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Monday, July 27, 2009

Zoo Trip and Drive In Movie

I promised him a Zoo trip for his birthday, but then the day we were going to go, it rained. So we postponed it til July. I told him when we got in the car that Mommy was going to want to take some pictures of him today so just to let me do it.

When he saw this bench, he said "Mommy, take my picture." I don't think he's ever said that to me. He usually runs and hides when he sees the camera come out.



His favorite place at the Zoo is the Black Bear Falls. Although, most of the times we go, the bears are hiding. But not today!!!

That was sacked out on the log.
And this one was asleep right by the window ... you can see Luke's head in the bottom left corner of the pic.


He's standing on the elephant's foot prints.

Another picture set up ... I didn't even have to ask him to do it!


Gorilla...


And our new favorite exhibit... Bloomin' Butterfly Gardens!




We saw our friends Kylie and Will at the Zoo too!


Then one night we headed over to the Parkway Drive-In in Maryville for a Movie!! They were playing Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.
(Though, I thought it was the ice age that made the dinosaurs extinct in the first place, but whatever, still cute).

We had the chairs set up outside the car and his sleeping bad inside the car. That was in case he fell asleep - yeah, no chance of that!

The movie didn't start til dusk, which ended up being 9:30pm. By the time it was over and we drove home, it was almost midnight!!!

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Camping at The Cove

One of my favorite places is Cades Cove. Only an hour from home, it's an easy weekend or week-day getaway!







These are some ugly animals .. but boy, they taste good!!


Ok so I've been to Cades Cove a million times and have never seen a bear! But this weekend was a first! We were in the 4Runner a ways back and saw the Rangers stopped up ahead. We knew there had to be some bear activity.

I was so excited. I was hanging out the back of the 4Runner trying to get the camera set up.



And then it started running towards the car, while I'm yelling 'Holy Crap' over and over (or so I am told). I couldn't get the camera to snap the pictures fast enough. I got just past the car - you can see it over the bicycle seat here ...



This deer was in the campsite across from ours.


Our campfire - even if it's the middle of the summer and 90 degrees outside, you still have to have a fire!!


Greg cooking Brats for our appetizer.

Greg and Joy tending to the seasoned deer meat on the grill. It was yummy.



Nancy, Luke and Joy

A pileated woodpecker at our campsite!

Proof that Joe biked the entire 11-mile loop with me.




We saw a bear on our bike ride.


Two more pileated woodpeckers on a post, while we were biking.



There was so much venison left over that we had venison sandwiches the next day!!


Mr. Hot Stuff in the back of the 4Runner




My little monkey climing a fence.

More deer!


I talked Joy into hiking Abrams Falls with me. Roundtrip is 5 miles and it's really not all that strenuous. It also says 3-4 hours, but we did it in 1 hour 50 minutes!




Abrams Falls





Luke and Grampa Joe playing catch.


A grasshopper.

That was a fun trip!!

Monday, June 22, 2009

Happy 4th Birthday, Luke!!

Well, it's official - I have a 4-year old now! My baby quickly turned into a toddler, who then turned into a preschooler. I can't believe he will be going to Kindergarten in one year! So sad :(

I asked him what kind of birthday he wanted to have. The answer was undoubtedly Star Wars! He chose the theme and also the guest list. Seven of his closest friends came over for a water party at the house. With the temps in the 90's, a backyard water park was definitely the way to go!! We set up a Slip N' Slide, a kiddie pool and cool 12-foot long wiggly sprinkler. The kids had a blast. The only issue was that we didn't get a chance to mow the grass til the morning of, so the kids had grass all over them, but they certainly didn't care!!!

This was the nice clean house before the party ...


The cake. Once again, we choose a theme to which a cake does not exist. (This happened 2 years ago with the Backyardigans theme). So, I asked them to make it black and gray with stars, and I would add my own decorations. I think it turned out rather nicely. Luke especially liked the Darth Vader candle holder!


He woke up from nap right before the party to find a new Star Wars shirt outside his room.




All his friends eating cake!


And opening presents...


Oh boy! A light saber. Or as Luke says, a light "saver". Don't try to correct him, though, he's sure he's right.


Then we headed outside for some water fun!!





That was Saturday.

On Sunday, we had a family cookout for his birthday.


Cousin Gregg and Mimi

Grampa Brian and Aunt Martha


Awww... sweet!

That's a little creepy!
Cousin Gregg and Darth Vader ... hee hee!