Part deux

Here are a few more pictures from our vacation. 

Aunt Gina took us to Milligan College where we took some family pictures and walked around the beautiful campus.

 

After we left TN we went through Cumberland Gap.  Some nice gentleman took our picture while the kids waited in the car.  Sometimes it is a lot of work to get all three of them out of car seats for a photo!

 

We drove around the park and found a fun hiking trail (with a board walk for nice stroller pushing!).

 And what visit to Kentucky would be complete without a visit to the original KFC?

 As we made our way north we stopped at the huge Air Museum in Ohio.

 

 

 

Little sister is getting so close to walking!

After we left Ohio we headed up to Michigan to see my family and enjoy a stay at my parent's new cottage.  Pictures are coming! 

Vacation, pt. 1

We recently returned from a two week vacation back east to visit family and see the sights.  It was such a fun trip.  We flew out to North Carolina, stopping first to see the last home game of the Durham Bulls.  It might be the first game that I actually caught John snoozing.  In all fairness, we did leave for the airport at 1:30am PST, so trying to stay awake for a 7pm EST game was exhausting.  Let's just say that we didn't last much longer than the 7th inning.

The next day we cruised through the Smokey Mountains.

We stopped at the farm that was at the visitor's center, admiring the chickens and wild hogs.

Then we hiked Clingman's Dome, the top of which is the highest point in the Smokey Mountains.  It was a bit foggy, so after the exhausting climb up we couldn't really see anything.  Note to self - Maggie HATES being in Ergo carrier.  Staring at my back/front was not her idea of fun.  And having her on me was just plain hot.  Next hike - stroller!

This was a park we could have spent a lot more time in.  The beauty was just incredible.

After we left the Smokey Mountains we headed off to Blountville, TN, to spend Labor Day weekend with John's sister and husband.  We had such a relaxing time in their beautiful home, seeing the sights of Eastern Tennessee, and enjoying wonderful food.

We spent a day at Tweetsie Railroad, an old fashioned carnival-type theme park in the Appalachian Mountains.

I think this old Ferris wheel might have been my favorite ride!

I'll post more later, but for now...enjoy!

Maggie with her walker

She is so close to walking...she will push anything along so she can walk, but she loves this toy the best. 

Legoland!

We took the kids to Legoland for a few days.  We went to both parks - their water park and their dry park. 

 

John took the kids on this ride, which thoroughly soaked them all!  

 

You may all laugh at my poor timing on taking this picture, but it was the best pic I had of them coming down this slide.

 

John's timing was much better.  

 

Although this picture doesn't show the enthusiasm of the kids, they all had a great time!  Maggie was pretty wiped out, due to being at the beach the day before and getting too much sun.

Abby just loved these water slides!  William for whatever reason was in a funk and wouldn't go down.  However, he went down the adult water slides the day before.

 

Oceanside beach!  It was packed!

 

There was this huge pier with a Ruby's Diner at the end.  Obviously we stopped for shakes.

 

 

 

For my Dad...you asked for pictures...and now you shall receive them.

It's been hot here.  As in very warm.  Here the girls are (trying) to chill after church.  On this particular day the temps got to 116*.  

I caught Maggie drinking my water.  She still can't control the flow of a straw or sippy cup yet - when her mouth is full of liquid and she can't swallow fast enough she'll just open her mouth and let everything run out!

We had the opportunity to go to an Angels game - and sit literally right behind home plate!  William was one happy boy.

Look who decided to eat food all by herself!  She has always loved to eat, but until now has never put any food in her mouth on her own. 

Playing with the water table...another toy that has been much loved.

I came home one morning to this adorable scene.

Happy 4th of July!

We did something a little different this year.  We took the kids to Fort Tejon to see the various reenactments and the 31 cannon salute.  (The 31 cannon-fire salute signifies the 31 states that had joined the union around the mid 1800s.)  I was originally under the impression that the period was going to be the American Revolution, but the reenactments were from the Civil War period.  Oh well.  I don't think the littles realized the difference. 

The cannons they were using were impressively loud.  One was a replica, but the one shown is an original.  Maggie was so excited after every boom that she clapped and danced!

The Fort docents put on quite a few period games, tug of war being one.  They pulled with all their might but alas...the other side won.  William jumped right in to play the egg toss, but due to the incredible heat (it was pushing 100*) we decided not to risk the high possibility of him getting egg all over himself.  

There were sack races, pie eating contests, apple bobbing, as well as an old-fashioned baseball game!

 There was a little something for everyone.  We braved the laundry "station" and the kids dipped candles.  I say braved because there was a roaring fire just next to us where the kids could scrub laundry.  The fire was not for the laundry per se, but it did encourage us to continue on from this station.  Adding a fire to 100* heat was too much for me.

At night we watched fireworks.  It was an exhausting but fun day!

Happy 4th of July!