Smokey Mountain Wilderness Fun

We had such a wonderful time this past weekend with Matt's family while at the Smokey Mountain Wilderness in Sevierville. Both the kids and the adults had a blast playing in the water park. There was enough to do to keep all the kids busy. It was also small enough that the older kids could wander about on their own and we could hang out with the smaller ones and not worry. Taylor was big enough to do all the slides so she enjoyed hanging out with her cousins.

The bucket that dumped water every few minutes....Madison hated this!


Matt and Caleb "racing" Taylor and Riley


The hot tub was Kelsey and Caleb's favorite place to be!


Nona and Caleb having a blast in the wave pool!


They had a ride called Surf Rider where you could body surf or surf while standing up. All the kids (well all but Madison and Shelby since they were big enough) gave it a try. They all did well too. Gabby and I gave it a try but there is no evidence. I wasn't very good at it.

Corey


Riley


Haley


Caleb....love the look of excitement on his face!


Kelsey was so excited too!


Taylor loved doing this and was really good at it too!


Don (Matt's brother) gave the surfing a try


He wiped out though


But got back up!


Corey gave it a try too


but also wiped out!


We also did quite a bit of playing on the Wii. Some nights the adults didn't go to bed until 3 am b/c of Wii tournaments!

Nona and Don Wii boxing


Haley and Corey playing the Wii


Caleb and Kelsey's turn


Riley and Evan's turn

What will she be?

Future Nascar Driver or Future Pit Crew Member....you decide?

Snowed in with the Tomlinson's

Last Saturday we decided to head out to the Tomlinson's since the roads were so clear...little did we know how bad it was in Powell. The roads were starting to get icy over there and we weren't able to make it up their driveway. We got about halfway up and that was as far as we could get. Aaron even tried to pull us up with the 4 wheeler but it just wasn't happening. Matt ended up reversing and getting stuck in the yard b/c you couldn't see the driveway. Aaron had to pull him out with the 4 wheeler. It proved to be an interesting start to our evening with them. We had taken our things to spend the night so we just settled in for a fun. We enjoyed soup, sledding and hot chocolate for 24 hrs! Aaron's sister and her kids got snowed in with us. They had come over earlier in the day and weren't able to leave b/c of the road conditions. It was lots of fun. The next morning we got everyone bundled up and headed out for more sledding. They have the best hill in their front yard. We got airborne a few times. Madison wasn't as thrilled with the sledding....a little too fast for her but she was happy to make snow angels and throw snowballs :) The kids enjoyed sledding down the hill and having Aaron pull them back up with the 4 wheeler. They also enjoyed riding the 4 wheeler around the yard in the snow.

Can you find their driveway? I will give you a hint..the start of it is where our car is at the bottom of the hill!


Madison and Clara being silly


Taylor getting a ride back up the hill


The beautiful view from the top of their hill


Notice the determination in Caleb's face....aka his tongue sticking out.


April and Annabell headed down!


My baby girl enjoying the snow


Amy's turn


Amy and Aaron headed down

Snow Day 1

We had such a wonderful time playing in the snow! Taylor had 2 little friends from Girl Scouts spend the night on Friday. We took them to see The Tooth Fairy Friday afternoon and when we came out of the movie the world was white! When we woke up Saturday morning the kids were thrilled with the amount of snow on the ground. After breakfast we dressed in our snow gear and headed out. Hope and Chris even came over and joined us with their new sleds! After a snowball fight in the front yard and sledding down our hills we piled in the Expedition and headed to the park at the bottom of our subdivison. It has great hills and the kids had a blast. There was only 2 other families and a man with his dog down there so it was great! The kids had such fun soaring down the hills. Matt and Chris had a race....Matt won! Madison didn't like it too much b/c the hills were so big that you really flew down them. She did go down a few times with me but was happy to play on the snow covered playground :) When we got back everyone was cold and wet and so we came in for hot chocolate while Matt made us a snowman....what a nice daddy! We had such a great time.

The kids getting ready to head into the snow


The kids all scattering as snowballs bombard them!


Madison hiding behind a tree...she didn't like the snowballs being thrown at her


But she loved throwing them at people


Caleb had a blast sledding


And so did Taylor


Taylor and Uncle Chris racing


The hill on the side yard proved to be a great sledding hill




Me and Matt


Hope and Chris


Matt and Chris racing down the big hill at the park


And Matt won!


Matt building us a snowman


The finished snowman....he looks like he belongs in FL with the golf hat!

Randomness of Life

I can't believe January is almost over! We have been busy and the month has just flown by!

We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Matt's brother, sister-in-law and their little girl ,who currently live in China, in a few weeks. They are going to be home for a few months as they are expecting their 2nd little girl in May. We are looking forward to spending some time with them.

Taylor is busy selling Girl Scout Cookies and getting ready for a camping trip with her troop in May.

Caleb is working on badges for Boy Scouts. He is constantly making us laugh.

Madison is enjoying school. They are making lots of cute artwork. We have made the decision to keep her out of Kindergarten this next year and are placing her in the pre-K program at her preschool. She is so excited to be in Mrs Carol and Mrs Carol's class (yes, both the teachers are named Carol). She is constantly saying things that make us laugh also and I am busy trying to write them down b/c I know I will forget them.

The kids have been busy mastering the Wii. Taylor is especially good at some of the games.

Madison loves these fuzzy boots she got for Christmas and wants to wear them all the time. We think she looks like she should be sitting at a ski resort when she wears them.


Matt even got his mom Wii boxing. She did really good for her first time....she knocked him down a few times :)


Madison and her polar bear (ignore the horrible hair day she is having)

Quality Time With "the cousins"

The first weekend in January we traveled to Nashville to spend the weekend with Matt's brother, sister-in-law and their 5 kids. We always enjoy spending time with them as all the kids get along so well. Plus we enjoy the same kinds of things....movies, staying up playing games and just talking! The kids couldn't wait to get there and they immediately began playing like they saw each other all the time. We also celebrated with them our last Christmas. My kids were so thrilled with their gifts! Taylor got a lava lamp, Caleb got Hulk and Captain America costumes and Madison got Supergirl and Dorthy costumes.

Let the opening begin!


Taylor and her groovy lava lamp!


Madison as Supergirl!


Caleb as the Hulk!


Three sweet little girls ready for bed :)


Caleb and Riley ready for bed


This picture is a little fuzzy but I love the look on Madison's face.

Snow Day!

I was so excited...I really thought we were going to be a big snow but unfortunately we got mostly ice :( The kids didn't care though...they were just glad to be out of school! Taylor had gone home with a friend from school and we had to go pick her up. We ended up bringing her friend, Clara, home with us to spend the night since they didn't have school. Friday morning the girls were ready to head out to play. After bundling up since it was like 4 degrees with the wind chill they enjoyed sledding down the hills and making snow angels. Caleb and Madison joined them but not for long as they got cold. I only snapped a few pictures and got none of Caleb :(

Madison went down the hill in her cozy coupe car!


Pushing the car back up the hill to do it again


Clara and Taylor sledding



Madison making a snow angel


Taylor making a snow angel