Summer Chain of Events: Week 3

I hope you're ready because this is going to be a long one full of pictures (if you click on the pictures they will enlarge).  I know that I'm way behind but I knew this post was going to take me awhile so I had to wait until I had some time.  We spent our third week of summer with the kids at my dad's house in Dandridge, Tennessee.  We did not bring the chain of events with us but lord knows we had plenty of new and exciting activities to keep us busy. 

Saturday, Day 16:

Friday night Justin and I packed up the car so we could start our drive at the early hour of 4:00 a.m. We decided to do this so that the kids would sleep in the car for awhile and we wouldn't have to entertain them too much.  That worked out well and at about 7:00 everyone was awake and ready for breakfast.  After that the kids watched a movie on their portable blue ray players.  We decided a nine hour drive was too long not to make a big stop so we decided to visit Rock City in Chattanooga, TN.

Check out Fenway's tongue!

On a rope bridge.

Picture perfect view!

A beautiful Rock City waterfall.

From there we had about two more hours until we reached my dad's house.  After we settled in, my dad took us and my grandparents to a Tennessee Smokies baseball game. Unfortunately, Donna (my step mom) had to sit this one out due to a knee injury. 

This is the only picture we have at the game and it was taken on Justin's phone.

Sunday, Day 17:

Sunday was full of new activities on and around the lake.  There was rides on the 4-wheeler with Grandpa, tubing behind the boat, fishing, and a huge firework show put on by the Marina.  

  McKayla riding with grandpa.

 Seth waiting for a ride.

 Seth riding with grandpa.

 Daddy was giving rides too!

I think she's having a good time :-)

Getting ready to go tubing for the first time.

Holding on tight!

 Loving it!!!

EWWWWW!!!

We never caught anything but we had fun trying.

Monday, Day 18: Happy 4th of July!!!

Monday was especially exciting because it was the fourth of July and we got to pick up my brother and his family from the airport.  Once all the kids were together they had a great time on the slip 'n' slide, putting on "shows" for us, doing our own fireworks, and letting off lanterns (like in the movie Tangled).

McKayla, Gracelyn, and Seth

Griffin getting some help from his daddy.

McKayla is having fun!

Even grandpa joined in on the fun.

The following three AWESOME pictures were taken by my sister-in-law, Christa. 

Our very patriotic dog, Fenway!

Tuesday, Day19:

On our 4th day in Tennessee we spent lots of time on the lake swimming, tubing, wakeboarding, taking boat rides, and daddy and uncle Ryan even rented wave runners. 

Rides with daddy! 

Family fun!

I got to wakeboard for my first time ever!!!

Ryan and Gracelyn.

Baby Jack just hung out and enjoyed the view :-)

Wednesday, Day 20:

My dad and step-mom were kind enough to treat us all to Dollywood's Splash Country water park.  We all rode lots of waterslides, spent time in the wave pool, and had a blast.  Unfortunately, because of all the water we didn't take any pictures.

Thursday, Day 21:

This was our last full day in Tennessee.  We spent it tie dying shirts, taking boat rides, tubing, wakeboarding, and swimming. 

A beautiful picture of McKayla courtesy of Aunt Christa.

This was something the kids loved to do and it saved them from those long walks up the hill.

Friday, Day 22:

On friday we had to drop Ryan and his family off at the airport and head back to Tallahassee.  It was a long trip back but well worth the drive.  While we were in Tennessee we got to spend time with my dad, my step-mom, my grandparents, my aunt and uncle, my cousin Matt, my brother and his family (Christa, Gracelyn, Griffin, and Jack).  It was a great family trip and we look forward to doing it again next summer!