Sprout Studio

We went to Sprout Studio with my MOPS group at our church. Taylor and Carson loved it. They loved the scarf blower, water table, puppets, kitchen set, and of course dressing up. We had a great time and especially enjoyed our surprise visitor...we were all excited that Daddy took the rest of the day off just to spend time with us!

Douglas Lake and tribute to my grandfather

So, we have spent endless hours at the lake in Dandridge this summer. My grandfather, Georgie, bought 12 acres completely surrounded by Douglas Lake on both sides many many many years ago. Most of the property is still not developed. For years, Georgie worked on the land little by little and even though he is now in heaven, Rosie still lives there most of the year and my parents now have a summer place up there. Carson and Taylor consider it their favorite place to go. They ride the golf carts up to the main road with Rosie and wave to the cars. Carson has gone all the way to the point of the property and put an American flag. He loves to find it when we are out on the boat in the lake. Taylor and Carson love to pretend they are driving the jet skis (out of the water of course). They love to ride the boat and go to Cowboys or The Point to eat or we just relax and take our own picnic lunch out on the boat. The lake water this week was about 84 degrees and the kids loved going to the front of the boat and jumping in. I know my Georgie is smiling from up above and watching the kids enjoy his hard work. Every time we go up there, I feel his presence.

Summer Fun with Maddie

We have spent a lot of the summer with my close friend, Hayley Jackson, and her adorable daughter, Maddie. Some of our favorites have included: Spash Country numerous times, the pool, Dollywood, blow up pool and waterhose fun, splash pad at the park, and of course shopping. Carson and Taylor love Maddie. I think Carson has a crush on her and Taylor wants to go over to her house and play dolls soon. Maddie is so good with Taylor and Carson. She rides down the water slides with them at Splash Country. As the summer is soon ending, we have had a blast with Hayley and Maddie. We are looking forward to future plans with the Jackson crew.

These pictures are at the Harvest Park Splash Pad.

More Pics of the Princess

Thanks Cindy for more pics of the glamorous birthday party for Emma. Check out Cindy's upcoming blog for a slideshow of the entire evening of princesses!

Princess Birthday Party

Girls Night Out! Taylor and I rode together with our girlfriends, Emily and Lily, to Emma Grace's princess birthday party. The palace was all decked out with princesses everywhere. The girls made their own crowns to take home, drank princess punch, and ate strawberry princess cake. It was a night to remember. Emma graciously gave each of the girls their very own Princess Cinderella to take home as well as a princess coloring book, princess purse, and princess candy. Thanks
Cindy and Emma for an enchanted evening. Taylor enjoyed being a princess tonight and couldn't wait to tell Carson all about it. Carson had baseball pictures and a baseball game tonight, but did ask me to take him to a "princess" birthday party tomorrow night. Ha!

Back from the Beach Part II

Well, we are back from our second trip to the beach for the summer but this time we went to our normal spot in Panama City Beach, FL. We always celebrate the 4th of July on the white sands in PCB watching fireworks and eating good steaks and seafood. We had excellent weather this past week while we spent quality time with the entire Jessie crew. Carson and Taylor enjoyed the beach yet again and are doing so well swimming (the swimming lessons paid off). Some of the favorites from the week are (according to Taylor and Carson): pushing Daddy, Mommy and Uncle Blake in to the pool, riding the big go carts for the first time, each (Taylor and Carson) making hole-in-ones in putt-putt especially since neither Mommy or Daddy did, eating Rice Krispy treats, using the big boogie boards in the pool as boats and "docking" them up by the stairs for refuel (creative minds), watching fireworks on the beach, and riding the golf cart at Angelo's. Taylor and Carson did real well on both the ride going and coming, but were excited to see the new neighborhood play structure once we got back to the house this afternoon.

Go Cart Riding

Carson and Taylor went on their first "big kid" go cart ride. We went with Adam's two brothers (Scott and Blake) and two nephews (Hunter and Brayden). Carson and I were on a team and Taylor and Daddy were on a team. Carson and I got hit pretty hard in the side toward the end of the race. Taylor and Carson enjoyed the race until the wreck. Carson was tall enough to then ride the preschool go cart by himself after "the big kid" race. Taylor played the skeeball game in the arcade. Pretty funny stuff!