Gatlinburg

Steve had another opportunity to attend a medical conference. It was in Gatlinburg, TN. This time Holly, Rick, and their kids came and we stayed with them and some friends in a big cabin.

Beautiful view from the balcony

 Our room.

 Each room had it's own bathroom. I was pretty happy that we all didn't have to share one!

 The beautiful deck.

 The day after we got there, I went shopping with Holly. We went to lunch after shopping and then went back to the cabin and just chilled for the rest of the night.

The next day I needed to devote to homework. Holly was nice enough to help me with my math. We ended up sitting on the porch and doing math for over 7 hours!! Not my ideal way to spend a vacation, but I was extremely grateful for Holly's help and I got a B on my final!

On Saturday we checked out of the cabin. Rick and Holly had some friends in town so we decided to tag along with them. I am so glad we did! We had so much fun with everyone! Their friend's were so welcoming and their kids were so cute. We had a really good time.

We decided to go walk around the Smokey Mountains.

Steve teasing Katie

 Brady sure loves Uncle Steve!

 So beautiful

 Katie in a tree!

 Cool butterfly

 Some random chimney in the middle of the forest.

 While we were standing on the bridge, I took my camera out and put my case on the bridge. When we were getting ready to leave, I accidently knocked it into the river. Without me even asking, Steve ran down and jumped in the river! He saved my case! Such a good husband.

 My hero!

 We walked over to a small water fall. Steve climbed to the top with all the kids.

After the Smokey Mountains we went out to dinner. Holly's friend's were nice enough to invite us to stay the night at their condo. We went back to the condo after dinner and went swimming. Then we went back to the condo and the guys watched a basketball game and the girls sat and talked.

The next day we went to Cracker Barrel and had breakfast. Then we headed home.

It was a fun week and a nice little getaway!

Steve's birthday!

Steve turned twenty- five on April 17th. Dana was here for the celebration!

Steve's parents had us over for a birthday dinner the night before his birthday. Steve was lucky enough to cook his own dinner. Notice Dana, avoiding the wok.

 We decided to get Dana involved! She did great!

 Happy birthday!

 Cindy made Steve a pie! A real birthday treat!!

 On Steve's actual birthday, I made him pancakes for breakfast! Homemade buttermilk pancakes and homemade buttermilk syrup. Yummy!

 Steve's birthday was pretty boring. He had a test to study for, so he locked himself in his study and studied all day. Not a very fun birthday! He did have a soccer game, but they lost. Again, not the most exciting birthday!

For dinner I made homemade rolls and Champagne Pork. We watched some TV and then he went back to studying.

 I sure love Steve! He is the best husband. I am so glad he was born!

Dana's visit

After we got back from Georgia, Dana was ready to explore the exciting town of Harrogate!

We went up to the Pinnacle. A whopping elevation of 2440 ft! Dana is from Cedar City, Ut which is 5850 ft.

Two states at once!

Up at the Pinnacle

Overview of Harrogate

Dana and I wanted to get pedicures. There are only two places in Middlesboro that I knew did pedicures. We went to the first place and the guy said he was too busy and to come back tomorrow.... um...no. So we tried the other place. We waited there for an hour! Once they called a girl back who had only been there fifteen minutes, we were done. We got up and left and decided to go to Sally's and buy stuff to do our own pedicures!

 

The next day we went hiking to the Tri State

Signing the book!

Three states at once!

Dana loves Tennessee!

That night Steve had a soccer game. We decided to go walk around campus.

Dana assures me she had a good time here. I really hope she did! It was so fun having a visitor! I sure love my little sister and I am so glad she was able to come visit!!

Georgia with my two D sisters

My sister, Dana, flew into Knoxville the same day I did. It was so fun coming home to more family!! The first day she was there we slept in way late and sat around the rest of the day. She didn't seem to mind and I really needed the day to recharge. 

The next day we went to Georgia to meet up with Dianna! Dana and Dianna hadn't seen each other since Dianna left for African last May. We had a fun little weekend getaway! 

Dianna and Dana in Olympic Park

We found Steve's name! It had the wrong middle initial so Dianna covered it. Haha.

That night we went out to dinner and then went to the hotel and watched HGTV. It was a great night!

The next day we went to the Atlanta Aquarium! 

  

Creepy!

Dana loves penguins! She was in heaven!

We crawled through a tunnel and the penguins swam around us. It was pretty cool.

 

Jelly fish. Super cool

Tropical fish.

Touching Sting rays

 

Pirana!

Dolphins!

After the aquarium, we went and laid by the pool.

View from the pool. It was so fun staying downtown!

The lobby of our hotel.

At Flip Burger. Yummy shakes!

After dinner we went to a shopping plaza to see a movie.

On Sunday we went to breakfast and then headed home. We were trying to hurry to get home for a birthday dinner for Steve. About an hour into the drive we got caught in a huge traffic jam. Dead stop. About an hour later we finally saw the cause of an accident. There was a big semi off the side of the freeway and it was on fire! Crazy! It set us back enough that we knew we wouldn't make it home in time for dinner. We decided to stop in Chattanooga so get dinner and stretch our legs.

Sushi worth breaking things for :)

I wanted Dana to see the Walnut Street Bridge. We had lots of fun.

We had such a fun sisters weekend!! Thanks again, Di Di, for meeting up with us!