Every year we put together a gingerbread house as a family. This is a fun tradition that hopefully will carry on for many years to come! Here are some photos from today's adventure. : D

 

Vacation in Gatlinburg

We have been wanting to take the kids to Wilderness at the Smokies for some time now.  However, every time we have the time, we don't have the money, and vice versa.  We finally decided to just do it!  So, I called and made the reservations.  We ended up getting a BOGO free rate and spent a little less than we thought we would on the room, which was good.  We decided to use that extra money and go to Wonderworks, which is a very cool, very fun science/art oriented museum.  The day before we left for vacation, I found out that it was home school week at Wonderworks.  We got in for about half the regular admission!  That was a blessing.  We were able to take the family out to dinner with the money we saved there.  Jacob wanted to see the Titanic, so we walked around it, but did not go in.  All in all, it was a great trip.  The kids behaved very well and had a ton of fun! 

3 of the kids in front of Wonderworks

Josiah in a capsule

Josiah in a flight simulator

Bubbles!

Lexi & Madi on the anti-gravity bikes

Lexi & Jake on the rock climbing wall

Jake suiting up for the space walk

John & Jake on space walk

Jake on rock climbing wall

Lexi at the top!

Siah on the pulley chairs

Lexi & Madi by the anchor of the Titanic

Kids in front of Titanic

Sweet kids! 

The boys inside the "iceberg"

The girls inside the "iceberg"

Titanic

Boys by the anchor

The Kids

Daddy & Siah riding waves

Jake in the hot tub

John & 3 of them in the wave pool

Siah

My girls

My beautiful family!

My sweet boys!

My babies

Time to go home!

Breakfast Smoothie

1/2 Cup Orange Juice

 1/2 Cup Any Yogurt

One Banana

 Handful of Spinach (I promise, you won't taste it!)

 1 Cup Frozen Fruit

 Blend together.  If too thick, add water.

 All Done!

Enjoy!! 

My Girls' Vacations

On Thursday, my sister-in-law, Brenda & her children came over for a visit.  We had already made plans that she would take Madi home with her so she could spend a week with several of her cousins.  I took off to McMinnville to get a much needed massage, so didn't get to give Madi that "one last hug"!  She was off to East TN to have a vacation with family.  I am happy for her, as children need breaks from time to time just like we parents. 
Today, Lexi's vacation plans were carried out.  She has been anticipating for weeks now her trip to Mt. Juliet with her best friend, Juliet, and her grandparents.  We went to church this morning and then I took her to lunch in Cookeville.  Afterward, we met "Grandma T", and Lexi was off on her adventure. 
Who knows what this week will hold with myself and my boys?  I am going to try to make it a fun time.

Pictures of the Damage! :(