Spring Break 2015--Smokey Mountains of TN

Well, it has been about a week since we got back from our spring break trip.  Another benefit of homeschooling?  We can have spring break whenever we want and so that is what we did.  A few months ago, John and Jen were talking about going to TN to celebrate James' first birthday and wanted to know if we would like to come along.  Since, they weren't going to do a big birthday party, we knew without a doubt that we would be in TN to celebrate his first birthday with them!

Tobias got sick a couple of days before we left, he had a cough with a fever, so we decided that keeping Baby James healthy was most important, so we would delay our trip until Tobias didn't have a fever.  We were to leave Friday morning, but when we got up Tobias still had a fever.  We decided that we would try the next day.  It was a hard Friday because we all wanted to be in the car traveling that day.  We had some antsy Hooties, so I got creative and we did some things we wouldn't normally do to make the day pass.  Chris went ahead and packed the roof top carrier in anticipation of leaving Saturday morning.  While he was loading up our stuff, the Hooties and I spent some time outside.  Eventually, the Hooties made their way inside the van and decided that they were going to take matters in their own hands!!!

They were ready to go

And Tobias didn't want them to leave him behind

We got up Saturday morning, and Tobias was FEVER FREE!!!  We were so thankful.  We quickly finished loading up the van, got breakfast for on the road and began our trip to TN!  We got there that afternoon (on James' actually birthday) and we unpacked and spent some time just hanging out.  We had dinner that night and then we had some YUMMY cupcakes and got to watch James enjoy his smash cake.

These were the YUMMY cupcakes

James' smash cake

Happy 1st Birthday, James!

Kyrie LOVES her some Baby James

Excited to FINALLY be in TN to celebrate James' birthday

One tired boy, but not too tired to eat some cupcakes

Daddy and Tobias

James wasn't too sure about the cake...at first!

He got a taste of frosting...still not too sure

He was starting to get into it

By this point...he thought it tasted pretty good!

Taking a sip of water...

This is what was left of his cake...he may have gotten some help from his mom, but he had a fun time smashing

After celebrating James' birthday, we got all the kiddos ready for bed and then the parents enjoyed a night of playing board games.  The next morning we got up...this was our view from our room.

Sunrise

We made a yummy breakfast, James opened birthday presents and played a little putt-putt before we headed to church.  I am just exhausted typing that list.  All that happened from the time we woke up until about 10am! :)

During breakfast, James had milk for the first time.  He did a MUCH BETTER job transitioning to milk than any of the Hooties did.  He downed the cup and wanted more!

Yup,  James liked his milk

I could just kiss this milky face!

Before heading to church, James spent a few minutes opening his birthday presents.

Tobias at the putt-putt course...such a handsome boy!

She melts my heart

And this is what she did when I asked her to look at me so I could take her picture!

Josiah having fun playing putt-putt

Tobias found some rocks...he was in heaven!

Sophie having a great time playing putt-putt...she made a hole-in-one

Sunday afternoon we just hung out and relaxed.  The Hooties were able to swim some in the pool which they were SUPER excited about!  Sorry no pictures, but it is kinda hard when you have 5 kids and 5 adults...no extra hands to snap pictures! :)

Peek-a-boo-I-see-you

James and Josiah looking out at the mountains

All five kiddos were behind the curtain...all the giggling and squealing melted our hearts!

On Monday, we went to the aquarium.  This was a great activity since Josiah had been studying ocean animals most of the school year...another great benefit of homeschooling...he wanted to learn about ocean animals, so I found a curriculum and we have done just that!

Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies

Got everyone in the picture

Ready to go see the animals

So ready to see the sharks!

Ready to the see the sharks, too!

Ready to go see the fish

James was ready to go experience the aquarium

Looking at the fish

Looking at the jellyfish

Tobias was fascinated by it all

Love these two!

He could have stood there for hours

Going through the shark tunnel...this was the BIG hit!

Tobias wouldn't sit still long enough to have his picture taken

Touching the horseshoe  crabs

Missing Tobias...he was off exploring with Daddy

This jellyfish was AMAZING!!  God created it to change many different colors as it moved!

There were many other colors, but I didn't want to explode the blog with all of them!

On Tuesday, we drove over to see Chris' grandparents and spent the morning with them.  The last time we saw them was when Kyrie was 6 months old, so that meant that they had never met Tobias yet.  It so nice for the older Hooties to have that time with them and get pictures for the youngest Hootie of our time with them. 

Sophie focused on riding that scooter

That is the coolest tricycle we have ever seen

Such a strong boy pushing his big sister around

Kyrie having a go on the scooter

Tobias doing a little cleaning.

The Hooties with their great-grandparents...my heart was full when I saw this picture!

We had a wonderful time in TN with the McLeodys!!  We were sad to be leaving the mountains, but even sadder to say good-bye to our friends.  We pray this is the first of many Cleody-Wood trips!