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Saturday, September 29, 2012

Greetings From Pigeon Forge!

I'm sitting on the deck of our large, fully equipped, filled with love and family cabin, watching the rain and pondering the coming week or so of fun, relatives, and spiritual fulfillment.

We're in Pigeon Forge, observing the Feast of Tabernacles (although it hasn't officially started yet). It is so beautiful here. Everyone from my family has made it here safely, and we've already enjoyed one night of beer, wine, and m&ms.

It wasn't cake getting here though. Ryder possibly got a severe neck ache in the car the first day of driving, and it continued to bother him the second day, although not quite as bad. Thankfully today he's chipper and turning his head like a pro. My brother, my mom, my niece, and I  have all gotten colds. Yuck. Hopefully a good night's sleep (and a little natural concoction from my sis-in-law) will leave us all good as new.

Since we just got here, we've mostly been drinking coffee and playing with kids. There was a short jaunt to Ihop where we continued to drink coffee and play with the kids. Tomorrow we might go grocery shopping or something, depending on how everyone feels. I wouldn't mind doing a little hiking, but we'll see.



Ryder ran around the hotel the first night out. Xander and Ryder played on the guitar. Xander is really going to be gifted with music.


Our view from the cabin.


Gorgeous.




Friday, September 14, 2012

Whew...What a Week!

As I sit here and sip my second helping of Nick's home made wine, I think back on the recent events that have driven me to it.

Ryder was sick this week. It's the first time that he has been really sick. Throwing up and just giving me that empty stare. Ugh. Praying that he doesn't throw up tonight. He was much better this evening, like, totally normal, but still, I hope his stomach is back to normal.

I went to the dentist this week. Had my first filling ever. GAH!

Biggest thing of all, I weaned Ryder. I have been dreading this for a WHILE, but while on our recent trip, I decided that as soon as we got home, Ryder was getting weaned. Well, I did it. I had to go cold turkey, which was not ideal but for the best in this particular situation. I tried the gradual thing once before and it was just too confusing to him to have it available sometimes but not others. So we cut it off. Totally. And you know what? He's taken it really well. Me on the other hand, I'm still awaiting great relief. Seems like the pain is waning though. I found a great article for weaning cold turkey, and thought I'd post it. There are many reasons to wean this way, even though it's not preferred. Keep your cabbage handy!

What this is all boiling down to is that while there has been little activity on my blog, there has been much happening in the real world. I hope to post some different projects soon, but no promises. We have another big trip coming up and there's just no telling how soon I'll get to it.

Till then, later!


Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Happy, Weary Traveling

WOW! We've been busy.

For Nick's birthday (or so we say), we jumped in on his parents' trip to Minnesota and Canada. His grandparents used to live up there every summer, and his family would go visit every year. But last year they sold their cabin. Nick's been dying to go up there, and when he heard that his parents were planning a trip, we forced ourselves in on their plans!

On our way up, we stopped at the Cabela's in Owatonna. They have a massive display of stuffed animals that we just knew Ryder would love.


Then we headed to stay at my in-laws dear friends' home/farm.



I love the barn.


Riding on the dirt bike.


On we drove up to the cabin.


Ryder playing with Grammy.


Ryder and Daddy having fun!




We had beautiful sunsets.




Ryder loved this trike!


Our favorite place.


One day we went into Grand Rapids for a change of pace. We found this awesome little candy shop that sold ice cream. MMM.


This town has the Mississippi River running right through it.




There's a big paper mill in town (upper left) and Grand Rapids is the birth place of Judy Garland (upper right).


There was a replica of an old logging camp just outside of town. This was a food storage house.


These are the cooking stoves they had in the dining cabin. Whoa!

After a few days, we headed up to Canada to visit one of Nick's aunts.
I really didn't get very  many pictures while we were up there. We were only there for a day.


These are their grape vines! WOW! So pretty!



I had to add this because it was the only picture of me taken on the whole trip.


We stopped at a local cheese farm. Ryder liked the goat!

Next we headed back down to Minneapolis to visit one of Nick's other aunts.


They had a beautiful backyard.

The next day we drove all the way back home.

 
This is in the Ouachita Forest in Oklahoma.

This was the LOOOONGEST driving trip we've ever taken. The time in the car alone was enough to drive a person mad. Ryder did incredibly well but he's glad to be out of the car, as are we all. Look forward to another trip up there someday!