More Vineyard Time

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Happy we are having a good time working in the vineyard.

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He has been a huge contributing factor in our work this season!

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“I want to fly like an eagle”

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“Ratoon” and Isabela are showing off some of the completed rows.

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“Puppy” on top of a completed vine.

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Smiley Sisters

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The fields are usually littered with our toys.

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Digging in the dirt is much more fun than actually working…

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Worms, nature’s plows

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My crown wearing princess loves finding the worms beneath the earth.

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Jackson carrying out a load of cuttings alongside his sisters tagging along. Not a great photo but the memory of knowing they all seem to end up in the same row is super sweet.

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The sunny days have been so fun to work under.

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We have drug these three along the entire season of pruning. They have gladly joined us without any complaining.

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We have to take breaks for napping in the back of the vehicle or resting on the grass.

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I watched these two pretending and talking for a long time. Their conversation was sweet and their play was so innocent.
Freeze these memories!

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She pesters her brother regularly! He is usually a good sport.

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Photo by Jackson

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The blooming tree in the background gives us joy in the early spring.

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Later in the pruning process, as the vines are cut, the canes produce droplets of water at the ends. This is referred to as bleeding.

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The energy of the plant taking in the new moisture and transporting it throughout the vines cause the plant to “bleed” the water. We know at this point the buds will soon follow this stage.

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A few weeks later…the buds are growing…and the grass too!

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A little more waiting, resting, and relaxing…

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Looking for signs of love, another treasure found in the vines, a heart in the bottom of an abandoned bird nest in the vineyard.

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Removing the cuttings from the field

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Smiling and sweet

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My playful hardworking girls

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More vineyard time, more family memories!

“March Madness”

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We took a break one afternoon from our pruning to explore a new playground.

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The sky was amazing for us on this day.

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Puppy came along to find her shadow as we played.

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These two are such sweet friends.

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Really lucky to share

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Several days later we met two of our favorite people for lunch.

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Amy and Stephanie invited us all to eat and play in Pigeon Forge.

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Nana and Aunt Fran joined us.

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Happy it was a weekend day so daddy was able to be with us.

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We had a special afternoon with some very special people.

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We joined our homeschool group at the unique and amazing Sevierville Library. We took a tour, had storytime, and made a paper butterfly craft.

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This plaque used to have an exciting meaning when I was a public classroom teacher. Now, we still love to see the snowflakes fall, but we can be selective on claiming an official “snow day” or just as good, a shortened work day in honor of the fluffy white stuff!.

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St. Patrick’s Day…Green Clovers without Pinching Day

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Another pretty afternoon for playing in a park.

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They wonder why Papaw doesn’t have one of these on his playground.

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These two loved running on the basketball court as Jackson played ball.

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We traded our vineyard hands for garden planting hands.

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Happily we helped Papaw and Nana plant onions, lettuces, and radishes in one of our early gardens.

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In celebration of spring and one of the Vols early games, we hit the swings!

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Papaw and Nana treated the family to Chucky’s for pizza and tokens!

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Jayden led the play to a jumping dance game that was a hoot to watch!

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Jack the Builder

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The horse race is a highlight for Abigail and Isabela.

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Most all of this boys tokens went to shooting
basketball and passing football.

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The big truck had to be daddy’s favorite…..

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Having the ability to spend a Sunday morning with his three birds is his real favorite!

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A dark photo I know. However, he made it to the top and even climbed over the wall!

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A tire swing…we’ll take one of these Papaw!

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Go Tennessee Vols! We have enjoyed displaying our spirit and following your games during March Madness!

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Happy Spring Everyone!

Official Start of Pruning 2014

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We have flew the coop of winter’s cabin fever and are finally in the field enjoying the warmer days.

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Jackson was given his first pair of pruners. After a “safety lesson” and demonstration, he is officially a pruner…helping remove the old portion from the vines.

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Happy to be in the field with her kitty house

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A beautiful day for enjoying the view while working.

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Building their nest for napping.

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Two completed rows…

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We were lucky to have Nana join us

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We always appreciate the sharing of her time.

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The next day we were back out to enjoy the fresh air.

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During the summer we don’t particularly like for the birds to nest in the vines hanging full of ripened fruit. However, in the winter we feel we have a treasure when we find their abandoned nest.

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Chasing our shadows…

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By Abigail…and mommy

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There’s my smile!

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They are up from napping and ready for some more work.

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Not really sure why we have this look…hope it doesn’t mean she’s over the work in the vines. We have many weeks to go dear love!

