Great Smoky Mountains National Park

This week, Niki, Peter, Charlotte, and I went to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with NanaB and GrandDad.We saw black bears (both in a wildlife exhibit and in real life)!

We toured tacky downtown Gatlinburg . . .

We danced to bluegrass music after dinner (the band is behind the bush) . . .

We sat on rocks in the river . . .

We walked around Cades Cove . . .

We drove and hiked to the highest point in Tennessee - Clingman's Dome . . .

We saw sharks!

We rode around beautiful Park roads in Big Red Van . . .

We went swimming . . .

We looked at fish at the Aquarium . . .

We visited Cooter's Dukes of Hazzard museum and gift shop.

We visited the Methodist Church in Cades Cove.

We sat around and chatted . . .

And had a ball! More later . . .

Riding in style in the Mustang!

Corey had to borrow the minivan so he could fit more than one other adult on an outing with clients, so the kids and I squeezed into the Mustang.  I have a new appreciation for people with 2-door cars and multiple children.  It felt like the kids were breathing down my neck, but it sure was easy to hand them things in the back seat!  The kids loved it.  They could hold hands (at least until Peter decided he was done and shrieked until Charlotte let go) and giggled when the engine roared.  Fun stuff!

More new words

Petey usually can't get a word in edgewise when his chatty sister is around, but he does have a few new words that we can identify in between Charlotte's monologues.  He definitely says "mama" now -- usually 100 times in a row.  He also consistently says "Doh-wa"whenever he sees the TV character "Dora the Explorer".  Such Dora sightings are almost always accompanied by a little dance and raised eyebrows in hope that Mommy or Charlotte will sing the Dora theme song.

I'm about 90% sure that he says "fan" whenever he sees a ceiling fan (especially if it is running).  He's working on saying "doggie", but it usually comes out sounding a lot like "daddy".  Corey tries not to take offense.  We suspected Petey was trying to say "GrandDad" when we were in Michigan a couple of weeks ago, so we will investigate this further when we reunite with NanaB and GrandDad in the mountains of East Tennessee on Friday!

Happy Mother's Day to Niki

Happy Mother's Day to Niki!

Words cannot express how wonderful Niki is . . .

We love you, Mom!

Love,

Charlotte, Peter, and Dad

CURSES! Foiled again!

WHY do I never have my good camera around for sweet moments like this?  My cell phone camera is the bane of my existence.  Just a second before, Petey was grinning like a fool (he was the one who initiated the hug), but the delay on the camera missed it.  Plus, it's so blurry you can barely even tell that Charlie Jo was playing "night-night" using the blanket I crocheted for Corey over a decade ago when we were just dating and moments like these were barely imaginable...

(Please ignore the large pile of towels and sheets waiting to be crammed into our inadequate linen closet in the background.  Just focus on the cutie pies in the foreground and make a wish upon the first star you see tonight that the aforementioned linen closet spontaneously quintuples in size.  Thank you.)

My new favorite photo of my youngest goofball child

And here is my giggly, wacky, cuddly little guy.  He may be going through a new stage of separation anxiety and be unable to be awake for more than 10 minutes in the morning before being fed breakfast (or else my ears suffer the consequences), but you would be hard-pressed to find someone who can rock the shirtless redneck look like my Petey can.

My new favorite photo of my eldest goofball child

She continues to frustrate me on a daily basis, but her enthusiasm, curiosity, and creativity just shines through here.  Charlie Jo, you are my sunshine.

Outdoor cousin fun

Our final afternoon in Michigan brought decent enough weather to allow us to play outside, so we seized the opportunity.  NanaB and GrandDad have a stash of new and vintage toys for this very purpose.  Like this classic thingamajig:

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this baby carriage was Stephanie's when she was a little girl.

Peter's pig went grocery shopping with him.

Peter and Quinn loved chasing the balls down the sloped driveway.

Maisie joined us after her nap.  Her ensemble had a lot of school spirit, but was a little odd.

Maisie didn't last long in the walker -- she wanted to crawl!

Steph led a marching parade around the circle in a vain attempt to keep the kids out of the flower beds.

Performing on the "stage" in the children's garden area.

The only shot we got that day of all four kids -- not so good.

DJ Maisie K in the house!

Quinn found some wet potting soil to play in -- can you tell?

We left the next morning on our long journey home.  Note to self -- don't hit Nashville during rush hour traffic unless you have a death wish.  Other than that, the trip home was blissfully uneventful.  Thanks for inviting us to visit, NanaB and GrandDad!  We're looking forward to coming back in June for Camp NanaB.

Fun with Granny and Grandpa Great

A playdate with Granny and Grandpa Great was next on our agenda.  When we showed up, we found a great set-up of car toys that Corey says he remembers playing with at Granny's house when he was little.  The kids were entranced.

Granny is such a cutie.

More pictures!!

The cars were a huge hit!

Charlie Jo, our resident sleuth, had a great time looking for clues with Granny and Grandpa Great's magnifying glass.

Maisie loved goofing off with her Granny Great.

I love this ridiculously adorable photo of GG & GG.

Fun with the golf putter toy!

Buddies!!

These photos of NanaB, Uncle Doug, and Uncle Dave always make me smile whenever I see them at GG & GG's house.

Who knew the shower in the guest bathroom would have provided such entertainment?

Peter liked playing outside the shower better than inside.

Charlie and Grandpa Great checked out a book about birds.

Petey teased Granny Great all morning, but never would give her a cuddle.  A combination of teething and a separation anxiety phase inspired him to be extra stingy with his hugs on this trip.

Thanks for inviting us over for a playdate, GG & GG!  Can't wait to see you again this summer.

Feeding the ducks -- FAIL

Stephanie and I learned a tough lesson one afternoon.  Apparently, a 3-year-old, 2-year-old, 1-year-old, and an 8-month-old are NOT good candidates to feed ducks by an idyllic pond.

First, apparently it is physically impossible for any of them not to to charge wildly at the ducks upon sight.

We dragged the kids to the playground to see if they could run off some energy before harassing the ducks again.  Petey kept stopping by to check in with Maisie.  I still can't believe he was so gentle with her all week.

Quinn raced his mom down the slide.

Charlie Jo ran around and made friends, and I pushed Peter on the swing for what seemed like eight hours.  We finally decided to head back to see the ducks and give it a whirl.  We gave Quinn and Charlie some cracked corn, and then this happened:

Yeah, they charged at the ducks with the corn held tightly in their little fists, screaming "DUCKS!!!  COME HERE DUCKS!!!"  Even with some tutoring, they completely freaked the ducks out.  We cut our losses and left the ducks in peace.  After all that fun outside, the kids needed a bath.  Good thing NanaB and GrandDad have such a big tub!

I had to include this last photo of Quinn and Charlotte watching cartoons the next morning.  So cuddly!