Rainbows, Rafting...Dollywood!

Time passes by when you're having fun!

We've been busily running ourselves all over the place. Or, more like, the parents are running and the grandparents have been busily babysitting.

First, I'd like to share a couple of cool rainbow pictures from a couple of days ago. It's been raining a lot since we've been here, and we came home to this beautiful view of a rainbow!

It went all the way across!

Yesterday, a group of us went ziplining and white water rafting. The ziplining was so-so for anyone who isn't adrenaline rushless (me), but the rafting was better than expected, especially to my husband. As a seasoned canoer, it's surprising he's never been before. I think he's found a new passion.

Starting off all happy go lucky.

Whoa! Gettin' dicy!

And we're wet.

We had a lot of fun, definitely worth doing.

Today we went to Dollywood! As amusement parks go, this has to be by far the best I've been to. Of course I'm no authority on the subject seeing as I never step foot on a roller coaster. Some of us just hung out with the kids while others went to get their "screams" as Andrea put it.

Driving Miss Selene.

Aunt Kelly Rocks!

Ryder finally got to go on a brrm brrm! Too bad it was pink...

Aunt Kelly riding with Xander.

Uncle Jake riding with Selene.

There weren't a whole lot of rides the kids could go on mainly because they are so young, but the couple we went on seem to be pleasing to them.

Well, mostly.

Tuckered out.

Tomorrow will be mostly uneventful because the girls are going shopping!

Snip Snip!

Well I did it.

I got Ryder's hair cut.

I know. How could I get rid of those precious curls?

Don't worry, I still have them, ready to be put in his baby book. I mean, you have to admit, he was starting to have a mullet, and honestly I thought he looked a little like Fraiser with the scraggly hair in the back and what looked like nothing up top.

Thankfully, I have a wonderful amazing sister-in-law that cuts hair and was happy to give him a little trim. Yea!

I love how Selene had to check everything out.

I guess it was quite a family affair.

Doesn't he look great?!

The cousins are really starting to play together.

The next day we didn't do much (again). We ran to the store in the afternoon.

Ryder was worn out.

Later on, while a group went to opening night services, a group of us stayed behind and babysat. (I'm still sick, I might even have to miss the first holy day, we'll just see how it goes).

 Gram is the best of all!

Nick built this circular tower and Selene climbed in and sat right down in the middle of it.

Uncle Nick was pretty popular, he made popcorn!

Today we'll be resting for the most part, but tomorrow we go rafting and ziplining! Woo Hoo!

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.

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!

http://www.superactivities.com/help-for-weaning.html#

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!

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!