Academic Meet

Hunter has his 1st Academic Meet on Saturday and was pretty excited while this Momma was nervous. This is a new area for us, Hayley is into the drama thing and Hunter is the complete opposite--books, video games and useless information! So thankful that each one of my kids are their own personality and so different!

I had to laugh when we walked in and saw the whole team glued to their Ipods and DS

Ms. Coy and Ms. Hodgen gave the kids a little pep talk about what to expect and doing their best no matter what!

There were different areas you could compete in: Future Problem Solving (that was Wednesday), written assessments (Math, SS, Science and Arts/Humanity), and then Quick Recall (Jeopardy). Hunter competed in the Arts/Humanities and Science written assessments. He had 35 minutes to answer 30 multiple choice questions and then 6 tie breaker questions. At the end, each test was graded and then the top 5 students in each area placed.  He didn't place and I was nervous about this because he is a Wethington and has issues with losing--he doesn't accept it well!!  We talked about what an awesome experience this was (out of 12 team members, there was only 4 who were in 4th grade) and now he knew what to expect if he wanted to do it again next year. He is PUMPED and was really bummed that practice is over until next year.

Quick Recall was something that really made me nervous, the kids on the other hand, didn't seem to mind it one bit!! I have to admit, I was AMAZED at how smart these kids are--so many of the questions I had NO idea of the answer and they did!!  Hunter was a sub and actually got a few minutes of playing time!

I was hard not to cheer when they answered a question right, I did very well and kept quiet! Hunter answered a question right and I did what any proud Momma would do, take a picture of his name on the score board!!

Overall, we had several students who places on the written assessments and will advance to Regional!! 

We got a quick group shot before leaving.

It was a fun filled day and I am SO thankful that Hunter has such a fun group of kids who get along and have so much in common, can't forget their coaches, they are just as fun as the kid are!!

Extra Lovin'

With all that has been going on with Pa's health, the kids were excited to get to the hospital and give him some extra loving!! Must of been just what he needed because he came thru his surgery well and is at home!! Thanks for the many prayers.

Gatlinburg--Day 3

Well, it was our last day in Gatlinburg and we packed it full of lots of fun before heading home. We were watching the news while cooking breakfast and packing there was lots of talk about the "s word".....SNOW coming in that afternoon. I was jealous that it was coming but then I started to freak out because I HATE TO DRIVE IN IT!!! Brian reassured me that it wasn't coming til that night so that made me feel better!

Every time we have been to Gatlinburg we always pass a place called Wonder Works (http://www.wonderworksonline.com/pigeon-forge/) and its really cool looking from the outside but, we never had stopped simply because the kids had been too little. I was excited when we started talking about going there, especially since it was getting cooler and raining!

 It really is so cool inside--not very pricey either, you get so much for your money.  We did the whole museum, ropes course plus added Lazer Tag and it was $26 per adult and $18 for kids--that's with our coupon!! We stayed 4 hours and could of stayed longer, it was full of all kinds of cool and hands off exhibits.

Hunter and Hayley did the rock climbing wall.....

while the "big kids" (Jimmy, Brian, Paige and Peyton) did some really cool ride. Had the kids been tall enough, they would of been on there with them!

the pulley chair lifts

laying on a bed of nails
(I didn't do this bc I couldn't help but to think of bed bugs and lice--oh the joys of teaching!)

piano from Big

game like Operation

throwing a baseball at a Major League Game and told speed. (forgot what each person threw)

I have to say that this exhibit was pretty cool and kinda scary all at the same time. This was a big map of the whole world and you could zoom in on anything, states, roads, lakes, rivers, etc. Brian thought it would be cool to show the kids where we lived--it was freaky---

first we found Spencer County

and then we looked for Taylorsville Lake and our road- and it was pretty cool. We even zoomed in on our road and found out house--this is without the barn. I was pretty freaked out but in amazement at the same time. You can see our house and all the "dirt area" is the cow fields--

The ropes course was really neat and worth the wait (about 30 minutes). I have to admit, was kinda freaked out and having anxiety with this and I totally blame Brian.  He is like a monkey when it comes to these things (because of work) and the kids try to stay up with him.  If you fell it was only going to be about 6 feet and with the way you were strapped in and clipped to everything, I don't think it was possible to fall at all!!

Some really cool art projects made from scrap iron and a light

out of bubble gum

Lazer Tag was so much fun and full of laughter and squeals!!

