Spring Break // hike to Rainbow Falls

we went to the smokies for spring break. our plan was to get out and explore the park as much as we could. we hiked to three different waterfalls while there. our first hike was rainbow falls. it was a very foggy and muddy day. the pictures show you a little glimpse of how beautiful it was, but they do not do it justice. i love that our kids are at the perfect age where we can start sharing things like this with them and hopefully they will want to do the same with theirs one day. 

Oh Christmas Tree.....

We get a real tree every year. Normally we'll just run up to Lowe's and grab one, but this year I wanted the kids to experience something a little different. We decided to go find a tree farm and select and cut down our own tree. 

It may not be the "perfect" tree, but who say's a tree has to be perfect anyway. The memories we made and fun we had in being able to cut it down... that was perfect.

My boy thought he was big stuff getting to help cut tree down. He didn't want to put that saw down.

While we waited for our tree to be ready to take home we sipped on some complimentary hot cocoa and cider. They even had a little fire going to roast marshmallows.

Here is the link to where we got our tree if your interested TREELAND

Have a great week!! ~Amanda

Another camping trip....

 we stayed at defeated creek campground in carthage, tn. it was only 1hr away. i love that we were right on the lake and had beautiful views. everyone there was very friendly.  we were right next to the playground which the kids really enjoyed. they also had a beach area for the kids to swim and make sandcastles. the trails would probably be better in the fall when some of the shrubs and brush is gone (and the snakes).  we didn't go too far because it was so overgrown. overall the trip was great and we will definitely go back. i love that this is something we do as a family to get away from the fast pace life of work and school.  i love that i can't use my phone when we are there. i love that we let the kids bring their ipod and ds and they didn't even use it. and i love that it is time spent together, not in separate rooms but all four of us together in one little camper ; )

Camping trip...in pictures

We camped at Fall Creek Falls. We love it there. This was the first time we have seen the waterfall this full. It was massive. You couldn't hike down to it without getting soaked. Our first camping experience in our new pop up was a learning one. We made some mistakes and had some mishaps, but overall it was fun. Our next trip will only get easier. I'm looking forward to many, many more camping trips with my family. 

The Smokies and New Years....

The day after Christmas we packed up and headed to Gatlinburg like we did LAST YEAR.

We had high expectations to do all this stuff that we didn't get to do last year. 

Unfortunately, as soon as we got there my sweet girl got a horrible stomach bug.

It lasted the whole trip... and some!

Despiste her being sick we made the most of it and had a good time.

Our view at the cabin was amazing. 

My favorite part was going to the park. 

I could have spent the entire trip in there.

I can't wait to go back in the spring so we can do just that.

Then on New Years Eve we celebrated at our house just the four of us.

Avery still wasn't fully recovered from being sick and I felt like I was starting to get it (which I did)

Avery always likes to decorate the house anytime we have a party or celebration.

So we did a little decorating and I got everything ready for us.

food, drinks, games, just dance

Then I passed out.... before the New Year.

Oh well.

Hopefully that will be the last of any illnesses for the rest of this year.

I wish everyone a happy, healthy 2013!