Our 6th Tennessee trip

Last week we loaded up Mike's truck and we were TN bound.  This trip was hands down the most relaxing TN trip we've taken.  There was no car trouble (our first time going), no illness (both boys), no horrendous back pain (me) and no boy got dehydrated (Nick).  What we did have was a relaxing time, great weather and lots of laughs with the Ausili's.  My mom, Mary and John were missed but it was nice going just the four of us this year and after the last seven months it was nice to relax together.  The picture above is of Bubbles.  Nick gaves Mike Bubbles a couple of years ago and we take him with us on trips and pose him (like Flat Stanley).  Bubbles provides a lot of laughs for us. 

                                              Faith brought her friend, Anna, this year. 

We left super early so on our first day Curt fell asleep under a porch table.  Only Curt!

Here's my usual snap shot I get every year.  I remember the first year we went Faith was 10, the boys were 8 and Nick was 4.  This year Faith is 16 (crazy), the boys are 14 and Nick is 10.  How time flies. 

                                                            Playing Chicken!

We took the same hike we did last year.  It's a terrible hike in that it's HARD.  It's straight up hill over rocks, tree limbs, etc... but the end result is beautiful, a water fall.  The kids always enjoy cooling off in the water! 

             Happy Father's Day.  Wayne made us his homemade biscuits and gravy.  YUMMY!

We were so blessed to even go on vacation this year.  When Mike lost his job we weren't sure we could swing it but God is good and He provided.  We can go to TN for relatively cheap.  We got a nice but inexpensive cabin this year and I've learned the key to a happy cabin in TN is having a pool table.  The boys love playing pool but I've been a parent long enough to know that the joy of pool would quickly fade the minute we bought it for our home so I'll just keep it as a special treat on vacation.  Jenny and I commented how things change and we both know our TN vacations will someday come to an end.  Our kids are aging (and so are we, ha).  But we sure love doing life with our dear friends in the Smokies.