~ Spring Break 2010 in the Smokies~

Home to Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Dollywood, and lots of "Hillbillies"
We decided it was time to take the kiddos to Eastern Tennessee, so we booked our timeshare in Gatlinburg and started our road trip East. It was only a 6.5 hour drive which was pretty doable for a 6 month old and he did great-only one meltdown. Once we arrived we realized that Eastern TN was so different then Memphis....so beautiful!!!
There was so much to do in Gatlinburg. It's the cutest little town nestled up against the mountains, filled with Go-Karts, Miniature golf courses, lots of yummy food, shopping, and LOTS of crazy people watching. Remember the Smoky Mountains are part of the Appalachian Chain...so that pretty much tells you what the people watching was like....CRAZY!!!

So I of course had heard of The Appalachian Trail but I had no idea (or wasn't listening in History class that day) that you could just get on the trail and hike all the way to Maine. We saw a man there getting ready to make the journey....what an accomplishment. The picture below pretty much sums up why they're called the "Smoky Mountains".

So I've got to be honest when we were driving through the mountains my eyes were wide opened looking for Hillbillies (mountain people). I've heard so much about them that I was so into it, but unfortunately we didn't see any mountain dwellers. I guess they're a little more North in the mining towns. I'm so interested now though that I want to go to that part of the country too. Let's just say they lead such a simple life but yet such a strange (inbred) life that is so crazy to me :)

The family at Dolly Parton's DIXIE STAMPEDE

So we definitely had to throw some dollars down for the dinner show but it was so worth it. There was live entertainment with horses, Southern Belles, Union/Confederate soldiers, Buffalo, Magic, and so much more. The food was amazing too. Would you expect anything less from Dolly though!!

We really did have a good time in Dillenburger (Ryleigh thought it was called that the whole time, so we just let her believe it haha) . We're looking forward to visiting again soon.
Next visit we'd love to have some company, so come out and see us.

N.V.S. Dance Competition Season 2011
So far (we still have 2 more competitions to go) Cara's regional team has placed first in their tap routine and second in their jazz.

Here's her 7-8 dance team in their "Be Our Guest" costumes. These girls have a great time together and luckily so do their mom's. Their coach Miss Kourtney is so patient and does a great job at keeping this rowdy bunch tamed.

Here's Cara in her "Cotton Eye Joe" costume. This dance is so much fun and I can tell she really enjoys performing it.

Here's Cara accepting the first place trophy (overall) for their "Cotton Eye Joe" dance. We needed to go over the word choreographer before, because when asked by the MC who her choreographer was she totally froze...so funny!!!

This was Cara's first competition and right before she went on stage I snapped this picture....she said "Mom my belly hurts, I think I have a case of the "stagefrights"....I felt bad for her but once she got on stage she seemed totally relaxed.

So we've now got the first two competitions (Applause and Star Systems) out of our way. Cara has totally relaxed and keeps asking me when she has her next one. It's a lot of fun watching her interact with her dance friends. I'm so proud of her!!!

Ryleigh will be joining her next year. I don't know how I'm going to change costumes, reapply make up, touch up on eyelashes, take potty brakes......but I can't wait. I may have to hire my Mom to come out during dance competition season. I've been a baseball mom for so long (which I also love) so it's been nice to spend a little time with my girls doing GIRL things!!!!

Can I get a YEE HAW!!!

I never make Carson do anything when it comes to extra stuff at school, however I MADE him go to the Western Dance. I told him that I really wanted him to go and have fun, dance, hang with his friends, and I promised him he would have a good time. After weeks of arguing about it he finally accepted that I was serious and so he went to the dance. I did not make him dress up or make him dance, but after a few songs and LOTS of cookies he decided to join his friends on the dance floor. Of course they spent the first few songs being goofy and making fun of each other but it's funny how as the time went on they were all dancing seriously....I mean come on-they had some cute 5th grade girls to impress. I was so proud of Carson. His dad absolutely will not dance so I expected the same but he proved me wrong. I told him sports weren't everything and that being well rounded was a great gift to have. I'm so glad I stuck to my word--on our way home he said "Okay Mom you're right I had a really good time". YEE HAW for Carson and for me!!!

Yet again...another dress up day for Ryleigh--this time it was 'Grandma and Grandpa' day. Dress up days happen so often at our house that I pretty much just keep the Halloween box open and accessible. Gotta love kindergarten!!!

Happy Valentines Day!!!
This year for Valentines, Cara decided to make a pig for her box and Ryleigh a Hershey's Kiss. I thought they both turned out pretty cute. Luckily Carson has passed the box phase. Valentines was a pretty quiet day for us. Dave had to fly and we actually didn't have any extras going on that night so I took my kids to get a nice romantic Mexican dinner. I love my husband and my kids to pieces. Happy V-day!!!

My boys are growing up waaaaay too fast

It was becoming super obvious to Dave and I that Carson would need braces sooner than later. It's not that his teeth were super crooked but his over bite was pretty bad (like his mommas). I knew once his profile started looking like 'Bart Simpson' that it was time to visit the orthodontist. He got Carson in right away and we have now begun the process. Here's Carson getting his appliance (kind of like a head gear but in his mouth). He'll wear it for about a year and then braces for another year. His mouth already looks so different. He's such a handsome boy already but if I had to rate him now between 1 and 10 he'd be an 11 !!!!!! So let's just say our savings account just went down a few thousand dollars OUCH!!!! It is worth every penny when it comes to dental work on our kids though.

This little guy is growing up way too fast. I took him in for his 5 month appointment and every measurement was in the 95th percentile. It's not like Dave and I are small people but I have never had a kid in the 95th.

20 lbs.
29 in. long
head 19.5 in-big enough to hold that big brain he's got growing inside haha!!

Those of you who have been around him recently know that he is such a talker...so much so that I have to say shhhhh....at times. As cute as it is-it's super loud and continuous. I guess he's just trying to keep up with his brother and sisters.

Love these two boys!!!

The Baby Bullet
My Mom was watching an infomercial one night and saw this. She sent my sister in law Angela and me one and I love it. It's my new favorite toy. Yep, I am THAT mom now...a baby food making junky. I get excited to make it and love that it's so healthy for my little guy. No preservatives....nothing-just the fruit or vegetable and water. Evan is loving his new food and his little bobble head just goes crazy when it's feeding time. THANKS MOM!!!! You can go ahead and keep watching infomercials and keep sending me fun stuff haha!!!