July 4th

Our subdivision did something very creative this year, we had a neighborhood 4th of July parade. It really turned out to be quite fun. All the neighbors that wanted to participate decorated themselves, their baby strollers, wagons, bikes, scooter whatever you wanted and we had a parade. Chandler of course wanted to decorate his battery powered 4 wheeler ,so we did and I think it turned out pretty cute. He pulled all of his "Children" (stuffed animals) behind in the trailer so they could show their pride as well. By golly I think it was fabulous and we sure were showing our spirit for the holiday. Our little parade was not the fanciest or the biggest but it was a true proud to be an American moment. The neighbors that did not want to walk in the parade sat at the end of their driveways and cheered us on along our route. They even got candy tossed their way as well.

And of course, Anyone that knows me knows that I had to go the extra mile so I also lined the front of our yard with little flags. The parade crowd really like the extra touch. Next year we have plans to carry on the parade tradition but build on it. Maybe I can influence all my neighbors to line their yards with flags as well. Now if I could only figure out a way to be the one driving the decorated convertible playing "Proud to be an American" loud and proud on the radio at the front of the parade. I think I might have to buy a convertible first, anyone have a convertible for sale?

Chandler is 7!

Can you believe my baby has turned 7 now? For his birthday we had a party at Chuck E. Cheese with his friends the Saturday before his birthday and a family cookout at the pool on his birthday. I would say that it was his best birthday yet. He had a blast at Chuck E. Cheese and well you can not keep him out of the pool these days, so he enjoyed the cookout too. He showed off a little in the pool since everyone had not seen him swim yet. You can definitely say that I have a mom's tan this year, you know the one tan face and chest and white legs. No more sitting out by the pool relaxing, I have to be in the pool playing point person for Chandler to swim to. Oh well at least I am having a good time with my son right?

Vacation In the Smokies

I am so far behind in blogging, so I am going to attempt to catch you guys up on the happenings in our lives. June 6th through the 11th we took a family vacation or holiday you might say to the Smokies. For those of you not from the south, "The Smokies" is The Great Smokey Mountain region in Tennessee.

We had lots of family fun on this trip, we went to Dollywood a few days, swam a few afternoons, but by far my best adventure was Cade's Cove. Cade's Cove is a National Park where you can ride through and see nature at it's finest. The trip over to Cade's Cove was a surprise all on it's own. I being thirty something years old have been to "the Smokies" gazoodles of times but have never experienced seeing a black bear in the wild. This trip over to Cade's Cove I did! I got to see a bear in it's natural habitat. While driving we noticed a lot of people pulling over to the side of the road so we slowed and stopped. There in the middle of a forked tree was a bear cub sleeping. It was only about 10 feet off the road. Once we got to Cade's Cove we saw more bear, deer and turkey. After we rode through the park we picnicked by the creek and Chandler enjoyed the refreshing cool water in the creek.