Ready to go

I had been saving up for a bike trailer the last few weeks with my etsy money. I found a really nice one with great reviews and pretty good price--$120. The cheapest I could find was at Wal-mart for $79 but I decided I wanted one a little nicer. So I was set to order it.

Then one day we saw this trailer in Target for $24!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously!!!! I figured saving $100 sounded better than a really nice trailer... so I got a really nice bike instead:) I got the $200 bike instead of the $100 bike (Mother's day and Easter present)

Gracin did not like his helmet that first time(see picture.) But as soon as I started pulling them, he was content. Even this morning, he was happy to put his helmet on because he knew a fun bike ride was involved.

My legs are sore from my short ride yesterday! This could work. I think pulling 70 lbs behind me is going to do some major good to my saddle bags, or at least that is the plan. We are waking up eating breakfast and then rolling out before it gets hot. The kids even get to wear their pj's! I am so excited, I think this is something that will make us all happy.

One problem, I live on a hill. I never really noticed it until I had to peddle home after an exhausting ride yesterday... so much for a cool down. I have to peddle back up the hill every day when I am done!!!

Smoky Mountain Hike--Gatlinburg TN

We wanted to go on an easy hike and see a waterfall...Cataract Falls was perfect for us.

Pics from our little hike. SO BEAUTIFUL AND GREEN!!! Man I miss the mountains, itmade me smile just to see mountains out my window again.

WE MADE IT!!!

Petting Zoo--Gatlinburg TN

We found a really cool petting zoo. We got to see goats, kangaroo, zebra, elk, deer, donkeys, horse, camel, pig, ostrich, peacock, mini horses, ground hog, zonkey, European cow. The kids were in heaven... most of the time. Gracin could have spent all day inside the deer pen chasing them around but that isn't allowed:)






Yeah this was terrifying, his beard was so spiky and it sent shivers up my spine!






We all loved the zebra.



Rhylan got to go on a pony ride. This is one her favorite things in the world. I got to lead the pony around the loop and it kept stepping on my shoe!! Oh and Rhylan slid off on our last lap. The saddle wasn't tight enough and the saddle and Rhylan just slid off! She didn't get hurt and she got right back on.

Gracin squatted in front of every goat.--He was cracking me up!




Always on the move... He was running from pen to pen.


Gracin was getting trampled, I think he even got head butted!
Rhylan loved feeding the little goats... well she loved feeding the GIRL goats. She only wanted to feed goats that looked like girls:)

Cinco de Mayo

Over the break we had a party for Cinco de Mayo. We did one of my family traditions, Heartburn Hascienda!!


What's that? Well I'll tell ya. First you plan a fun Mexican dinner, then you make code names for everything... even your napkin and silverware (see last picture for our menu).

Then each person picks three things off the secret menu for their appetizer, three things for your main course and three things for you dessert and you write it down on your card. So eventually everybody will get everything but you may not get it when you want it!! For example, you may get some rice but no fork to eat it with right away. I got ice cream a napkin and salsa... for my appetizer!! Riley got chips, a drink, and salsa!! --Lucky guesses:)

Anyways we had a lot of fun, and some delicious food... green chili pork chimichangas, homemade salsa, Spanish rice, black beans, and homemade ice cream--made by Brittany and Darren.

Ripley's Aquarium -Gatlinburg Tennessee

While in Gatlinburg, we went to the Ripley's Aquarium. There was so much fun stuff to do while in Gatlinburg. Of course most of our activities involved animals. We all want to be happy, so we do things that would be fun for the kids. But honestly we all LOVE aquariums. Here are some fun pics from our day.

Here are Riley's favorite frogs..

We spent some time at the ray petting area, I even touched a shark!!!! Yeah Riley and I both did.

The Penguin area was really awesome. You could walk under the tank...
...inside the tank...And on top of the tank... (see the little penguin swimming right under Gracin.) At first Gracin was afraid to step on that, he was sure he would fall in the water.

Riley had to get Gracin right up to the glass sometimes to see. Then Gracin would punch the fish:)
Jelly fish are fun to take pictures of:)

Rhylan really liked to pet the horse shoe crabs. Just like "Little Critter."
Gracin eventually had to be in the stroller to be happy. Really he was running around too much so I had to go get the stroller. He was kicking and CRYING until he was in the stroller then he was happy again.
We loved this tank. It was so pretty and bright. Also you could get inside the tank and view it from the tube in the middle.
Rhylan and I inside.
Rhylan loved it in there.