Great Smoky Mtn Getaway

Our trip to the Smokies was an on-again off-again trip since we could not decide if it was going to rain all weekend or not. But, we decided to go since we could not control the weather and it could change anyway...and it did! I am so glad that we went. We were there during the peak season for the fall leaves AND as a bonus we got a nice preview to winter in the mountains--it snowed! As we neared the top of the mountains it began to SNOW...not flurries...REAL SNOW! It was sticking in all the trees and an inch or two accumulated on the ground. It was nice treat. So, we got out and hiked to Cataract Falls in the snow/rain...but mostly snow. We also enjoyed a movie about the park and the history of the park's development at the Sugarlands Visitors Center. Next, we loaded up and found our campsite. The pop-up was actually warm that night and we slept good BOTH nights we were there despite temps below freezing. Jeb was thrilled. I asked him his favorite part of camping and he said, "Everything." He loves to ride his jeep and bike around the campground. Cay likes to visit with each and every dog there. This time we met a goldendoodle named Molly and some weenie dogs names Skeeter and Bailey that were his favorites. Really, this is his best part of camping. Then, we spent some time eating at the Apple Barn--this food is worth the wait. WOW--talk about fabulous home-cooking. If you know me, you know that I LOVE APPLES. So, I went in the gift shop and bought way too much food--apple sourdough bread, Gala apples, Mutzu apples, fuji apples, dried apples, and yes, apple fritters. Then, we had a great dinner there. I am still eating apple products this week at home and loving it!
Next, we visited the Bass Pro up there. The place was like a museum/aquarium/wildlife display. The boys were in heaven....all of the boys including Jonas. The 3 story fireplace there, the rockers and the decor reminded me so much of when I lived and worked at the Old Faithful Inn at Yellowstone. I was quite nostalgic. If only there was a pianist.
The next morning we hiked to Grotto Falls off of the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. If you are not into hiking, you should still ride through this road near Gatlinburg and take in part of the National Park...but not if you are particular about your car!! We took naps and then headed to the community center in Gatlinburg where the boys swam and I kicked Jonas's tail in some ping pong. Jeb and I played air hockey and it was fun to beat him at something since he is STILL beating me at Uno when we are home.
We had some good smores and a nice fire that night at camp. Also, we found a wood-fired pizza joint that was YUMMY. We love a good pizza.
The last day of our trip we somehow missed seeing 3 bears. 2 were supposedly in the road on the side (there was a major traffic jam) and one was crossing the trail we were hiking on in the Deep Creek Area of the park. The man was clutching his little fru-fru dog after seeing the bear and I got kick out of that. It reminded me of Mr. Wienie on Open Season 2. If you have not seen the movie--you need to--it is really funny.
We went to Juney Whank Falls (which Jeb and I had a good time making jokes about calling each other Juney and saying Oh Juney Whank--this is a real man's name) an then we hiked to Indian Creek Falls and Tom's Branch Falls. If you are not that into hiking this is still a really nice 2.4 mile loop. Some folks even had strollers on parts of it. It was a glorious, sunny day and the boys had a blast running around and picking out treasure rocks to bring home.

Miracle Gro and the Poisonous Cheetos???

Today just after music class and just before lunch we decided to play outside for a bit. So, while we were out there I decided to Miracle Gro our new plants we put in this fall. The boys were busy helping me and I kept saying don't let it splash in your mouth, don't get it on your hands, etc.; I thought we were being very, very careful. Then, I called time to go in and we all washed up and I even changed their shirts. I got all the food to the table and Cay was shoveling it in when I noticed that his entire mouth was the EXACT SAME TEAL GREENISH BLUE COLOR OF THE MIRACLE GRO! I then took a look at his hands and noticed that they had green in every fat little crack and crevice. I started freaking out and dumping the food and re-washing his hands and checking out where he could have stashed Miracle Gro and then EATEN IT! I was wiping his tongue, re-washing hands, looking over every thing and everybody and I noticed there was some on me. I was hating myself for somehow letting the poison transfer from something...maybe my shirt? Maybe it was in his pocket? I was thoroughly confused and about to call poison control. I did not know how much he has eaten. Just then I saw that yet again there was green on his tray and hands...and mine too...That is when I saw it--the culprit--THE CHEETOS...I had picked up a new cheeto that "magically changes colors" when it is combined with spit/hands, etc. So, after calming down I realized that it was quite an odd coincidence that the color the cheetos magically change and the Miracle Gro I had just used was a PERFECT MATCH. Whew--I was so glad that I did not do something rash like take him to have it stomach pumped. Oh, the adventures of motherhood. Jeb is making fun of me about this...and he is still beating me at Uno.

