The newest member of our family

After losing our cat, Chewie, a few months before Charlotte was born, we have talked about getting another feline buddy for Pacey.  When our friend's cat had kittens a few weeks ago, we couldn't resist.  Enter Rochester James Stringer, aka "Rocky".

Charlotte told me she wanted to wear her ballerina dress-up outfit (to go see Rocky at Melissa's house before we adopted him) so Rocky would know she was "a real ballerina".   

I think Rocky totally treats her like a real ballerina.  Isn't he a sweet little dude?

We picked Rocky from the litter because his markings were most like Pacey's & Chewie's.  We named him "Rochester" because that's the town Corey grew up in and because once upon a time, Corey had a misguided notion that we would actually name a human baby Rochester and call him Rocky.

Peter and Charlotte are seriously smitten with Rocky, but Pacey is still not so sure.  Connie has sniffed Rocky a bunch and we thought Connie might have been considering picking Rocky up by the scruff of the neck (but we stopped her!), so it appears that Connie suspects Rocky is one of her little puppies or something.

He's a playful little sweetheart!

Rocky is settling in and wrapping us all around his little furry paw!

Story time with Faithy

Trains at Cheekwood

Today, NanaB, Charlie, Peter, and I went to Cheekwood to see their new trains exhibit.

This exhibit was situated in the "Color Garden," and incorporated model trains and models of signature Tennessee buildings made out of materials found in a garden.

 The Tennessee state capital building.

 A portion of the exhibit.

 Diesel engine.

 Trains!

 Graceland.

 Ladybug car and Graceland.

 Peter.

 Cheekwood.

 Peter and Cheekwood.

 The Hermitage.

Thomas comes to Union Station.

 NanaB and Peter.

 Franklin's own Carter House.

 Peter and the exhibit.

 Barn in Cades Cove.

 More of the exhibit.

 Charlie and the Ryman.

 Making our own "natural house" in a studio at Cheekwood.

Lunch at Urban Flats.

Franklin Theater 1937 Street Party

NanaB is in town for the weekend to help me with the kids while Niki is in California celebrating Abbey's graduation.

Tonight, we went downtown for the Franklin Cinema 1937 Street Party - a festival celebrating the reopening of the Franklin Theater.  There was a jazz band in the town square, and three movies going on big screens at the same time.  There were lots of people down there, including lots of young people.  Fun night!

 Charlotte was concerned about the big screens set up on 4th Street.  We watched for a little bit, then when NanaB told Charlie we needed to move along, Charlotte told her to "wait a minute.  I need to think about this."

 Main Street was packed.  There was a huge stage set up just outside Mellow Mushroom.  There was a 3-piece jazz combo when we were downtown, but we understand that a swing band will take over later.

 There was also a car show on the square.   Charlie and I went over to look at the cars, of course.  Here is Charlie with a Buick Special.

 Ford V8 - this bad boy had a rumble seat.

 This Buick 8 looks like it is about to chew on Charlie.

 Rolls-Royce.  I like Charlie's expression here, especially with those huge headlights behind her.

 Chillin' at the statue in the square.

 Standing at the statue looking back downtown.  Lots of people.  See the big movie screen in the distance?

 We walked all the way down Main Street to Sweet Ce Ce's for some ice cream.

 Hey - Andrew Jackson gave us a cannon once.  Cool.  Let's shoot it.

 How about this one?

 Sonia may have a Panzer, but I have this!

Oh, come on Dad, let me fire it!

 NanaB and Charlie fire on Main Street!

Gatlinburg

This was our first time visiting Gatlinburg, the tourist town right at the door of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  Gatlinburg is famous for its heavy traffic and crowds, but we visited in the off season so it wasn't too bad.  We enjoyed scooting around town every once in a while between visits to the park (Peter, Dad, GrandDad, Niki, and NanaB) and throwing rocks into rivers (Charlie).

Gatlinburg from the tram.  You can't see it from here, but Gatlinburg is full of restaurants, t-shirt shops, and tourist traps.

Well, I insisted on taking Niki and Peter to Cooter's Place, a tourist trap run by the fellow who played "Cooter" on the Dukes of Hazzard, my favorite TV show when I was a kid.  Niki figured out that there is a "Cooter's Place" in Nashville, but oh well . . .  Cooter's Place had a little "museum," filled with old toys.  I still have, and Charlie and Peter now play with, the big "Dixie" jeep here.

Peter found a go-cart Hazzard County Sheriff's car, and fell in love with it.

The nice guy behind the counter took the tape off and let Peter sit in it.  He was DELIGHTED!

He would sit down, then stand up, then sit down, then stand up, and jabbered the entire time.

Dad - can we keep it?

We found a few restaurants that we liked, including Howard's Steak House.

Here's another tourist trap - the "Cars of the Stars" museum.  Here's Herbie!

A Gatlinburg block at night.

Niki found a little shopping center with a bluegrass band playing.  Charlie and Peter twirled and danced.

Mountain Momma.

What's more East Tennessee than resting in an orange and white rocking chair after dancing to bluegrass?