Fireflies 2.0

Last year Kevin and I took Katie and Brady to see the synchronized fireflies in Gatlinburg. It is a really cool event that only lasts a few weeks a year. It is really rare and is only reported to happen here in TN and some place in south east Asia.  The fireflies flash back and forth really fast and then the area goes dark for a few seconds and then all of the sudden they start flashing again. It is mother natures' version of an electrical light show.

This year I was determined to take my mom since she would be here during the 2 week time frame. Last year you just had to show up at the Visitor Center at the national park early enough to park and then Ride the trolley. This year they started a ticket program. If you did not have a ticket you could not ride the trolley or park your car. I got online to buy tickets only to find out they were sold out.  I was really worried until I found that 25 tickets would be released the morning before the event for those of us that didn't know about the tickets when they were originally released.

My mom and I were online the morning before the 1st right as they released the additional tickets and snagged just what we needed.

Grandpa Jones joined us once again but this year we added my mom, daddy, and Trevor to our group.

It was so much fun to spend the day shopping and enjoying the sunshine.

On our trolley ride we were able to see a black bear playing in the river. Well we all saw it except Katie. Poor thing said she would see the next one. I wish I could have just turned that Trolley around and taken her back to the river.

We explored the area around the camp ground and learned about one of TN's first resort communities and even came across a cemetery.

Brady was really into the fireflies and kept pointing them out to me. He didn't last though. He was asleep before we hit the trolley to go down the mountain.

It was really fun and worth the effort to get tickets. I would suggest the event to anyone. You can read more about the event here.

Catch up

Trying to catch up on 6 weeks of living this is a really long post.

Here is Trevor coming home from the hospital.

Katie picked out the outfit. I thought she did a really good job.

Brady is addicted to Trevor. He makes sure that he says hi to "baby" every morning. He'll push people off chairs to go take care of Trevor if he is crying. He loves to have Trevor hold his fingers. Brady also likes to hug and kiss Trevor every chance he gets.  I thought he might get jealous but it is the exact opposite. Brady lets me know if he thinks I'm not taking care of his brother. Brady has such a tender heart. It is so sweet to see his special bond he has with his brother.

 Trevor liked his first bath. Katie always asks if we can put him in the water with her.

Grandpa Jones bought us a wagon. The kids have had fun riding around on these warm summer days

We took Grandpa Jones, Grandma, Steve and Stephanie on Trevor's first walk/hike. 

It was a beautiful day but really hot.

  

Rick always love spending time with his kids.

We went to a car show one weekend with Grandpa and Uncle Steve

Our Cucumber plants are doing well.

My mom saved a turtle from being run over on a busy road.

We spent memorial day with Grandpa, Cindy, Steve, Steph, and Grandma.

Katie loves catching fireflies in the yard every night

The splash pad is where the kids like to go to cool off.

Katie let Brady borrow her rain coat one day to play in the rain while she used her umbrella. What a great sister to share.

 We have built a lot of towers

So far life since Trevor has been good!

We even spent Grandpa Jones' birthday having a BBQ complete with raccoon. 

Brady loved grandpa's cake.

Fun with Grandma

My mom is so amazing. She took 6 weeks off of work to come and help me transition to 3 children. She is an amazing mom of 3 so it is great to hear her advice and have her help. She has taken care of the kids while I nap, calm me down because I get grouchy when I'm exhausted, and has cooked and cleaned the entire time she has been here. I truly wish I lived closer to this amazing woman. I don't realize how much I miss her until she comes to visit. Luckily for me I don't have to say goodbye just yet. Rick is going to Oklahoma for 2 months. Rather than sit at home alone in TN I'm loading all three kiddies up and heading to Utah with my mommy. Yipee!

Anyway the Kids have had such a great time playing with my mom.

Katie's First Graduation

Katie finished her first year of preschool in May. I was released from the hospital in time to attend her graduation ceremony. Steve and Stephanie joined me to help with the Brady and show Katie just how much they love her.

Katie asks all the time when does she get to go back to school. I'm so glad that school has been such a good experience for her.

Oh I do have to say I am so proud of her for being able to dust herself off in an embarrassing situation. My sweet little girl trips on her way to the podium. The whole crowd cringes at it but all she needed was a little reassurance from mommy that it was ok and that she was fine.  She is one tough little girlie!

Trevor Logan Jones

Trevor Logan Jones
born Tuesday, May 8th 2012 @ 1:54pm
7lbs 6 oz 19.5 inches

My hospital experience was great. The nurses were fantastic.  Trevor is a great little eater. He is happy to scarf down a meal and then sleep peacefully afterwards. It was different having Rick be a medical student. Most of the nurses were nicer and the Doctors were much more laid back when they stopped in to check on us.

Trevor was visited in the hospital by Grandpa Jones, Cindy, Stephanie, Daddy, Katie, and Brady. Steve was the first to come visit him at home.

 This is a picture of all the wristbands I had on my right arm. 

I was very happy to get discharged and be able to finally cut them off.