Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Gatlinburg Get Away

We went to Gatlinburg over the four day weekend. We decided that since Isaiah can't hunt Easter eggs yet, we would spend some time together. It was our first get away as a threesome. We had a wonderful time. It was so nice to get away from reality. Weird and refreshing how a few days away can change long dreary winter perspectives.
This is the first morning. Isaiah was our alarm clock. He got us up and moving early. We did take time to cuddle in bed. I love this picture.


He was ready to roll. This was at the Pancake Pantry. I can't believe I forgot to take pics of the food--best! Seriously, we ate there two mornings in a row! I prefer the blueberry pancakes and Brian prefers the cinnamon!


The next few pics were taken just hanging out at the cabin. Isaiah enjoyed looking around and seemed to like the change of scenery.








Before we went out for dinner one night, I had to try a get a family portrait--this is the best I could do.


Isaiah LOVED riding in his stroller. He would scream and talk and look at everything he could. We walked him one night in Pigeon Forge where all the carnival type rides are because of the neon lights. He liked it so much that when we were turned around leaving he started fussing. I took him out of his stroller and he turned back to see the lights again!


We took a hike. I went in to the State Park office and asked for a non strenuous trail that was stroller accessible. The guy asked if we had a four-wheel drive stroller (hint 1). I said "No."
He said Laurel Falls was paved all the way and we could take a stroller. We have a carrier, but thought a stroller would be nice since Isaiah liked it so much. Big mistake. The trail was completely uphill--the entire way. It was so bumpy that Isaiah started fussing and we ended up having to carry him a little over half of the hike.






It was worth it when we reached the falls. This was the best pic Brian could get. There were people trying to get Isaiah's attention by moving around, making noises, and calling his name. He was too amazed by the falls to turn. We got this pic b/c I turned really quickly and Brian caught him before he had time to look back at the falls.


This was Isaiah on the car ride home. He was worn out! He slept for about three hours of the drive. So sweet...


This is what we came home to...



Apparently there was really high winds the night before we came home. The wind blew one HUGE limb out of a maple tree in our front yard. It hit the roof, slid down, and landed right up against our house. Luckily, there is only damage to the roof, gutter, and screen. We really don't know how it didn't do more serious damage to the door or windows. It's the same tree that was hit by lighting last year. The tree is still huge and towering over the right side of the house. We have two people coming to give us estimates to cut it down. It snapped us right out of our break from reality--drama, drama, drama. I HATE drama! Oh well, we're safe and we're home!

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Good Friends, Good Times

Saturday we met Rae and Matthew for dinner. They were down this way so we made plans to meet them. Here's Isaiah when it was time to get ready to go. Kyla met us and rode with us.


Matt's birthday was this week and he is a big fan of German food. We met them at Hofbrauhaus. I've never ate at an authentic German restaurant.
Rae & Matt
Kyla & Rae


Us


For appetizers Rae & Matt shared their Hofbrauhaus Pretzels and Bier Cheese and Sauerkraut Balls. Both were great.
For dinner, Rae, Matt, and I ate German. I'm not sure what the names of their dishes were, but I had the Wiener Schnitzel. It was really good. The potato salad was warm. It had a dressing on it that reminded me of the dressing you make for wilted lettuce--vinegar, sugar, bacon grease-YUM!
Wiener Schnitzel

Brian had a sirloin and Kyla had grilled chicken breast! But, for dessert, we all had the Windbeutel. And, yes, it was as delicious as it looks.
Windbeutel


Isaiah slept most of the time we were there.


He did wake up long enough for Rae to hold him. He loved playing with her hair and necklace.




After we left Rae and Matt we decided to do a little shopping. Brian dropped Kyla, Isaiah, and I off at Hobby Lobby and he went to Golf Galaxy. When Brian picked us up he said he'd like to go to Starbuck's. What a great way to end the evening.
Kyla had what all our hearts desired. I didn't get it because of the caffeine.


Isaiah was the best. I think he enjoyed being out and about just as much as we did. It was just what we needed--to reconnect with people we love and spend some mellow time hanging out and just enjoying one another.





Isaiah slept on the way home. When we got home I took him up and put him in bed and his eyes opened and his little mouth grinned. So ornery! We were up a little longer due to his power nap!

Friday, March 26, 2010

happy hair

The other evening while Isaiah was nursing he was soaking wet from sweating. I gave him a hip new do! He can't resist his daddy's ties.
























Sunday, March 21, 2010

Bits and Pieces

our bits and pieces...
  • i'm currently winning the march madness pool at my work! yippeee
  • i'm on school countdown (10 weeks and 2 days) after this week, we'll be down to single digits in weeks! at this point, i'll take what i can get!
  • we've been hanging out soaking in the beautiful spring weather. we've went for walks every evening that we have been able. there are already 12 baby adorable calves up in the barn lot
  • isaiah has: had a cold, been playing peek-a-boo for a few weeks (i'm trying to get it on video-no luck yet), been getting very excited over his new book and old too, has sat by himself for a few seconds at a time, and is officially six months old!
  • we have dinner tonite at red lobster (yummy) for our nephew, Austin's, 15th birthday. Yes, we have a 15 year old nephew--he's getting his permit soon--september, i think!
  • and, we are looking forward to our gatlinburg get-a-way!


I put his owl pj's on him for the last time - Sorry grandma j, but you can see why.


just hanging out

reading his new book



looks mischievous to me...

peek-a-boo play






enjoy your bits and pieces too!

Sunday, March 14, 2010

The promise of Spring...

"My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long." Pslams 71:8
Well, out here on our old gravel road there are too many signs of splendid spring to count. We went for a walk the other evening and I couldn't stop capturing the images with my camera. Promises of spring. Renewal. Awakening. Reminders of all the amazing things God has created.
The columbine right outside the backdoor is reappearing.

The maple trees have buds.

My favorite tree, not sure what it is (even the Master Gardener in the family couldn't identify it) it has buds too!

There are tadpoles and minnows in the pond.


And fresh bright green moss in covering the ground in the apple orchard. It's too early for buds on the apple and cherry trees, but the orchard is greening up!



We walked down our road and the magnolia tree has buds just waiting to burst forth...



There's muddy tractor tracks in the fields, proving the ground has finally thawed!


And, the winter red wheat is growing rapidly.


The last sign spring is near...Carl and Buddy were in the golf cart!



Here's the only family portraits I could get of us on our first walk of the season and year.
It's our shadows...see Isaiah's leg and arm dangling? He just looked around and took everything in.




Ike was in doggie heaven. He has to have cabin fever.

Even though spring isn't my favorite season, there's something about it that moves me the most. I see all of the beauty and wonder in creation and can't fathom how there are some who don't believe. It's too marvelous and magnificent to be created by anyone other than the Great I AM.
"The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life." Job 33:4
"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." Romans 1:20

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Grace's 10th Birthday

Grace's birthday party was last Saturday. Here is the beautiful birthday girl...




The scene was set. She loves Scooby-Doo right now. Her mom made her a Scooby-Doo cake too!





Scooby look-a-likes

Samuel loved playing with one of Grace's new presents--window markers. I have to admit that I loved playing with them too! Easy to clean up too.





Dad pulled out his latest creation towards the end of the party. One of three he's created while taking his stained glass class.


Dear Blog...

new posts soon. sorry for the delay. no excuses--just slackin' and soakin' up my babies and the amazing sunshine!


this was this past weekend at miss grace's 10th birthday party. get some pics on of that soon...