VACATION!!!!

Around the middle of March, we went on a "just-us-family" vacation to the Smokies. It was lovely. We took a 12 mile bike ride around Cades Cove that nearly killed David and I (his bike is a TANK and with the 2 kids on it, it was TERRIBLE, and well, we both crashed it one time a piece. When I crashed, it was hard enough that it broke the straps on Jadelyn's seat, and later she was falling asleep and almost fell out of her seat so I had to wake her up, and it got to the point I was having a hard time holding the bike up when I was pushing it. Yeah...I'm out of shape. And that bike is a BEAST. When I had my own bike with just Ruby on it, things were smooth sailing! Mostly. So, we will be needing to buy a new bike and bike seat(s) before our next big excursion. Yai.) Oh, on that bike ride we saw two deer. Ruby, who was on my bike, said something about, "now we just have to look for a bear....................or more deers. I like deers." That kid cracks me up. And no, we didn't see any bears on our vacation, though they got talked about a LOT. =) Really, that crazy bike trip where David was CRANKY and I was tired out was my favorite part of the vacation. Beautiful views, tired patooshies, and kids enjoying the trip. Lovely.

We hiked to 3 waterfalls. The kids are getting to be pretty good hikers! 'Tis sad that with Ruby's surgery, casting, and recovery, it could very well be a year before we hike again. =(

We played in the hot tub at the cabin like loonies. We rode the alpine chalet thingy, watched ice skaters (including the kid who Isaac named the "little man". =D), we rode the carousel over and over and ate ice cream and pretzels and pizza and other not-good-for-you-food. We went to the overcrowded aquarium and a crazy breakfast at Smith's family breakfast where we got charged way more than we thought we would and where people dressed in character outfits kept interrupting our meal. We enjoyed church in Sevierville, and as we were leaving our lovely vacation, David and the kids went on a 1-2 minute helicopter ride. (There were only 4 seats for passengers...and you know...couldn't just leave Jadelyn with a stranger!)

It was such a lovely, relaxing, un-harried week that I just loved it. It is so nice to spend time with the family away from the "to-do list". I was really having a hard time leaving, but you know...real life calls. =P