This picture cracks. me. up!!

Brian was in 7th heaven running from everyone!

We stopped for a quick lunch on the way out of town and then hit the road. Once we got to 75 we saw signs that it was closed due to several accidents. At the 57 mile marker we were in stand still traffic for over 2 hours!!! Hayley was riding with me so I just popped in a movie and she was content.

I have to admit, I was jealous of the snow that they were getting and hoped that some might just follow us home since we were out Monday. The scenery was absolutely beautiful and peaceful--if being in traffic would always be like this I wouldn't mind at all.

Brian and Hunter were in front of me so they kept me entertained by texting and making faces. I had to laugh when I looked up and saw this.....

Sometime being a female is not fair---when you are male you can go to the bathroom any time or any place. Brian was proof of that, he had to go and blocked himself by standing in between the truck doors.

After being stopped for about 2 hours, we finally started to move, thank God!! I was praying that we would make it home safely in one piece and 2 cars. Once we got to Berea, it was clear of snow--thank you Jesus, we got gas and a quick bite to eat and headed home to good ole Mt. Eden. What was suppose to be a 4 hour drive ended up taking 7 1/2. I am not complaining, we all made it safely.

We are so thankful for a much needed relaxing weekend aways with awesome friends who are like family to us. Looking forward to our next trip!!

Gatlinburg--Day 2

We awoke Saturday to a beautiful morning, there is something about waking up and being surrounded by the peacefulness of nature--its so calming and does a soul good!  While the kids were slowly awaking, we went ahead and made breakfast: blueberry pancakes, bacon and cheese potatoes, I could seriously eat these for every. single. meal

A little snuggle time with my girl and hubby. Hunter would not move from that arcade game!

Hayley getting her "bump" going--she loved every minute of it!

These two could seriously pass for sisters

Jimmy decided that he would help clean up and start the dishwasher. There were suds coming out the bottom because silly put the liquid dish soap in there. We all got a good laugh out of this, just more proof that Mary really does do everything in their house!!

We had a game plan: spend the day in Gatlinburg snow tubing, shopping and playing around. The weather was beautiful so we weren't complaining that we couldn't ski (they only had 10" of snow and 2 trails open, so it wasn't worth spending all that money for a little snow and trails).

Hayley wanted to ride with Paige, she is not right. These pictures are from her camera--she is a blogger in training.

Our beautiful kiddos:

Paigey, Hayley, Peyton and Hunter

First stop: Obergatlinburg for the tram, chair lift and Alpine Slide. 

We had lots of fun and laughs, people were looking at us like we were crazy, well we are! I am

The only family picture I took all weekend.

The nature exhibit was pretty lame, not many animals and the bears were "hibernating." Good thing this was included in our wristbands!

Brian is OBSESSED with the Moonshine show and wanted to stop and see show the kids hows they made it, it was really cool to see it in person. We had to stop and go in the shop and see all the different types and flavors--they had every flavor  you could imagine.

me and my girl, Mary

tasting shine: hunch punch was yummy!

Since the kids weren't old enough for Sine, they had to settle for cokes in glass bottles!

Clear skies and beautiful mountains

LOVE this picture--it speaks a 1000 words

Alpine slide was so much fun--we definitely got our monies worth out of it and riding the chair lift.

By this point, Hayley was less then thrilled to take a picture with me, she was getting to be too cool!

We were starving after we spent all afternoon on the Mountain so we hit up the Mellow Mushroom for a late lunch. Not our first choice, we really wanted to eat at Dick's Last Resort, but the wait was 45 minutes and you could only order appetizers. The Mushroom was OK, just not the pizza we are used to! While we waited there was this little Blue Grass band that was playing outside, they were SO good--I could of listened to them all day long!

If you only knew the amount of attitude in this picture--LORD HELP US ALL!!

You all know my weakness for Krispy Kreme donuts...I can spot a store a mile away! On the way to town I saw this one and TOLD everyone that we WERE going to stop on the way back thru. My hubby gave in and stopped, he was scared of what may happen to him if he didn't stop!

Oh, the trash talking that began after deciding we'd stop for a little go carting before heading back to the cabin. My boys are EXTREMELY competitive and will even cause bodily harm to win. Poor Mary, found that to be true--she was in the wrong place at the wrong time!! She just has the seat belt burns as a reminder of what fun she had.

Once again we ended the evening with a little pool and hot tub time, a girl could get used to this!