Thursday, September 25, 2008

Hello again...

Hello dear friends and family. Sorry I've been away so long. Our little family has had quite a bit on our plates over the past few weeks so I just haven't had the time to update the blog. Here is some of what we've been up to...

TN Valley Fair

This was my (and my girls) first trip to the TN Valley Fair. Russ' parents took him and his siblings several times when they were younger so Russ has alot of fond memories. I gotta say...I really enjoyed it! Russ, Amber and I took turns staying with the kids while we got to ride some very cool (and sometimes scary) big-kid rides. But it was just as fun getting to watch Brooklynn, as well as Izzy, enjoy their kiddie-rides. I hope to be able to go next year, too.



Brooklynn buzzin' around!
Isabelle wasn't quite sure what to think about all this craziness...

...but she was a good-sport, as always! :)

Isabelle's favorite part was seeing all the animals up-close.
Okay, this was scary and also hilarious! This slide is very, VERY big and Brooklynn has never been on a slide this big before. I figured "It's a slide...how bad can it be?" Right?
Wrong! Once you pick up some speed, you tend to bounce up in the air when you hit those bumps on the slide...and when you don't weigh that much, you really get some air! Also, notice the lack of net or fence to the left of them!! I was slightly FREAKED out and you can tell by Brooklynn's face that she felt the same. I tried not to let her see my concern and cheered for her when she made it to the bottom, which made her look of worry slowly fade to a look of fake-happiness. My baby will NOT be riding this again for several more years, if EVER!!
Another look of fear/excitement. :~)
Now this look is PURE JOY! Brookynn has been addicted to swings since she was a newborn.

Stake Fall Festival

Our Stake put on an AMAZING Fall Festival this year!! There were games, food, crafts, food, a bounce-house, food, pony rides and...did I mention FOOD? Chili, breads, sweets, home-made rootbeer and cotton candy...and all for FREE! (Well, pot-luck) We can't wait until next year!


Isabelle's first cotton-candy. She's a big fan!
Michael's getting to be a good horse rider!
Brooklynn was a little nervous at first, but still LOVED it, of course.
What a handsome cowboy!
Sweet Great-Grandma hanging out with Izzy.

Can we say "MOOD SWING"?

Crocodile Tears...



...Crocodile Grin. Go figure!

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Smokey Mountain High

For Labor Day weekend, we went up to the Smokey Mountains to a place called GreenBriar where Russ' family would often visit when he was a child. The scenery was breathtaking as was the chilly water! :~) I admit that at first I really just wanted to stay home and relax, but I am very glad that Russ talked me into going.

Brooklynn, Garret & Michael playing on the rocks at the picnic area. Don't you just love Michael's hair in this pic?


Where the waterfall went behind that rock in the background, it created a kind of natural water-ride. We would slip off of the rock into the rushing water and it would "woosh" you down stream a bit. It was soooo much fun! I can't wait to go back next year!

Handsome Boys! Couldn't you just eat them up?!