriter in history that can hold a candle to his story telling ability nor match the amount of heart he put's into his music or his concerts. My advice would be to look him up and take a listen. Look up "Hello In There", " Sam Stone " , " Angel from Montgomery", "Picture Show" or "Unwed Fathers".

Listen to the words....really listen. He's trying to tell you something.

Here lately I've come to realize just how fragile life is. How quickly it changes right in front of our eyes. How fast our babies grow up. How very unexpectedly tradgedy and devastation can move into our lives and change everything. And again how wonderful things happen every day. How life changes for everyone and affects us all in different ways. In the past couple of weeks I have witnessed so much change. Some wonderful and full of hope and new beginnings. Some sad that make us question life and it's purpose. I have watched my sister-in-law, Dee graduate from college with Honors and start a brand new life for her and her daughter. I have begun to prepare myself to say goodbye to my very best friend, Sarah as she heads off to a brand new start a thousand miles away. It's an amazingly hopeful and refreshing new beginning for her but a truly sad time for me. I have watched my wonderful friend, Magan get engaged and start preparing for her wedding and marriage. I am happy that she is so happy. I have been floored with the unexpected news that another friend of mine has been diagnosed with cancer. It makes my heart hurt that she is scared and unsure of what is to come. It knocks the breath out of me. I have stood by my husband as he begins a new career. And this change alone evokes so many emotions and feelings.....happiness, pride, fear, and worry. In just a few weeks, I have seen great happiness, unwavering commitment, gut-wrenching fear, unfathomable heartbreak, hopeful giddyness, shining courage, and unsurpassable love. I am a very lucky woman to have each of these people in my life - to share their life changes with them. Good or bad. Easy or hard. Life changes with every breath, with every day, with everyone of us. Life is a gift and I am thankful that my life is intertwined with all of you. I am grateful that we have a just and loving God who is there for every change and for every situation. The fragility of life is something we should all try to keep in perspective. There will be ups and downs and in-betweens. How quickly it can go from one to the other is something we should all prepare ourselves for. And in the mean time remember who to give thanks to for all we are blessed with. Whether it is cancer, marriage, careers, or just everyday life, God is good and is always there to help us navigate our path. I ask that you all keep my family in your thoughts and especially in your prayers as Chad begins his new career with Metro. It is the dawn of a new lifestyle for us - we look forward to it all and are excited for what is to come. However, I cannot help but be worried about my husband and his safety everyday as he leaves our home. Thank you all so much for being there and for helping me maintain my sanity. I love you all very much! God Bless you all =)

March 2008

Our household never stops but I decided I needed to share some pics from this past month because my babies are growing up before my eyes. Its devastating to watch time steal them away from me but it is such a joy to see them together, growing and developing a bond only sisters can share. These pics are not in any specific order and I apologize but it's late and I'm exhausted! In the picture above, Chad was checking Stella for ticks.....Courtlyn was helping =)

Chad is teaching Courtlyn all about "hoops" . I told him someday this picture will be framed next to the one of her shooting a three pointer to win the National Championship game. He just grinned and nodded his head.....I'm pretty sure he was holding back a tear.

Taylor had her Annual Sock Hop last week at school. Its a HUGE event and the kids love it. Almost every single kid who attends is dressed to the nines...even 1/2 the parents get into it. Its really fun and the kids have a blast. It lasted from 6:30 to 9:00! Whats the big deal with that you ask? Well its way past our bedtimes!!! Chad and I were exhausted when it was all over with!

Look at those choppers!

Dressed up pretty for Easter in her pretty pink dress. It's a shame it was so cold outside and we couldn't really show it off!

Taylor really loved her Easter dress - she said she felt like she should be attending a conference. And she did look that way! It almost broke me down! Just look at her - she is 1/2 grown. I mean seriously....we are 7 1/2 years away from driving! If that times flies by as quickly as the last 8 1/2 years, I'm definitely going to need some nerve pill of some kind.

