Melton Hill park

We went to Melton Hill park while Aaron's parents were in town.

Grandma with her walking stick

Hiking around the park

Ryan showing off the treasure he found

Cute Samantha

The whole group (except grandpa).  Ryan's face is priceless!

Worlds Fair park

A few days after Christmas the temp was in the 60's so we took the kids bikes and went to World's Fair park in downtown Knoxville.  We figured if we didn't have any snow to play in, we had awesome weather to just hang out together in!

We went up into the sun sphere and looked out on the city.  That is something our family has never done.

We raced (the kids idea)

Erica vs. Ryan

Erica vs. Samantha

Dad vs. Ryan

Dad feeling very exhausted

Bike riding

Mom and Carter on the park stage

Samantha and grandma performing on the stage

Christmas fun

Aaron's parents came to visit for Christmas and we had a great time.  It has been a long time since we have had family around for Christmas, so it was really nice having them there.  

Christmas Eve we did our traditional act out the nativity scene.  Aaron was a shepherd, but he was taking the picture.

The kids (and dad) posing in their new pajamas on Christmas eve.

Looking at gifts

Ryan got two light sabers for Christmas so he and grandpa were trying them out.

Carter turns one!

We celebrated Carter's birthday yesterday.  Here are some pictures of the event!

He thought it was so funny when the wrapping paper would rip.  He would just crack up.

More laughing at ripped wrapping paper.

So how do you like the cake?  The kids wanted a teddy bear and this was the best I could do.  

Here he is beginning to "dig in"

And this is a picture of how he liked the cake.  He hated the frosting!  Every time we put some to his mouth he would whine and make this face.  It was really funny.

We found out that the cake is all he wanted.  I don't blame him.  I'm not a fan of frosting either.

Carter's hospital stay

This entry is long and somewhat detailed, but it's for my own records.  I can understand if you don't want to read the entire thing.

Starting with Ryan, we have had the GI bug move through all the kids, but Carter got it worse than anyone.  I took him in for a fever on saturday and they said he had an ear infection so he was sent home with antibiotics.  Then the throwing up started.  He couldn't keep down his bottles and that, of course, worried me.  Then the diarrhea started and that just didn't seem to stop.  We kept giving him pedialyte and on sunday the doctor told us to stop antibiotics and call if he doesn't pee.  Well, he did so we waited.  And by monday, he was refusing all liquids and the diarrhea was worse so I took him in.  And by the way, Samantha started to throw up sunday night so I was trying to help her and clean up thow up off the couch while all of this was going on.  The doctor decided to send us to the ER and he called and told them I was coming.  Well, when I got there, they told me it didn't matter that he called and I had to wait like everyone else.  They didn't even look at Carter.(and he looked bad)  So I waited and watched other children around me laughing and giggling and playing go before us while Carter moaned then threw up all over himself.  At that point, I was pretty upset so I went to the desk and told them that he really needs to be seen.  So five minutes later I was in traige.  He had 102 fever and they decided he was pretty sick so they would take him.  Well, back in the ER after three attempts at the IV they finally got one started.  At that point, I was starting to get sick myself so they gave me zofran for nausea.  Then Carter started having so much diarrhea that his bottom was raw and he was screaming! (enough to pull the IV loose)  So after three more tries, a new IV was put in and it was decided he would be admitted.  In the mean time, I had gotten too sick to take care of him and called Aaron to come take my place.  And poor Aaron was on call that night so he was taking calls and caring for Carter at the same time.  I felt so bad for Carter.  The next morning, I started to feel better and took Aaron's place.  He wouldn't let you put him down so we just sat in an uncomfortable chair all day and all night.  Well, in the end, they found out he had Clostridium Difficile (C diff), a bacterial infection, and started to treat him.  He spent two nights in the hospital and is now home and still getting back into eating and drinking more.   It is so hard to see your child so sick and there is nothing you can do to change it.  I'm glad he is back home making messes and blowing kisses to us again.  I believe I have done 100 loads of laundry in the past week, but the only thing that matters is that Carter is home and we are all on the mend.

