Maya, Audrey, Samantha, Emily, Grace, and Gretchen 

Fun with Friends
We have been enjoying what little spring weather we had with our friends before it reaches scalding. We have gone to museums, parks, the downtown festival, family dinners and even an adult only night out. The kids and parents are enjoying each other's company. They are laid back, which we need, and like spur of the moment fun. Of course, both families have big church callings, busy kids (soccer, dance, tball, karate, etc) so we can only be so spur of the moment. It is great to have someone to hang out with, since we left all our best buds in NC, I guess it is time to add some more to the pot.

Karis, Audrey, Parker, Dallin and Barrett on a painted hound dog at the downtown festival. 

Gretchen & Audrey "discussing" the recipe in the giant dollhouse kitchen. 

Gretchen typing in the old timers room. 

Gretchen, Audrey, and Karis riding the locomotive. 

Parker & Karis playing with the trains. 

Help, I was falsely accused for eating and walking through the park. 

Papa & Parker cruising the strip.  

Should either of them be driving? They are BOTH grinning like little girls! 

The tram ride into the park. Crowded, yet fun. 

Parker, Britney, Gretchen and Brayden riding the busy bees. 

Parker & Britney on the piggy parade. 

Gretchen and Brayden on the lucky ducks.  

Parker loving the carousel. Slower, safer, not trying to throw you out. 

Gretchen on the carousel. She was not really sure she liked it. I think she was looking at the people whizzing by. 

Riding the rapids, trying not to get wet. Better luck next time! 

Forget Disney World....We've got Dollywood!
Well, it's official. We are true Tennesseens. We own season passes to Dollywood. Richard & I actually went on our honeymoon, and now are back almost 9 years later with 3 kids. We have gone by ourselves, with the Davis Family and with Papa & Grammer (who also now own season passes). It really is an awesome park. It is different than King Dominion, where you feel rushed and at a day's journey of long lines and obnoxious teens. It is treelined, flower lined walkways with little houses and stores. The rides are fun, the food is YUMMY and it is full of families and retired people. We are enjoying it, and can't wait for summer so we can go more often.

Scooby Dooby Doo Where are you? We need some help from you.
For Parker's 4th birthday we had a scooby doo party. We sent out invitations (homemade by me) that had a pawprint and said we need your help someone stole the scooby snacks. He had 4 buddies over for the fun, Preston, Addison, Eric and Ben. They colored pictures of the mystery machine, made their friends into mummies, played pin the tire on the mystery machine, smashed a scooby pinata, and had a treasure hunt for bones with picture clues on them to help them find the missing scooby snacks (scooby fruit snacks). They ate pizza, grapes, cake, icecream and lots of candy. The boys were so cute and had such a good time. Parker was thrilled to have HIS friends over and it be HIS birthday. He was the man of the hour!

The birthday boy unwrapping his presents from Grammer & Papa.(at 7:00am) They shipped them to us which Parker thought was really cool. 

Scooby Parker & Scooby Preston 

Make that monster a mummy game! 

Preston, Parker, Dallin the mummy, Eric the mummy, and Ben. 

Playing pin the tire on the mystery machine. 

Mystery Inc found all the clues. They solved the mystery of the missing Scooby snacks. 

Waiting for a turn at the pinata are Ben, Parker, Preston, Gretchen & Addison. 

Whacking the pinata. 

Parker blowing the candles out in the middle of thebirthday song.