Quest for Snow

Well, we traveled to Gatlinburg this weekend in hopes of seeing some snow, enjoying a hot tub, hiking in the park, and eating some delicious rainbow trout.  We failed on most of those missions, but still had a wonderful time.  It is so great to get away as a family now - the kids are fun to be around and funny too, it is more relaxing since they are more independent, and being in the car on the way isn't usually torture (although I still have my anxiety issues - but at least the kids aren't piling on to that).  It didn't snow where we were, but did snow higher up and in the park which made us question whether we should chance Lance's car even more in the hills and snow and ultimately we decided to skip hiking this time.  We took Lance's car because of the 4 wheel drive (and because he really doesn't seem to want to get a new ride and wanted to prove to me that his could make it).  I am not itching for a car payment, but both of our vehicles have issues and I am really trying to talk him into replacing one of them before the drive to Disney in March.  When Katie became mesmerized with the sounds she could make along with the vibrations in the car - Lance did seem to admit that the 4 runner has seen better days.  He thinks, though, that with new tires he can get another year out of it and if he is good with that I am definitely good with replacing mine instead of his  :)!  That means I get to pick because his choice (Tahoe size) is not doable for me since I would never be able to get in a parking space anywhere in town!  We are still in used and cheap and high mileage territory, but something more family friendly (or even with locks that work and doors that open) would be a great upgrade!

The hot tub was as cold as ice when we arrived so we had to compromise with the kids since we had promised hot tub time the whole drive up.  They cabin did have, in the words of Tyler, "a ginormous" jacuzzi tub upstairs that we let the kids get in and they enjoyed that probably as much as they would have the hot tub.

On our second day we went to breakfast, explored the Ripley's Believe it or Not museum, went back to the chalet to enjoy the hopefully fixed hot tub (not quite ready but getting warmer at that point), and went to an early dinner at one of my favorite restaurants where the whole family got rainbow trout - yum.

After dinner it was finally hot tub time.  We all suited up and got in and it was definitely hotter than when we arrived.  We were all (except for Tyler who sat on the edge and refused) trying to "get used to it" and decided to look at the thermometer only to find that it was really, really hot (we could tell that, but didn't know that it was "don't stay in" hot).  We gave up and got out, and went inside to watch some football.  The view at the chalet was wonderful, though and it had a wood-burning fireplace which is all Lance needs!

We have a fun weekend ahead.  Tyler has his first birthday party without Katie (and he is very excited since she has had two without him).  We are going skating on Saturday with some friends (I sure hope it is like riding a bike and I can get the hang of it again), and if weather permits we are going for a bike ride on the new Greenway, too!  That should be a good way to end a busy school week.  Tyler is supposed to have his sight word test today that he is been looking forward to since if he gets all of these he will be on the Super Kid board, they have gymnastics tonight, we are going to put them in an after school study session with Katie's teacher on Wednesdays (expensive, though, so we will see how it goes to figure out if it will be an ongoing thing).  We should hear soon when their soccer practices are and get their soccer schedule so that might throw a wrench in plans for afterschool, anyway!  We are going to get their soccer gear the first weekend in February and I guess practices should start soon after that - can't wait!

The Neverending Break

The kid's winter break has been extended due to extremely cold temperatures and a little bit (too little in my opinion) of snow.  They go back to school on Wednesday, hopefully and we are all anxious for the regular schedule to resume.  They are missing school and their friends, I really need to get back to working full days, and time stuck in the house (negative wind chills are not conducive to outside play) means that we are all a little tired of this break, even if there are new and fun toys to play with.  Plus, we are going to Disney mid-March for their Spring Break (no clue what we are going to do about the second week yet) and I really need to accrue some vacation time.  We also want to go on a family beach trip and my girls trip is back on this year, plus we are having a hard time finding something affordable and available for the kids in terms of childcare all summer (which could mean more days off) and that all means that we really need to return to a normal schedule to both be able to get full work days in.  We signed the kids up for Spring soccer (so excited that the time has finally come) and they are doing gymnastics once a week until May so the "normal" schedule is still really chaotic, but at least it doesn't require multiple, consecutive days off.

