Bobcats. Roar!

Ethan and Jackson joined cub scouts this year. Ethan is a Webelos, and Jack is a Tiger Cub. On Sunday we enjoyed a hike at the University of Tennessee Arbetum, and both boys were awarded their Bobcat badges. 

Good job Scouts!

Dollywood

We celebrated Ethan's 10th birthday at Dollywood. We consider ourselves to be amusement park-enthusiasts, and Dollywood did not disappoint. Best part of the day -no lines! Not one! I foresee season passes under the Christmas tree this year. 

Mom and the birthday boy - ready to ride!

The newest ride - Soarin' Eagle. Jackson and Dad loved it. Mom and Ethan skipped it. 

Cute little owl babies. 

Mom and Dad rode this once and got soaked. It was chilly this day so we were okay only riding it once. The boys just rode it over and over. Thank you no lines!

Great day!

TEN

Here are some highlights as we honored Ethan being a decade old. 

Spine was so anxious to wish Ethan a happy birthday. 

Presents and balloons and a ten-year-old. 

Starting the beautiful day with a brotherly scrimmage (football and soccer) while Mom got her 3 miles in. 

The boys and I spent the afternoon playing putt-putt until it was time to meet Dad at Cracker Barrel (birthday boy's choice) for a birthday dinner. 

We ended the day with homemade ice cream cake!

Ethan said it was a great birthday. At Ethan's request, in lieu of a party, we will celebrate next weekend at Dollywood! Stay tuned...

10th Birthday Eve

Tonight I come back to the blogging world to document my sweet boy turning 10. I am in tears (happy tears) as I look through these pictures and reminisce on the last AMAZING ten years. When Ethan was two weeks old, an old woman approached me and said, "Enjoy him; it goes by so fast." So true. I absolutely love the amazing person Ethan has become, but I would love for time to slow down. Happy birthday Ethan!

Our First Guests!

Earlier this month, one of my bestest friends, Tamara, and her kiddoes stopped to see us on their way from Michigan to North Carolina. Tamara and I first met in 2007 in Okinawa when she had two kids, and I had one. The last time I saw her, her twins were in her tummy, and now they are four!

We had such a fun time swimming, eating pizza, and picking blueberries. We hope it's not another four years before we see each other again!

Evelyn and I are best friends. 

These fourth graders were in the three-year-old classroom together in preschool. Sob!

The big boys: Jack, Sam, Ethan, Austin

The whole gang eating pizza!

The hot mommas (and Miss Evelyn).

Love you Tamara!

Knoxville!

Sorry for the long delay in posts. I have been SO busy as we moved from Oklahoma to....KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE. Why Tennessee? Andrew was offered a job as an Investment Consultant with Scottrade. This job allows him to have the work-home balance he so desperately needed. Our house sold within a month, and we found a very cute (albeit small) rental in a great school district. The boys have started school, and the military movers dropped off our stuff yesterday!

Saying goodbye to our first home we've owned. 

Who loves a 13 hour road trip? Ethan!

How is it possible that he is a fourth-grader?

That's one pumped up first-grader!

And FYI, the first day of school went great!

The Great Outdoors

Last week, the whole fam-bam hiked Roughlock Falls in Spearfish Canyon. I hadn't been there since college, and it is still breathtaking. 

I'm back in OK, but the kids are spending the month in SoDak and have already climbed Harney Peak, the highest point in the state. Looks like we have quite the outdoorsmen. 

Roughlock Falls

Me and my boys. 

Momo, Ethan, Jackson, & Papa

After the hike, we explored the Bullock Hotel in Deadwood. It's haunted!

My little campers. 

Quite the view from Harney Peak. 

They made it!

The boys with Papa at the top. 

Visiting the burros in Custer State Park.

Can't wait to see what other adventures these yahoos have!