Summer Chain of Events, Week 5: Week in Tennessee

For our fifth week of summer with the kids, we had only one chain and it read, "Going to Tennessee!". That's just what we did.

On Monday, July 30th, we packed up the truck with clothes, a pack 'n' play, a dog crate, a stroller, movies, snacks, and a few other essentials.  Then the six of us (including Fenway) loaded up at 5:00 a.m. and started the eight hour drive to Dandridge, Tennessee where my Dad and Step-Mom live.  Everyone traveled great and we only had to stop three times.  When we got there we were rewarded with this view from the house of Lake Douglas...

The week was jam packed full of fun.  There was water skiing, tubing, knee-boarding, swimming, jet ski's, a trip to the forbidden caverns, a trip to Wonderworks, and about a million or so games of Yahtzee (Seth's new favorite). 

I'll let the pictures tell the details...

Huck and Uncle Ryan :)

Ryan on the tractor

Dad thinks he's a farmer now because he has a tractor :)

Dad and his kids! 

Love my brother!!!

They love their uncle Ryan and owe him BIG TIME

for all the trips on the boat and being pulled by the boat. 

Huck the astronaut!

Pitching Practice

Throwing as fast as he can!

Rock wall climbing. 

Justin and dad pedaling to get upside down.  They did it!

Working on his skateboarding skills. 

The kids with Grandma Donna :)

Our house on Google Maps. 

Harder than it looks!

Huck and his Grandpa

Uncle Ryan takes the kids tubing, again!

Hanging out in the shade. 

That's McKayla knee-boarding. She can be a bit of a dare devil. 

Wave Runner Rides

Grandpa was the only one to get up on the skis. 

About to head into the caverns. 

Deep in the caverns. It's a bit cold down there!

Stopped for breakfast on our way home. 

We had another great week in Tennessee.  We're already looking forward to next year's trip.  Hopefully my SIL and the kids will make it next time.  We really missed having them there.  

Summer Chain of Events, Week 4

As you already know, the "Summer Chain of Events" got put on hold for most of the week.  We got back from Destin on Saturday so Sunday was the only day with a link on the chain.  Just to keep with my previous format...

Monday, July 16th: Destin Beach!!!

Tuesday, July 17th: Destin Beach!!!

Wednesday, July 18th: Destin Beach!!!

Thursday, July 19th: Destin Beach!!!

Friday, July 20th: Destin Beach!!!

Saturday, July 21st: Headed home :(

Sunday, July 22nd: On Sunday we took some shells we got at Stuart Beach back in March, some sand from Destin Beach, twigs from our yard, plaster of paris, and water to make sand-casted starfish.  This is my favorite crafty activity we've ever done with the kids.  It was pretty simple but did take two hours to be completed and dry.  Here are the directions we used.

They turned out great!

McKayla's before pouring in the plaster.

Seth's before the plaster. 

Getting ready to pour the plaster in.

McKayla's

Seth's

I really love the way these came out and that they're made from two of my favorite beaches.  Once we figure out how to get wires on the back of each one we'll hang them up.  If anyone has any good ideas on how to do that, I'd love the help. 

Only two more weeks of our "Summer Chain of Events"!

If you really wanna know, where you can find me...

I'll be unwinding, down in the islands down in the islands...

That is my new favorite song by Zac Brown Band.  It's called "Island Song".  It came out a couple weeks ago, just in time for us to take our week long vacation to Destin Beach. 

Since we went on vacation, our "Summer Chain of Events" was put on pause for a few days.  Going to Destin each summer has become a tradition I look forward to all year.  We usually make it there at least three or four times a year for a night or two but during the summer we try to spend a week there.  Fortunately, I have some friends I make a trade with and they let us use their condo at the Luau in the Sandestin Beach Resort.  I must say, it's really nice to have a nice and familiar place to stay at when we go. 

We left town on Monday and we had a surprise for the kids.  They knew we were going to Destin, but what they didn't know was that Justin and I had purchased season passes to the water park there, Big Kahuna's.  When we passed the condo they started to get impatient.  We told them we had to go buy groceries and such for the condo and they were really bummed.  They were both dying to get there and jump in the pool.  As we pulled into Big Kahuna's they both got really excited and decided that this detour was worth waiting on the pool.  I didn't take the camera in and since Justin and I had to trade off watching Huck, we only got a few pictures. 

On our way to Destin, Seth lost his second tooth for

the summer bringing his total up to four.

Sleeping while the big kids play.

She absolutely adores her baby brother!!!

Happy to be at the park!

After the water park we really did head to get groceries and get settled into the condo.  We also made sure to make it to the condos pool that night.  The kids have both had goggles for awhile but they each had a new snorkel and mask to try out.  I don't think they've gotten a hang of the snorkel yet but I think they'll love it once they do.

Tuesday morning Justin and the kids got up early and headed to the beach to do some fishing. They hooked two fish but lost both of them.  After breakfast we all headed to the beach.  Seth and McKayla have recently gotten into boogie boarding so they were excited to show us their moves. We were only there a couple hours before the weather got pretty bad so we headed back to the condo, ate lunch, and we all took naps before heading to Baytowne for dinner. 

Early morning fishing with dad.

 Short beach nap.

Getting a boogie boarding lesson.

Working up the nerve to give it a try.

Roberto's Pizzeria in Baytowne.



Our third day in Destin was a relaxing pool day followed by some shopping at the outlet malls and Destin Commons.  It was a pretty calm and easy day.    

Ready for the pool. 

Pool time.

Loving their new masks.

Being silly at the condo.

Three of my four kids :)

On Thursday Justin and I decided to give Huck a break from being outside so much so we switched off on taking Seth and McKayla to the pool. That night we headed back to Baytowne for dinner.

We found this when we got back from the pool. 

Eating dinner at the Village Door. 

This is one of our favorite Destin restaurants. 

Relaxing and watching a movie. 

Friday was a pretty rainy and nasty day.  We went back to the water park again but it was pretty cloudy and chilly this time.  After a few hours we headed back to the condo for a late lunch.  Late that afternoon we went to the pool for awhile but it was pretty cold and wet out still so we didn't last long.  Since it was our last day in Destin, we decided to take a long walk on the beach that night.

McKayla body boarding at the water park.

Make sure to watch both videos, they're pretty funny.



Headed down to the beach.

Looking for shells.

Walking with Mommy.  

Walking back to the condo.

Happy baby boy!

Saturday was the sad end to our beach vacation.  We all had a blast and I'm already looking forward to going back again next summer.  Justin and I get to go back to Destin again in August (for his work) and September (with friends).  Now we just have to figure out how to get our own beach house/condo there.