Dollywood!!

Shannon and Robyn in Dollywood baby!

One of the big highlights of my trip to Tennessee was going to Dollywood, which is a theme park outside of Pigeon Forge. This was were I got to see Dolly Parton twice; once at the viewing of "Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy", and at the Bubble Show. My pictures of her are so bad. Opie drove to Pigeon Forge for a visit and I got to see Robyn scream her head off on numerous rollercoasters. I also got to be a VIP for the day... which basically bumped me up to the front of the line for the play and for a bubble show I made Opie go to. But you aren't VIP every day, I enjoyed it!

Dolly! The play was um, very child friendly, and she was so gracious!

I took pictures of D.P.'s paparazzi.....

A sign from 1901 posted in TN for teachers, we thought it was kind of funny. "You May Not Wear Bright Colors" and "Schoolmistresses shall not keep company with Men" Love it, and glad I didn't have to live it!

Opie and Shannon at the Bubble Show!

I didn't get a slice, but seriously? A 25 lb Apple Pie?

The first roller coaster Robyn went on, she gave her lungs a work out on this one!

T-t-t-t-tennessee!

Dixie Stampede

What a whirlwind of a summer it has been already! A few too many airports and airplanes for my taste, but you live and you learn. I won't try to fit so much into so few weeks ever again.... at least for a long, long time. My first big trip of the summer was to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee with my friend Robyn, thanks to a scholarship from Best Beginnings. Our first trip down South, and what a trip it was! I got to do some amazing things in just 5 days, and here are some highlights.

1. Attend the National Imagination Library conference
2. Explore Pigeon Forge, TN
3. Go to Dollywood!
4. Explore the Smoky Mountains
5. See Jon's old roommate, Opie
6. Go to a Dixie Stampede (picture with a Southern Belle above)
7. Hike a miniscule part of the Appalachian Trail

There is so much more and I have pictures to prove it!

Sledding at Nerka Hill

It warmed up to a whopping 8 degrees (eight, above zero) in Dillingham, and it felt down right tropical! So we had to get outside and celebrate. After what seems like MONTHS of below zero temperatures we were happy to go outside and not freeze to death.

We luckily got to have Mr. Graelin David visit us for the day and him and Kiley decided that going sledding on Nerka Hill would be the best way to celebrate our "warm" day. So we bundled up and headed to the Hill. What fun! Jon and I got a taste of what it would be like to have a little boy.... and we liked it!

We sent Kiley and Graelin down on the fast "bue" sled by themselves and they unfortunately crashed. Graelin was not impressed- he cried and kept saying, "Big crash, no more, SNOW....." but when we asked him if he wanted again he said, "Yup" with no hesitation. But not on the "bue" sled.....

Christmas at the Clouse House

Kalin on Christmas morning in her new rocking chair

The girls on Christmas morningOur new dining set!~ seats 8Out for a winter walk~ all bundled up!

Camryn and Kiley on the Go-Go! Ready for a ride!

Jon and Kiley on our Snow-Go ride Christmas Day

We had a great Christmas Eve and Day this year. Jon, Kiley and I went to the Candlelight Service at the Moravian Church, which was a new experience for Kiley and myself. Kiley enjoyed the singing and when it came to lighting the candle she did ok until a little wax burnt her and she threw the candle........ Luckily she didn't catch anything on fire and everyone was singing so her wails weren't too loud! I can chuckle about it now, but it was a bit mortifying when it first happened. We went and said Merry Christmas to Papa and Gram, Uncle Max, Camryn and Auntie Angie and then went back to our house to get ready for Santa Claus. Miss Kalin took a long evening nap with Auntie Net, and she woke up just before we got home.

Christmas Day was a whirlwind with opening presents and breakfast, snow-going and then Christmas dinner. Kiley was in hog heaven (of course) and absolutely reveled in opening all her presents and the attention she got. I am guessing her favorrite present is the Leapster (if you have a four year old, this is a great investment!) and her new clothe, and of course all her new Lippa. Kalin was a bit overwhelmed, but she did ok. She got some great new toys, and was loving her new doll and rocking chair. Luckily Camryn came over when she was done opening her presents at her house and helped Kalin finish up opening her presents.

As a family we would like to say a very big thank you to all our friends and family for thinking of us and giving us many wonderful gifts. One very special thank you to GB and Papa Paul for our new dining set, it looks f-a-b-u-l-o-u-s in our new kitchen!

And speaking of our friends and family- many of you have made comments about how you love to read our blog..... yet I only have three followers. ?? What is up with that? Please get a Google account and start leaving me some comments for crying out loud! It really isn't that hard, you can do it! Make it one of your New Year's resolutions!