Andy turns 25!

November is a busy month for birthdays in our family. Tonight we celebrated my little brother, Andy, who turned 25. We dined on Joe's Pizza and then ate his traditional birthday cheesecake made by Mom.

My sister, Dee, brought a fun game that we tried out tonight called "Find It". It is supposed to be for my nephew, Colton, but the adults monopolized the game trying to find all the hidden objects. Whoever invented this is a genius because it is fun, self-contained, and will occupy kids for a long time as they try to finish the list. I will definitely be looking for these for Jacob and Ellie for Christmas this year.

Ah, the long-awaited season 4 of Psych, the funniest show on tv

The Birthday Boy and his cheesecake

The kids didn't want cheesecake (crazy, I know!), so they opted for ice cream sundaes instead.

Emmaline loved hers!

More Presents

Tonight we got together to open presents from my sister, Dee, and her family. The kids got games, so we spent time playing those. Katie just got back from New York City, so she had little treats for everyone to open as well.

Emmaline models my new scarf from Katie

Dad shows off his mad scarf-tying skills

Jacob worked a puzzle with Mimi

Playing "Candy Land"

Transformers Jenga, anyone?

Andy Turns 16!

My nephew, Andy, turned 16 this week and we celebrated today. His birthday is easy to remember because he was born the night Nathan and I had our first date in high school.

My sister, Dee, and Andy

The Kids' Table

Enjoying cake and ice cream

Oconaluftee Indian Village

After Newfound Gap, we headed to Oconaluftee Indian Village. We ate a picnic lunch before heading into the village. Once inside, we watched several Indian dances and then toured the village. We watched several different kinds of weaving, making a canoe, a hunting demonstration, and saw various types of houses the Cherokee Indians have lived in through the years. Our last stop was the gift shop. The owner gave Emmaline and Kayla matching necklaces. I don't know if she has a family member with Down syndrome or what, but it was nice that she appreciated the uniqueness of both girls.

The Gang eating lunch

Emmy and Mommy

Katie, Ellie, and Jacob by a hut
(Jacob is trying to show the bug crawling on his arm.)

Mommy and the kiddos outside a log cabin

The Harvesting Dance

Emmaline and Daddy
She loved the dancing and would clap after each one.

Jacob next to some beadwork

Newfound Gap

On our way to Cherokee, North Carolina, we stopped at Newfound Gap. The state line between Tennessee and North Carolina runs through here. There was a nice breeze blowing and we even got to see a black bear!

The Kids
Andy, Jen, Katie, Dee, and Angel

Dad, Mom, Katie, and Andy

In the woods near the Appalachian Trail

The black bear

Emmy liked playing in the moss on this wall

Jacob and Daddy on a tall wall

Jacob thought this hole in the rock was the perfect cup holder for his water bottle.

Kayla and Angel by the state line

Cabin Fun

We met all of my siblings (3 sisters and 1 brother) at this cabin outside of Gatlinburg. It was great having everyone together. We hadn't seen my oldest sister and her family in over two years, so it was nice having them with us. The cabin had a pool table, air hockey table, arcade machine, and hot tub. When we weren't out having fun, there was lots to keep us busy.

My nephew, Andy, and my brother, Andy
(just as confusing as it sounds!)

My sister, Angel, and her husband, Gary

Jacob and Kayla
By the end of the trip, Kayla was calling "Yakie" her best friend

Colton and Jacob playing Kinex

Gary grilling carne asada in the rain
Before the trip, we joked with Angel and Gary that they needed to bring this yummy steak with them from California. A couple days before we left, a package arrived at my parents' house filled with 15 lbs. of steak and lots of dry ice. We drove it down to the cabin and it was delicious!

Kayla and Jacob playing air hockey

Mommy and her girls

Kayla during the water fight

Andy and Nathan practicing on the upper deck

Jacob and Ellie's "room"
It was actually the walk-in closet in our bedroom, but they loved having their own private space.

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Kayla and Jacob playing video games

Emmy hiding in the cabinet

Aunt Katie, Emmy, and Ellie on the deck

Celebrating in Cincinnati with "The Girls"

For my birthday, I wanted to head to Cincy to celebrate with my sisters (minus 1) and my mom. We ate dinner at Maggiano's, saw "The Ghosts of Girlfriends Past", walked the mall, and finished the evening with Strawberry Chip Ice Cream from Grater's. It was a fun evening and so nice to have some girl time together!

Me, Dee, and Mom
enjoying ice cream at one of the squares in Hyde Park

Dee, Mom, and Katie

Snow Day!

It didn't snow much today, but the kids still had a blast! We met my sister, Dee, and nephew, Colton, at Mom and Dad's for lunch (yummy grilled cheese and tomato soup). Then, we hit the slopes with the kids. It was more of a small incline in the backyard, but it was enough for the kids to tube down. They made snowballs, played in the fort, and outlasted all the adults in the cold. Afterwards, we all enjoyed homemade hot chocolate (thanks Mom!).

Ellie gets kisses from Papaw

Jacob

Emmaline thought it was funny to drop the tinker toy pieces down the heating vent.
She had amassed quite the collection when they opened it up.

Jacob does some tubing

One Sweet Girl and Two Silly Boys

Colton and Ellie

In the Fort

Climbing the Ladder

My Snow Angel