HAPPY BIRTHDAY RALEIGH!

Happy Birthday Raleigh -

6 years ago was one of the best days in my life - it was an answer to a long time of praying and hoping. You are a Joy and a Blessing. You have grown up to be such a great girl - you are a great helper, a good student, a wonderful sister, and most importantly you have Jesus in your heart...I could not be happier. I look forward to many more wonderful years watching you grow up. I love you more than you will ever know. Have a great birthday today.
I LOVE YOU -
Mom

'Cause We're Sisters...

"'Cause we're sisters - we stick together."

On our Tennessee trip I overheard Raleigh saying that to Sydney - how true it is.

Trip to Tennessee

We took a family trip to Tennessee to visit my brother and his family. They live on the side of a mountain so were not sure what to expect. We had a great time. Sydney lost her cookies twice on the way there - luckily for us we are used to her random motion sickness and drove prepared with a yack bucket. She really does do a great job of getting everything into the bucket with smiles after. I did stop and get some Dramimine - we were not sure how she would react to it but it seemed to work. She did not get sleepy or hyper either so that was good. THe girls were great travelers (Greyson was too). I could not have asked the kids to behave better. It made the trip really nice. Grey's ears bothered him I think going up and down the mountain. He would get a little fussy while we were going up and down but then was fine after. The girls swam a lot at Ben's house and had a great time with their Tennessee cousins.

Butterfly garden at the aquarium

We let the kids play in this river thing by the aquarium - it was really cool. Some parts were up to their knees and some was shallower. The kids all took off their shoes and had a good time. Sydney was a little wet after (big surprise).

The girls are always up for a good aquarium- they like the gift shops which we amazingly left empty-handed. A family can only have so many pink stuffed dolphins. THe aquarium was fun.

Ben and Janet took us on a tour of the mountain - we played at a great playground with the biggest slide I have seen. We got in a few games of Euchre which I think I lost every time, and got to see a lot of Tennessee - which was great since I don't remember going there when I was younger. We will have to go back since it was so fun. Maybe next summer!

Ruby Falls

We went to Ruby Falls - it was fun to go through the mountain and then see the falls. The light show was fun - we got to walk under the falls too. The girls loved it and keep asking to go back. I told them they could go back together when they are adults and they could bring their kids...imagine that...

We picked a busy day - the kids were not thrilled about waiting but I think it was worth it.

Top of Lookout Mountain

Sydney held up the mountain for us - she is so strong

Raleigh loved it too.

I am sure glad we saw the signs that said SEE RUBY FALLS everywhere. Apparantly everyone else did too...

And we got a flat

We got a flat tire on the way home from Tennessee. Luckily we were right by an exit with a gas station. The girls helped James change the tire to the spare. We rode on it for awhile and then called Ben and Janet who looked up a tire place for us that was open on Sunday. Who would have thought of WalMart??!! It was 4 miles up the road so we stopped and they told us the tire was un-repairable but they did not have the right size so they called around and found a tire place 12 miles back. James dropped the kids and me off at a McDonalds Playland. We ate, played, and then ate more - we split a McFlury and finished just as James walked in with a fixed van.

James helped Sydney with the Jack and he helped her tighten the bolts. Because it all took so long, we skipped Dino-World. We told the girls we would stop there next time.

Raleigh was looking under the van to make sure the spare tire came down. The spare is under the front seat - she told me when the tire was down far enough.

Grey's Baptism Day

Greyson was baptised on Sunday - never my favorite thing to be in front of a bunch of people but it went really well. We had a cookout at a park near church after. The kids and cousins had fun playing.

Greyson seemed happy too! He slept through the whole thing and most of his party - I guess you can do that if you are 3 months old...

We are so glad to have Greyson as part of our family - what a blessing he is!