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The joy of sleeping while others are working!

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The pride of the pile behind him. So many cuttings mean cleaned completed vines.

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Doing great little ones!

February Fun

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The groundhog saw his shadow! We couldn’t be happier because we are loving the feel of winter.

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Our favorite things to wear…anything Broncos and Manning!

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We have faithfully cheered them on even though Jackson likes all of the quarterbacks on every team.

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Sweetie sweet “Isabird”

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A little attention for the month of love

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Nana joined us for a pre-Valentine adventure.

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Everyone wants to have their hands on the rolling pin!

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We like cupcakes but we enjoy the mess making even more.

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Our most favorite person…

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“Play with me mommy!”

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An English assignment. He was a little teary eyed when he read his Daddy’s reply.

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Enjoying our first candy hearts necklace from Aunt Amy and Stephanie.

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One special tulip for each of my special three

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After being placed in the warm sunlight, the flowers opened up beautifully!

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Happy girls

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Add a happy boy

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And another happy boy…a fun time by all!

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We joined our homeschool group for a visit to the Sevierville Police Department.

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We toured the station with the other families. The highlight of the trip was meeting and petting Pasco the K-9 “cop”. We were able to watch the dog sniff out “bad things” from a vehicle, follow hand signals, and protect his partner if threatened. The children were treated with suckers and police badges!

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We have enjoyed our discussions of a few Presidents in honor of President’s Day. Jackson mailed this activity to his great buddy Ras. Jackson’s cool trivia fact is that Ras shares a birthday with the famous First President George Washington.

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Celebrating his 78th Birthday, Ras walked over to visit us in the vines. He gave Jackson the UT hat he is wearing to go along with the collector UT football magazines he gave him earlier in the week. He also of course came with suckers for everyone!

Snow Day Number 3, February 12th and 13th

20140223-091352.jpgJackson Sawyer Hall, February 2014

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Once again we are able to enjoy a freshly fallen snow

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Although a snow that made everything feel wet, it packed well for snowballs.

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A not so happy face after taking a face plant in the side of a hill.

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My little man and I attempted sculpting a snow fort wall, he even let me wear his new hat honoring the Olympics.

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I should have had the camera in video mode…that snowball in his hand slammed my face! I didn’t see it coming!

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We saw Jaydie and Elijah at the playground.

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They joined us for some snow fun.

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Always enjoy playing with these two.

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She enjoyed that the snow piled up in front of her sled as she moved down the hill. She had to put little effort into making snowballs.

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Isabela loves her daddy and loves being pulled on the sled.

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We are really enjoying the day.

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Up early from his nap and the girls still sleeping, Jackson and I went out on the porch to sculpt three snow creatures.

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A snowman for Jackson, a snow baby for Isabela, and a snow puppy for Abigail.

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Up from her nap and sitting on the other side of the door watching us.

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She loved what we were making.

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This is a shot of her from the inside watching us.

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Pampas grass is just as wonderful in the winter.

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Enthusiasm for life, I love when it shows in her smile.

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Winter offers us a great opportunity for creating special memories!

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We are patiently waiting for the fourth big snow………..

“Brave”

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We all have such high hopes for the little people in our lives!

Brave” by Sara Bareilles…
You can be amazing
You can turn a phrase into a weapon or a drug
You can be the outcast
Or be the backlash of somebody’s lack of love
Or you can start speaking up

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Nothing’s gonna hurt you the way that words do
When they settle ‘neath your skin
Kept on the inside and no sunlight
Sometimes a shadow wins
But I wonder what would happen if you

Say what you wanna say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave
With what you want to say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave

I just want to see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I wanna see you be brave

Everybody’s been there,
Everybody’s been stared down by the enemy
Fallen for the fear
And done some disappearing,
Bow down to the mighty
Don’t run, just stop holding your tongue

Maybe there’s a way out of the cage where you live
Maybe one of these days you can let the light in
Show me how big your brave is

Say what you wanna say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave
With what you want to say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave

And since your history of silence
Won’t do you any good,
Did you think it would?
Let your words be anything but empty
Why don’t you tell them the truth?

Say what you wanna say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave
With what you want to say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
See you be brave

I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you

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“Show me how big your brave is”

In Between Snows

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“My tooth got loose in my nap!”
Abigail told me this and I almost didn’t believe it. I told her to leave it alone, it would be a while before it was ready. Mommy was wrong! She has her tooth cupped in her hand.