I have definitely been lax in the parenting department - letting them play the kindles way too much, and using up all of their arts and crafts activities that could last all year - but we are all still relatively sane and so that makes it okay with me!

We are incredibly thankful that So-So and Ray-Ray watched the kids for us this last weekend.  Lance and I had a fabulous trip to enjoy the bowl game and the kids had fun at their house.  They were so excited to get to spend "two nights" and we were super, super excited to get to enjoy a weekend of fun and football, kid-free.  My sister and brother-in-law met us at the game and even though it was cold, it was great to spend time together and enjoy a Vandy victory (and one of the best lobster rolls I have ever had at the hotel restaurant)! We were happy to see the kiddos when we got back, and grateful for the reprieve in the midst of the "never-ending break!"  :)  Thank you, thank you, thank you to the grandparents for not only allowing me and Lance to get-away for a bit, but also for providing such a fun weekend for T&K! 

Fun with New Toys!

The kids begged all day to ride their bikes and since I unexpectedly played hooky (Lance got caught up at work and the kids are on break for another week and a half), we played outside in the 50 degree "warm" weather. 

They rode bikes for more than an hour and got really good at it!  Katie even said "we are really getting the hang of this bike riding stuff." Tyler likes to go slow and steady and Katie likes to see how fast she can go, of course.  He gets a bit upset when she passes him, but he promptly starts singing to himself and riding and forgets that he is mad.  He fell off a couple of times but caught himself pretty well. 

The wonder wheel that their Uncle Matt bought them was a big hit, too! 

Christmas Morning

Santa was very good to the kids this year and all in all they deserved to be on the "nice list."  

They both got bikes and rode them around the house as soon as they saw them under the tree.  

 Katie's favorite gift!

 The Flashlight Friend was much wanted - they have both used them at night to read in bed (not a good precedent, but it is a holiday week)!

 Tyler got the Switch and Go Dinos that he has wanted. 

 He had a lot of fun putting together the Batman legos with dad - I don't know if Dad thought it was as much fun since it took more than an hour!

 Tyler has been asking for a kindle of his own and since I was gifted with an ipad he got my old one with a new case that we left out for Santa to put it in. 

2013 Santa Visit

We visited with Santa at the Mandy Johnson Photography studio again this year, and had so much fun.  The kids enjoy getting to tell Santa exactly what they want (and that is where I learned that the Hot Wheels Car Maker is a must this year), and I think the pictures are absolutely wonderful!

Round 1

We went to the lake this weekend to celebrate Christmas with my family.  We all had a great time talking and catching up, sitting around the fire pit, playing games, and enjoying the least cutthroat annual Dirty Santa extravaganza ever (at least for our family). 

Classic games like Pick Up Sticks and Twister were a hit!

 New toys that have been wanted for a long time were, of course, really appreciated too! 

Before we left we took a trip out to Opry Mills and Gaylord Hotel to see the lights, and made what is fast becoming an annual tradition - a visit to Bass Pro Shop. 

The dancing lights at Jellystone were awesome again this year, too!  It seems like Christmas was here before we knew it, but I am so glad that we were able to fit in some holiday fun - and there is more to come since Santa is finally visiting tonight after we enjoy Christmas Eve with So So and Ray Ray. 

She's Learning!

Katie has been practicing reading today (we actually are being productive on our unexpected snow day) and she is so proud of herself - and I am proud of her too!  She is doing very well with her sight words and is great at sounding out the words that follow the basic rules.  I downloaded a book on the kindle for her since I would love for them to associate the kindle with reading in addition to games.  I have struggled with maybe reading a few actual books in front of them instead of only on the kindle because "they" say the best way to encourage reading is to set a good example.  Even though I read daily on the kindle, I think they may think I am just playing games like them!  Katie is walking around the house finding books that she can try to decipher and keeps exclaiming "I love reading, I can't believe I can read."  So exciting!