The last 6 weeks have been very busy - thus the lack of posts. My husband got back from an overseas trip and was sick for two weeks during which time we also went on a trip to Tennessee to meet my family and have some fun. Kelly was still fevering at times so he would be good one day and down for the count the next. We did manage to squeeze in some fun in between. Here are some highlights:
The first day there Kelly was in bed all day recovering from the eight hour drive the previous day, so I took Jonah down the street to the Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum. Here he is next to statue of the tallest man ever documented. David & Goliath?
Tuesday afternoon we all went to the Ripley's Aquarium in downtown Gatlinburg. Everyone really enjoyed it, even Elisabeth.
Wednesday, we went up in the skylift to Ober Gatlinburg and went ice skating. It was mine and Jonah's first time. Jonah had a hard time staying on his feet. We also saw a mommy bear and two cubs in a tree from the skylift.
This day was also my mom's 55th birthday. So we ate an ice cream cake and took pictures of her being silly. Happy Birthday Mom! It's good to have a mom who doesn't always act her age nor look it.
Thursday, we took the windy road out to
Cades Cove.
And of course it was fun watching the kids and grandparents connect.
Also, there was a big black bear that would visit the dumpster fairly regularly. One night we were getting ready to bring the kids and a pizza into the hotel from the car when the door we had been using was obstructed so we had to get in the front door quick before the bear came for our pizza. It was very exciting!
This is Elisabeth and I at a stop near the Clingman's Dome turnoff in Great Smoky Mountain National Park on the drive home.
On our first full day in Florida, we went ice skating in Winter Park. (Kelly and I were married just down the street at the Winter Park Country Club. We passed by the building by chance on the way to the ice skating venue.) Kelly's mom told us about "Winter in the Park" weeks ago and suggested we go. Jonah attempted the ice but only lasted about 10 seconds. He wasn't able to even balance enough to stand, which freaked him out. It was pretty much a repeat of Gatlinburg a year ago. So he went to spectate with Grandma Darlyne, Rick and sister, while me and Dad continued around the ice. I ended up hugging the wall a few times while Kelly skated circles around me. Like a dork, I fell and hit my knees hard and cut my hand open on a chunky bracelet I was wearing. Kelly came swiftly to my rescue - my Hero. Once I was comfortably bandaged and off the ice, he went back for more. He either has an aptitude for it or all that roller blading experience from college gave him an advantage. Here's some video.