Relationships ROCK

I think my photog friend Jill would love these pics of Cay running down the hill b/c it so captures his essence. What a JOY. Pure BOY. Sheer bliss..man in motion...I could name it all kinds of things!



The pic of Cay at the radio is one of his fav places to stand. He loves to stand with the radio in each room and push buttons and dance.











We are so, so blessed to have so many people in our lives that we love and enjoy. These pics this month or so reminded me so much of all the people-treasures that we have that really make life--LIFE.

So, as you can see Jeb always has a special lady in his Jeep-this one is Chelsea. I hope he does not continue into his teens always giving ladies a ride! He will be one busy fella. Jeb has so many girl-friends, friends that are girls, that we are blessed to love!

A tennis friend brought her grandson over to see the goats, ride in the jeep and pet all the animals..it is always fun to see someone in a different setting!

WE went to Ky's 3rd Bday party--what a treat! A monster JAM! The 6 boys cousins and lots of friends had a good time hitting the pinata, pinning the license plate on the Kylerinator, and racing trucks and generally running around like crazy. Isn't that what you did with your cousins growing up? I always like to remind our family of this when they are acting like looney-tunes that that was EXACTLY what we used to do when all our cousins were together. I would not have it any other way. I am so glad that Ben's family is back to our state. During the craziness I caught some shots of Caleb getting in Bradley's lap and getting some cousin loving. Bradley is such a sweet, loving, kind and tender little boy. He and Jeb hardly ever fight and I can already tell that Cay has a soft-spot in his heart for "Ba, Ba," that is what he wants to be called.

Bailey also is one that is a relational funny...J was "sighting" his rifle this week and the shooting was scaring her so much OR she was so worried for Cay that she got in his house with him. I happened to have my camera--so sweet.



Aunt Ash would be proud that she gave Caleb his first FULL, real soda...he was really enamored with that Twist and Shout!

We had our first fire--how depressing. J has his wood stacked and ready to roar.

The boys put on a show for my mom this week...he is wearing her reading glasses, with his cowboy getup ...really adds a twist to the show. I titled the pic, "Rockin' out in Granny's Glasses."

Jeb is working all kinds of puzzles in his room for "quiet time." Naps ARE OVER FOREVER it seems--so sad for me. His time is not so quiet..when not working puzzles or looking at books, or listening to a book he blares his music, jumps on the bed, jumps off the toy box, throws things, cars, etc..and plays in the water in the bathroom...I don't even go in there anymore...I just gave up after the day when the light fixture in the room under his shattered in the floor. Quiet time is a nice idea, but the jumping off and from things really is more him. I don't think I'll replace the fixture until he hits kindergarten.

My nephew, S, absolutely LOVES "Nonas." It is the sweetest thing ever. My sis says that when she says who loves you S he always starts with Nonas, Abby, and "Deb." We are honored. I captured two shots at the party of Nonas with his little buddy. Last time we took a quick trip to Charleston Nonas could not come, but every day we were there S asked about him part of the day.

Some of these shots are what happens when Jeb gets my camera--me doing laundry and J and him being silly. Jeb loves to be funny.







He really did sing at his Grandparents Day Program-I was impressed. His new school seems to be a lot of fun and he has adjusted well to the new place and the new people! I am thrilled. He can now count through the 20's and 30's and so on since he gets the pattern. Math is not something I typically do with him but he has been wanting to count so I have had to work with numbers--YUCK.

First Boy Ever Injured by Bible...

I know this sounds like a Tabloid, but it is true. I was in my room having my quiet time and Jeb was in his room having his quiet time and Cay was asleep. It was a dreamy moment. Then, I hear a squeal followed by some footsteps. Yes, he comes running in claiming, "My Bible Cut Me." I was like...what did you say? Please explain. Apparently, he was thumbing through his favorite Bible (100 Ways to Know God Loves Me) and listening to the accompanying CD when the corner fell on his skinny foot and cut him. Yes, he was hurt by his Bible. I just laughed. Only my child could find a way to be injured by a book.