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.  We had a good time and, as always, ate way too much!  Our friends, the Christians, came over for dinner then we went to another friends house for dessert.  It was really fun.  Because we have no family around, it's fun to get together with friends so we aren't alone.  This was our third Thanksgiving with the Christians so I'm not sure what we'll do next year when we don't live by each other :).

The pictures I posted are of Ryan's preschool Thanksgiving lunch. I also had Thanksgiving lunch at school with Samantha.  Yes, that makes three Thanksgiving meals.  Maybe I should head to the gym, better yet, I'll have some leftover pie instead!  ha ha

Girl Scout Camp

This past weekend, Samantha and I went to Girl Scout camp for two nights.  It was fun and the girls had a blast, but I was definitely ready to come home after the second night.  There were other moms there and one dad.  Other than the moment when they were making fun of Mormon's (they didn't know that fact about me), it was pretty fun.  And by the way, I did make sure they knew the truth about what they were saying :).  We had to sleep on mats on the floor and they were all very close together.  At one point, I sat in my bed waiting for the two moms on both sides of me to stop snoring.  

The girls had a wonderful time.  Just imagine eleven girls age 8 and under running around giggling, screaming, and just being little girls.  It was freezing outside so we spent a lot of time in the cabin doing crafts, eating, and just hanging out.  The troop leader even brought a craft just for the moms to do!

Here are Samantha (pretending she is singing on a microphone) and some of the girls listening to music.

If you are wondering why I'm wearing an orange vest, it was the first day of hunting season and we didn't really want to be shot at.

making peanut butter bird feeders

The girls in the back of the troop leaders van

This is how close we were sleeping next to each other and of course, the girls loved it.  

All in all it was a fun weekend and it was nice to spend time with Samantha. 

Twilight fans

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If you're a Twilight fan, take the quiz! I found out I'm an Esme. Thanks Julie for the link!!

I can't see the movie opening night because I'll be at girl scout camp with Samantha, but you better believe I'll be going, even if I have to go by myself!!

Halloween fun

We have had a very busy, but fun week.  The kids dressed up three or four times this week between the Girl Scouts party, Ryan's school party, the church party, and trick or treating.  Samantha and Ryan both wanted to be things we already had costumes for so I was thrilled I didn't have to buy or make anything this year.  The kids got a ton of candy and they have been sorting it into groups then trying to sell it to each other and Aaron and me.  Samantha tried to charge me 25 cents for a mini candy bar today!  

Here's our little dinosaur.  I think no matter what you dress babies in, they always look so cute.

Ryan was the black spiderman.  He has had this costume for a year now and it has already been through the ringer.  I patched a huge hole in the knee and we found another big hole in it last night.  Ryan, being our sweet tooth, ran as fast as he could from house to house to get as much candy as he could.

And here is beautiful Snow White.  Samantha had a cold and wasn't quite as enthusiastic as Ryan about trick or treating this year.  In fact, toward the end, she kept sitting in people's yards "taking a rest"  while we walked back to the house.   

Right when we got home, they dumped out the candy and began the trading process.

Here are the kids before Samantha's Girl Scout party.  Aaron wasn't there because he was at the Tennessee Titans football game. (thank you Heather and Ryan!!)  He had the best time.  Unfortunately, he didn't get home until 4am, then got up for work at 6am.  I was happy that he was able to go; he totally deserved it!    

Cades Cove

We recently took a day trip to Cades Cove.  It is in the smoky mountain national park where you drive along a rode to see old log homes, look at the scenery, and watch for wildlife.  We saw a fox and a ton of deer this time.  In the past we have also seen a black bear.  Half way through the drive we stop and picnic, play ball, then head back on the rode.  We have a great time being together as a family and always come home completely exhausted from the day.

The kids made a pile of leaves to play in

Of course it turned into a leaf fight.  Carter just loved getting leaves thrown at him; he thought it was so funny!

Samantha is attacking the photographer!

Snack time

Carter found an apple in the cooler and attempted to chow down.

In this picture, Ryan really wanted to show Carter's belly and, of course, Samantha was going to see to it that his belly was covered.

Here are Aaron and the kids playing tackle football.  Aaron is "tackling" Ryan and Samantha is trying to save him

This deer was right by the car and the kids loved seeing it so close