Little Fishergirl & Black Bears

Michael was excited about taking Wesley fishing, but Wes was only marginally interested (he never wanted to leave Gabe's side).  But someone else was chomping at the bit to go fishing... I think Daddy's found his fishing buddy!

Daddy/Daughter fishing date, and Carigan was mighty pleased with herself after her immediate success.  She's our little Trout Whisperer... Daddy's just a little bit proud.

Our chalet had some furry neighbors... the kids peering down at a black bear eating berries. We didn't seem to phase it much... when it was done munching berries it moseyed around the chalet to the driveway and crossed the road with us all standing just a few yards away. Michael texted me the picture below the night before while Erin and I were looking around the shops in downtown Gatlinburg.  I don't know if this is the same bear we saw eating berries the next day, but she had her two little cubs with her.  Andrew and Caleb were the only ones out there trying to get close... Michael knew better than to get close to a mama with her cubs!

Jealous of Carigan's success, we got all four kids to come out with us to try their hand at fishing later in the week.  But the weather was hotter and the trout weren't biting, so they got bored fast. 

Tate caught two little tiny fish, and was so proud!  He got upset when Daddy threw his first fishy back though... when he caught his second fish, Tate leaned over and touched the pavement on the dock and said, "Put it here Daddy."  Giving it a try:

Meanwhile, bored boys with a camera...

The expert was the only other kid patient enough to make a catch that day.  The big trout weren't biting. The long-awaited highlight of the week for Wesley & Gabe was playing MagiQuest on Wednesday.  Wes and AK both already had wands, so it was Carigan's turn to buy a wand this time. She was super excited about picking out her wand, but when we activated it and it was time to start playing the game, she wigged out and started crying.  I guess it was a little intimidating.  So I was able to transfer her play time to Wesley and Anna Kate, but at least Carigan got her wand.  Once I assured her I wasn't going to make her play, she enjoyed opening this treasure chest with her wand before we left to go shopping at the Christmas Village across the street.

I love getting personalized ornaments at the Christmas Village!  Last time I got a "first Christmas in our new home" ornament for ourselves and for the family that bought our old house.  This time I bought one for Erin's family!  Tate and Carigan helped me  pick out a new ornament for our family. Then we went to the candy shop and they both picked out a giant jawbreaker.

We tried to go to Cheddar's but it was a two hour wait.  So we let the kids talk us into picking up Taco Bell for them, and then we took it to McAlister's where we sat outside and drank sweet tea.  Found this picture on my phone that night - Carigan with jawbreaker juice on her face, waiting for our order at Taco Bell.  Is this vacation or what?? 

The Old Mill & Laurel Falls

Seeing as it was once owned by Michael's great-great-great-something grandfather John Sevier Trotter (who purchased this mill in 1849 and is buried nearby), we decided to have our whole-Rhodes-clan-lunch at The Old Mill this year instead of at Applewoods.  The girls were excited to wear their matching Matilda Jane.
  

My kids declared The Old Mill the best restaurant EVER, because it's the only place we've ever been that has roast on the kids menu!  And all the kids meals came with ice-cream.  Win-Win!  Ever the servant, Granddaddy held down the boy fort at a smaller table next to us so the moms could eat.  Gabe and Tate migrated our way by the end of the meal though:

Checking out the mill.  It's fun knowing we used to own the joint.

We hiked up to Laurel Falls Tuesday afternoon to work off our lunch! The Sowards stayed home, except for Abby, who can't be separated from Anna Kate.  I love that they have such a special bond.

Finally reached the falls!  Tate is always fishing for his tag - pretty convenient to always have a built in lovey:

Wesley standing a little too close to the drop-off for my comfort, but he wanted me to take a picture of his foot in the hole:

Ha... downloading pics from both Michael's phone and my phone, you get a little behind-the-scenes.  Moms learn to multi-task because toddlers are kind of like a permanent appendage.  Carigan declared she was too tired to hike back down.  Michael and I ignored her, but Chimichanga swept her up and became her chariot:

The Sowards are the critter-catchers of the family.  Abby grabbed this Blue Racer.  I didn't bring my good camera on the hike - this picture doesn't to this view justice:

And yes, he carried her all the way down.  This is why everyone should have a Chimichanga! 

To Gatlinburg with Granddaddy!

We said goodbye to Kentucky on Saturday and drove to Gatlinburg for a week with ALL the Rhodeses (except Corey, who had to work).  The one promise I didn't get around to fulfilling our week at Grandma's house was taking Wesley to Fazoli's.  Luckily we were able to hit one somewhere in southern Kentucky on our way to Tennessee!  Tate enjoyed some delicious Red Dye 40, causing me to have to pull over on Interstate a little while later and hold him over some bushes while he watered them.  It was his first experience pee-peeing in nature and he was quite impressed with his arch.
 

This house was straight up the mountain, with the best panoramic view I've ever seen!  Both the Gatlinburg Sky Lift and the Ober Gatlinburg Aerial Tram passed right in front of our double-decker back patio.  Good work, Granddaddy!   

We arrived just ahead of the Sowards, and once we all got settled, it was time for presents! Tate called Jax and Bella "my babies" and all week long would ask, "Where did my babies go?"

First night calls for late night hot-tubbing! Bella was very unsure about the hot tub and did not want to budge from that chair until her mommy came down and talked her into putting on a suit.  Bella clearly loved her bathing suit, but I don't think we ever convinced her to put more than a toe in the hot tub.

I don't think I have a single picture from Sunday.  The only church we could find in Gatlinburg that looked to have more than 50 members was a Baptist Church.  Dad and I took my kids, and as soon as we sat down Tate start asking to go to Bible class.  I read in the bulletin that they dismiss children to their worship at a certain point in the service, so when church started, I whispered to Tate that we would sing four songs and then he could go to class.  He immediately started trying to negotiate and whispered back "Two songs" and held up two fingers.  Well it turned out that all the kids in church were at Bible camp that week, so there was no class after all.  Tate waited so patiently and then realized what was happening, and I was suddenly very thankful I happened to have one tootsie roll pop and two dum-dums in my purse.  After church Dad took us to lunch and then we went to the pool, but the kids didn't last long because they were anxious to get back to the house and see if the Sowards were back from shopping.  Forget all the amazing fun things to do in Gatlinburg - they just wanna be with their cousins!  Nathan and Angel arrived later that afternoon, but I had to leave to drive to Knoxville to pick up Michael from the airport!  So glad to have him back from China!!! Monday morning we all went hiking on our favorite trail in the National Park.  It starts at this old homestead and ends at an old barn. When a Caleb appears from nowhere:

 

Catching crawdads.^ I know a little boy that's really happy to have his Daddy back:

Rhodes Family, party of 17!  We're only missing Corey.  Nathan and Angel took us out to Cielito Lindo, which led to Michael keeping me up all night singing, "Aye aye aye aye" because he's still on China time.  Such a blessing to all be together!!