V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N!!!!

 This summer was the travel summer. First Texas for a beautiful wedding and visiting family we don't see nearly often enough and then Gatlinburg. We are lucky to get to do so many fun things with our children. We stayed with Mountain Rentals of Gatlinburg and have stayed with them for ten years http://www.mountainchalets.com/ . New adventures in Gatlinburg included a new miniature golf course http://losttreasuregolf.com/ , the Hollywood Star Car Museum http://www.starcarstn.com/ , and they got to Pan for Gems http://www.pfgemmine.com/. One of the neatest was a drive through zoo call Circle G Ranch http://www.ridecamels.com/ Of course, we also enjoy the Smoky Mountain National Park http://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htmWe took lots of pictures and I will post a few after they are uploaded.

School starts WAY TOO SOON and then Kate and I will have to find a schedule that works for us without Jack and Lauren... Sigh...

John found this...

20120329_105729, a photo by The Joys of Motherhood on Flickr.

It's a big spoiler poster. Enjoy!

TRADITION!!! All 3 of my children love... Blue's Clues. Lauren loved "buppy" (a combinations of blue and puppy). Jack loved "bow bow" (the sound she makes when she 'talks') and now Kate waves and dances when the show starts and says, "bow? bow?". It makes John and me smile to see a third child love this show. The sad news is, it hasn't been new since August 2006. But now, we watch with her and sing the songs and know what is coming up next and realize Blue Puppy is back in our lives and that's a good thing. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue%27s_Clues

Today was one of those days.... Everything worked just how you would hope. We got up on time, and Jack LOVED the Tiny Tike Triathlon and rode and ran his heart out. At the end, he got his medal and while holding it, said, "This is such an honor." He makes me smile. After the triathlon, we came home and got ready to go to the zoo. It was the biggest crowd I have ever seen at the zoo with normal visitors plus 3 corporate events going on. We take a picnic and were able to sit under the enormous shade tree and enjoy the amazing weather. We saw the new giraffe exhibit and went through the dinosaur exhibit twice!! Jack and Lauren loved it and Kate waved and smiled at all of the dinos! I lo

ve having a membership! After we left the zoo, we drove around for a little bit so Kate could nap and once she woke up, we stopped at Sonic for ice cream. With this awesome weather, we went to the park so the kids could run some more. Jack is trying to learn to swing on his own, which frustrates him a lot!! Lauren loved monkey bars and can skip the ones that hang from a chain. Kate really enjoys the slide that is just her size, or likes to climb on anything... Since it was so nice, we opted for dinner where we could sit outside and eat. Lauren DID NOT enjoy to smokers!! DID! NOT! and listed all of the problems that smoking causes and declared if it were up to her, she'd outlaw cigarettes and drugs. Except for the good drugs....and then asked John why he was drinking beer (of all things!), and totally judged him, too! After coming home and taking baths, today was determined to be a rousing success!!! Dare I say, perfect!

It's hard to wrap my mind around the fact that tomorrow is the last day I will ever take Jack to preschool. In just a few short weeks, he'll be starting kindergarten. Out in the real world, with real kids...and not so many hugs and loves and mothering. Sigh... It's also hard to believe Lauren is nearly done with 3rd grade. Next year will be her last in elementary school...I KNOW I am not ready for that!!! The big bonus for Lauren and Jack is that next year, they will go to lunch at the same time which will (initially anyway) thrill them both!! By then, Kate will be so big and so busy, we will have time for just the two of us. I'll feel a huge empty spot where Jack normally is during the day. Time flies when you're having fun, so we must be having the time of our lives!!

Month by month Kate

Month by month Kate, a set on Flickr.

FINALLY! Another post...all about Kate this time!

Winter...blah

There was a snow day a few days ago...and no snow to back it up...I'm not kidding. The roads were dry. Bone. Dry. Welcome to Tennessee!

I will say, winter here isn't too bad. Short sleeves aren't unheard of at least once a week.

Lauren has moved up a reading level (YAY!!!) and has been moved to a higher math, too! She is amazing. Jack is learning and growing so much and often saying "Yes, sir" and "Yes, ma'am" which is so sweet to hear. Kate is almost a year old. Like to show you her hair when you ask, her tummy sometimes...smiles a lot and giggles often.

All I can ask for!!

More later...

Merry Christmas!

IMG_2355, a photo by The Joys of Motherhood on Flickr.

So, Christmas is about traditions, right? Normally the answer to this question is easy...this year is different.

Last Christmas Eve, we waited for John to get off of work and tried to head to Princeton, but it was snowing and sleeting. By the time we got to the Evansville Airport, we decided it was too nasty to go, so we turned around and waited for morning. When the trip is short, quick change of plans is no big deal.

This year, our trip is (relatively) easy, but takes a bit more planning. Months of hemming and hawing about what to do finally came down to spending Christmas Eve in TN, waking here Christmas morning and opening gifts. Then, we head to IN for one night, only to come back so John can be at work on the 27th. I'm glad we are so close to have this option, but I wish we could stay longer.

On the 28th we are having company which will both surprise and THRILL the kids AND US!!

Traditions change with time, but the reason for the season stays the same. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!!!

Thanksgiving break

Rebecca has said, and I agree, that she has never seen a state that likes to go to school less than Tennessee. We have a lot of breaks during the year, similar to a year round calendar, without being a year round school system. We got out of school yesterday at 12:30 p.m., and will go back on Nov. 28. A week off at Thanksgiving is a long time, but we will be heading to Indiana and doing lots of visiting, so that will be very nice.

I feel like I need to post what I am thankful for, though I am sure I will miss more than a few things: I am thankful for John. He's funny and loving and a great dad. For the kids, all three of them make me laugh and smile daily. They make me remember to slow down, and sometimes cause me to. I am thankful for my parents and in laws. They have helped in more ways than they will ever know. For all of my friends, near and far. For (don't laugh) free long distance. Helps me feel closer to everyone. For a roof over my head, food on my plate and heat in my house. I am also thankful we found a church we really like with truly nice people. For a vehicle I don't worry too much about. And I am thankful for my health.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I cannot believe how fast the end of the year is coming! We have Thanksgiving, JACK'S 5TH BIRTHDAY!!!, and then Christmas. Wow. In a year with a major move and a new baby, time flies even faster I think!

Trying to figure out where to put our Christmas tree is proving tricky and the fact that Jack wants us to decorate RIGHT NOW is not putting any less pressure on us! Wonder if he's buying into the early commercialization of Christmas...

Choir practices, Girl Scouts and running club, on top of PTO are making a full schedule! Not to mention each of the big kids have a church Christmas program and one at school! I love it! I do. I just wish we didn't have to rush.