Gatlinburg Day 2

On Monday, we wen to the Ripley's Aquarium. I thought it was great!!

This part was so cool.  You could walk under the tunnel of fish and sharks swimming above you.

 

And then there were people in there, with the sharks, with only sticks to keep them away!

Caitlin worked up her courage and touched the rock crab.

Then they said that she could pick it up.

But then it moved and she and Kaylee both freaked out!  Great picture!

Alaina came and grabbed my hand and pulled me over to show me this tank.  She was so excited to have found Nemo!

My favorite part was the penguins!!

The girls got up close!

 

Then we went and touched the sting rays.

 

After the aquarium, we drove up into the National Park and hiked to Laurel Falls.  It was 1.3 miles each way and was supposed to be paved.  So we thought, with the double stroller, even the young girls would be able to make it.  Let's just say that there is a difference between being paved and being stroller accessible!  It was very difficult to push the stroller on the old uneven "paved" trail, but everyone made it!

 

For dinner, we all went to Gatti's pizza buffet, where we ate pizza, played games and then ate pizza again!  We got our money's worth there!

 

 

And then Caitlin had to feed the ducks again!

Gatlinburg Day 1

My work is about to get really crazy for a few months, so on Sunday, we ran away for 3 days and took the girls to Gatlinburg.  Rusty and I hadn't been there since our honeymoon.  The Scotts came too and all the girls loved getting to play together.

Behind out hotel was this great little river and a ton of ducks that you could feed.  The girls loved going out there each day.

 

Rusty taught the girls how to skip rocks.

Alaina just liked throwing the rocks in and seeing how big a "splish splash" she could get.

Caitlin helped gather all the rocks to throw.

 

We stayed in a hotel that had an indoor pool and the girls loved getting to swim without being freezing!

Tucked in for the night. We were worried about everyone sleeping in one big room but the girls did great!!

 

Church Art

I love the creations Caitlin comes up with during church.

She did this one for Rusty.

I thought these two big eyed girls were cute too.

Another Birthday Party

Saturday, Alaina had another friend's birthday party to go to.  This one was at our favorite place - the Discovery Center.  It was for a girl in her school class.  She loved getting to play with Katleigh.

But she really enjoyed playing with Matrix.  She talks about him all the time.

Here they are "fixing" a car.

And building a castle.

Honor Roll

Caitlin got her report card yesterday.  4 A's and 2 B's.  So proud of her!

Birthday Party

Saturday we were invited to a birthday party for a girl in Alaina's primary class.  It was such a nice day for a party at the park.  The girls loved playing with all the kids.

 

 

Rolling down the hill.

 

Running down the hill.  They did this over and over and over.

Cat in the Hat