Carolina Renaissance Festival

We made it back to the Carolina Renaissance Festival.  We had so much fun checking out all the acts and best of all, the people watching.  We camped a few miles away from the festival grounds and enjoyed time in the camper.  The weather wasn't great but that didn't stop us from having fun. 

Josh decided that it would be a good idea to teach the boys how to pencil fight.  There were a few red knuckles.

Emma took everyones order, as she loves to do

There were a few serious games of Uno as well.

Morning came and we hit the festival

Emma was so intrigued by the fairies.

Our favorite booth was the one with the guy that yelled mean things at people and you could throw tomatoes at him.  Emma gave it a shot but didn't hit him.

More fairies

Grady was psyched to find a turkey leg

It was crowded but not too bad

Emma kept trying to help the "town drunk"

Jousting time!

Isn't he so pretty?  Don't tell him I said that.

Josh took one for the team and escorted Em to see the Mermaids.  The boys and I went to listen to music

Mermaids

We watched a few shows like the Knotty Nauticals.

Em was thrilled with the Mermaids

And last but not least was Mother Goose.  We will see them again next year.

School Pics

I love how Evergreen does their school photos.  They aren't the stupid typical ones but the kids are with siblings and outside!  These are awesome.

Haircut

I went upstairs and spotted this disgusting mess.  Dude, no way....you have to cut your hair.  Myles refused at first but then I bribed him with a video game.  He drives a hard bargain.  

$10 hair cut and $30 video game and here you have it

So much better and best of all, he liked it!

New Job

Last spring, I made the decision to leave Muddy Sneakers and head to Chimney Rock.  I'm now the Education Program Coordinator at the park.  It's been a good change for me and I'm enjoying something different.  

I get to work with this munchkin, who wouldn't want that?

I still get to teach

but not all day.

I get to teach with animals, which is super fun

Check out our new baby, Pepper

Geez they are cute!

And the view from my office, is pretty sweet

No shortage of critters at the park.

Sleepover

Josh and the kids teamed up with the Wardwells and met me out at work for Flock to the Rock.  Afterwards, the kids begged to have a group sleepover at the Wardwell's house.  Emma had never spent the night away before so I was hesitant.  She hardly sleeps at our house without calling one of us to come up to her room in the middle of the night.  Anyway, they convinced me that it was ok.  It went great and Josh and I had a night without kiddos!  This was only the 3rd time in 12 years.  The kids had a blast and we have traded off a couple times with sleepovers.  It's a pretty good deal.  

Melissa gave them some horseback riding lessons.

Hiking at Chimney Rock

At the waterfall

Hayden, showing her screech owl.

Yay, Emma!  We are so proud of you and your first sleepover.

Car Show in Tennessee

What a fun trip we had!  Every year there is a huge car show in Pigeon Forge, TN and my dad has been talking about going.  This year we made it happen.  Mimi and Papaw drove down and met us there.  We did Dollywood, the car show and downtown Gatlinburg.  Hopefully, we can make this an annual trip.

Josh and the boys went with Papaw to the car show.

The whole gang made it to Dollywood.  Look out folks, here comes Mimi.  She got some wheels!

She loved every minute as my dad had to run behind her.  She was hard to keep up with.

We all spit up and hit the ride that we wanted to check out.

Emma and I went to fairy land, the boys and Josh went to ride coaster and Mimi and Papaw took in some shows.

Then we went to Ripley's Believe it or Not

Look at the creepy angel!

Papaw enjoying Dollywood

The Mirror Maze

The 3D theater

Mimi and Papaw took off on Sunday morning.  We had a pretty short drive home so we went to the Aquarium first.

This cracked us up.