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There is her happy smile missing her first baby tooth.
That night as she was eating her salad, it fell out. Without any big commotion she laid it on the table saying, “Here Mommy, my tooth just came out!”

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Isabela wonders when her tooth will fall out!

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She re-told me what happened and I wrote it down. She copied my sentences in writing time.

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Her excitement was sweet. She was happy the fairy thought she had a healthy tooth from eating her crunchy fruits and veggies.

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We are proud of her patience waiting on her first tooth, her bravery to let the tooth fairy come in the night, and mostly just her excitement at recognizing a milestone in her life.

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Craft time, decorating snowflakes for the possibility of an upcoming snow.

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He’s ran all over the house this month yelling plays and throwing passes. A great smile in his favorite jersey.

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Teamwork swinging the little bunny

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Knight in training

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Love this sweet moment. She is holding her favorite possession, Puppy, and they have matching pajamas.

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Warm tea party time

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She says she is “doing schoolwork”. This is Abigail’s practice booklet.

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Of course it was covered with scribbles but also she had made circles, nice circles, around the numbers. She sat for minutes finishing it.

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I’m really proud of Miss Abigail. Finally we are not only recognizing some words, she has completed four stories in the Level 1 Reader. Hoping now to see her confidence bloom!

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Our favorite story subject at the moment is anything Biscuit!
The not so good thing here that I won’t show in a photo, Isabela decided those famous circles she loves making would look great around the letters inside this book! I think I’m right in saying, she is the first of the three to scribble inside the pages of a book!

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Bubbles, bubbles, and more bubbles for mush beards.

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I’m happy with his complete thoughts and structure of his paragraph. The negative…we need to work on our handwriting. Pushing him to slow down and hang on to the handwriting I’ve always liked seeing from him.

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We have a new hobby…coin collecting.
Ever since I was a little girl I have watched Papaw shine, sort, and add coins to the booklets. Now Jayden and Jackson are beginning their coin collections. Here Jackson is showing his almost completed state quarters. We have slowly started the National Parks and Buffalo Nickels. I must say, Papaw is thrilled they are showing an interest!

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Finally, we are in a new reader, beginning our study of the human body, and starting a new Magic Tree House story “Hour of the Olympics” in honor of the winter games.

Snow Day Number 2, January 28th and 29th

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Snow days are so fun!

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Baby Sissy is ready to ride down the hill

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The video of this is funny. She was really just scooting, almost walking her feet along trying to make her sled go.

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We were excited to have Nana join us!

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Hitching a ride with mommy.

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We made the pass so many times we began to erode away our track.

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She had more fun each time she went down the hill. She would jump up saying “let’s do that again!”

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I had her wrapped so warmly she could barely move!

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His expression says it all.
Great excitement for being able to celebrate winter!

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…I need to add some videos here of our fun action caught on tape.

Happy Birthday Love!

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My two wild ones were happy for a Saturday adventure

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The road to our favorite picnic spot was closed due to weather so completely unplanned…we ended up at Cades Cove for their first visit ever.

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We called this January day our pre-birthday celebration for the favorite man in our life!

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Despite the freezing temps, these two little birds were so happy to be out of the car.

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The slow pace of the very crowded 11 mile loop road made the roaming and exploring all that much better.

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We checked out the gift shop of course, the restrooms, the barns/sheds, and the grist mill. Jackson liked chasing the deer in the field!

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My “oh goody bags” cheese loving girl was glad to be in the back of the vehicle for birthday Krispy Cream doughnuts, cheeses, and nuts.

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Baby girl is happy to be out of the cold wind, filling her belly, and playing in the car with her favorite siblings!

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Spending the afternoon in the clean crisp air was just what we needed.

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Amazing view, especially because it includes my two favorite boys.

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What a day

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Thankful to spend the day with their birthday daddy!

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An adventure wouldn’t be complete without some literature on the subject and of course a quiz.

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We brought Papaw one of the Cades Cove Tour booklets to read and guess what…he made the quiz for Jackson.
I’m happy to accept help with this homeschooling ride we are attempting!

Happy New Year

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Promise for a new year, new goals, new memories waiting to be created!

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Sisters pledging to enjoy each other always!

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Always being there for one another!

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A brother that will hopefully always set a good example by leadership and nurturing!

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This will be the most worn shirt this year!

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“Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.” 2 Corinthians 13:11

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Recipe time

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A new skill, cracking eggs!

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A new day

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“Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.” Psalm 90:14

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