We had a fun weekend with cousins this weekend. Lib and her family were here and Ky. turned 3 and had a Monster Jam party.

We have had the joy of sharing our baby goats with lots of friends this past week. It is always fun to have friends over to play. Also, we have had cousins in and out during the week and I love Meg's smiles (see pics).

Cay has had to be in time out a few times lately. He has really taken to mauling his brother and head-butting. He will headbutt me, concrete, stairs, wooden floors and toys. It is odd. I am hoping he will figure out that it creates more pain than it helps.

There have been quite a few things that I have been thinking about lately or reading that really struck me. Maybe they will you too.

I have been so heartbroken over so many of my students' stories and often unimaginably horrid situations. I really sometimes wonder how some of these kids can go through so much and even half-way function. I try to share my faith as much as legally possible as their instructor...but it is a really tough balancing act. I have been impressed by both their strong faith in God and their utter hopelessness when they don't know Him.
C.S. Lewis once said, "The sources of unbelief among young people today do not lie in those young people...This very obvious fact--that each generation is taught by an earlier generation--must be kept very firmly in mind...Nothing which is not in the teachers can flow from them into the pupils." I am praying my walk will be close and steady with God so that my children/students can SEE and experience the pleasures of knowing God in a tumultuous world.

I was reading Homelife Magazine and preparing for my classes this week. I am sharing an article called "Moms Who Do Too Much" about helicopter parents as we begin our unit on writing argument papers. So, I read this article, "The Relief of Imperfection" by Joan Webb (based on her book by that title)and I thought about how I always had a believing professor at Mizzou who said, "Perfection is an enemy." ...
"Many of us play God in subtle ways. We ma have trouble conceiving than there is an equal option or goal other than ours, or that God is at work in the painful circumstances we're so determined to avoid. Matt 16:21-23 : I want you to know that in a few days I'm going to be killed, said Jesus...Peter says...there is not way we can let this happen to you. Jesus says--Peter you think you're helping, but you're really hindering Me. MY Father is doing something here. Stop trying to be bigger than God. Since we want to choose (and want everyone around us to choose) to follow Jesus and want God's purposes fulfilled, we may attempt to step in and figure out a perfect, protective solution to preventing hurt, or (in our opinion) a disastrous situation. We may actually be hindering God's strategy for insight and growth in another's life or in our church. We cannot know God's agenda for another's spiritual growth or HOW GOD PURPOSES TO SHOW HIS POWER." Wow...what a relief. Now, I do think there are times (many times) when we as believers are to "speak the truth in love " see 1 John, but then there are those times when it is best to step back and let those we care about experience the consequences of their own decisions. Both are tough and knowing when to do which really is a matter of prayer.

One more totally unrelated thing I read:
"Kids need to see their families and churches caring for the least of these." Soren Kierkegaard once told of visiting a wealthy cathedral: "The minister dressed in a velvet robe opened the golden gilded Bible, marked it with a silk bookmark and said, "If any man will be my disciple, let him deny himself, take up his cross, sell what he has, give it to the poor, and follow me." He said he started laughing at the irony of the church, but no one else seemed to notice it. I used to be sad that our church looked like a barn (BTW--it does look better now with our new addition--praise be to God for that!) but now I find comfort in its pragmatic metal self! After all, Jesus himself was born in a barn. Now, if they would stop spending so much money on lights and Hollywood effects (no church is perfect)--hee hee. Oh well, still, I do think money is spent sharing the gospel and not on showing off bricks and chandeliers.

Fall Family Fun--Part I

Besides almost being swept up in a gang fight at the mall this weekend, we had a lt of fun! No, seriously, I didn't know it, but the mall is no longer a safe place for you to take your family. We were not there long, but there is some serious gang activity, fighting, and people being thrown down and arrested. It was SCARY. I got my kids and got out of the food court as fast as I got there.

We did have fun, though, at a local farm this weekend. This is our 3rd year going and even though it is not cheap, we like to support a local agri-business and Jeb has the time of his life. This year they added a cool, huge pipe slide (his favorite thing) and a neat zip line. He also enjoyed riding the cow train, swinging in the hay and playing in the wheat box. Cay enjoyed the animals and hanging out with his buddy Ella. Jeb and his friends started the corn maze but ended up chasing each other, hiding and running from their parents. It was a work-out! We all went on a hayride and picked some cute pumpkins as well.