Easter morning - the girls were pumped. And just notice how pumped Daddy looks to be up at 7 a.m. doing the "Easter Basket Thing".

This one right here is a CHATTER BOX. I don't think it's normal how much this one talks. She can answer almost any question appropriately and only has to hear or see something once and she has the hang of whatever it is! She LOVES to sing and her favorites right now are "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" and "Happy Birthday to You". She's just learning "Old McDonald Had a Farm" and its so cute to hear her do her E-I-E-I-O! She wakes up every morning like a ray of sunshine. She pops right up in the bed with a "Hi, Mommy" or "Hi, Daddy" and then breaks into a sunrise rendition of "Twinkle Star". I know I'm her Mommy but I don't care who you are that's just stinkin' cute. She just turned 20 months old yesterday. It's hard to believe she is almost TWO! Geez...

We had Spring Break / Vacation a couple of weeks ago and the first day and 1/2 of it was decent but the rest of the week was AWFUL. Chad and I had a debilitating stomach bug and it took us a hundred hours to recuperate. We did manage to get to the Discovery Centre in Murfreesboro one day to visit Elizabeth, Carter and her new precious son, Mason ( see above ). Dee and Hannah came along to play too - we really enjoyed that because life is busy and we don't get to see them enough! We met up with Joy, Wyatt and Abigail later at the park. That was fun too but let me tell ya - 7 little kids runnin' around at a crowded park = NERVE-WRECKING. Again, I think Liz and I both could have used a Nerve pill....somehow, Joy was calm and cool as a cucumber....good for her. I, myself was worried sick about everybody getting lost. However, we all made it home with right kids and I can't wait to get together with them all again soon. ( hint, hint )

CUTE - doesn't it look like she has a giant curl like rat tail sticking out of the back of her head?

Hannah playing in the Canal Exhibit at the Discovery Centre. She was really concentrating on making her boat float...see her tongue sticking out?

Taylor paddling through the Discovery Centre. Again, looking all grown up...did I mention we can almost share shoes?

Courtlyn really enjoyed playing in the water - the challenge was keeping her from drinking it.

I've not posted in a long long time but I have good reason! My computer has the flu. I thought I would try again tonight to post a new blog but everytime I try to upload a picture the computer locks up on me! We need to take it to the doctor. Speaking of the flu my family has all escaped it up to this point (knock on wood). We've had a few sinus infections and croupy cough but so far we've avoided anything severe.

I wanted to post pics to go with my update but I guess I'll have to try that again later!

For starters, my baby ( the big one ) got glasses a couple of weeks ago. They look cute on her but I know what lies ahead for her! Don't worry girls, I didn't get her pink ones!

Last Thursday, Taylor was in the school play. She was Rosalyn Carter ( Jimmy Carter's wife ). She did a great job. I cannot believe she is in the 3rd grade.

Courtlyn has started potty training! We have been working on it for about a month now! I'm so proud of her - she is such a go getter. She is my little motivated peanut...she picks up on things so quick! She can almost count to 10 and she is singing along with us when we say our ABC's. She is speaking in small sentences such as " I gotta go potty" or " Mommy, I'm scared" and " I'm tired, it's bedtime". What a little sponge of knowledge she is. I'm pretty sure we are Harvard Bound.

I'll update more soon - we stay busy, busy, busy and it's a rare moment I get to sit at the computer and work on downloading and posting new info. Spring Break is on the horizon though and I CANNOT wait!

Love you all!

2 Blogs in 1 Day. Makin' up for lost time.

This is a picture of Chad's mom as a little girl. The resemblance between her and Courtlyn is quite unbelievable.
Taylor on the giraffe rocker at "The Discovery Centre"

All 3 of them disappeared from the kitchen while I was cooking. I went looking for them & found all of them on the dog bed. Taylor and Stella were snoozing and Courtlyn was snuggled up sipping on some cold milk. HILARIOUS!

Courtlyn enjoyed painting at "The Discovery Centre". Look how serious she is.

Courtlyn and Stella are the best of friends.