Gatlinburg

This past week we headed up to the Mountains for our yearly trip with Papa G and DeeDee. When we arrived it was very cold and sleeting! We met them at a little pub until time to check in to our condo. Grant was so ready to be out of the car, as we were too. He loved "playing" the video games and sitting in every chair he could find!

He was SO happy to see his DeeDee and Papa G, but he was stuck to DeeDee like glue the entire trip. He kept saying "DeeDee's Mountain home", "No, DeeDee do it", "My DeeDee".. Dad sd he was as sick of hearing "DeeDee" as he was of Rascal Flatts! Bahahahahah

He also enjoyed shooting some pool with Papa!

When we got to the condo Grant was so excited that our balcony overlooked the creek and the playground, in fact he was so excited that he ran smack dab in to the sliding door, um... TWICE! The first time just scared him and the second time he was embarrassed, and yes I died laughing both times (of course after checking to see if he was ok)!

He didnt sleep the entire trip up or any that afternoon. We went to eat at the Alamo (one of our faves) and he CRASHED on the ride home!

It took 3 of us to get him into his pjs, he was dead weight, he never moved!

These next few pictures are out of order, my apologies!

The next day we took our family pictures before Franklin had to head home. We drove up to Cades Cove and spent most of the morning and mid afternoon there!

Grant gave Papa a picture perfect shave! BRAVE MAN!

There is nothing like getting some cuddles from my sweet boy!

Grant - on the ride up to Cades Cove

When we got towards the end of the tour/drive there was a spot where they had horses and a plantation home, they were making fresh molasses!

On our way out, this dude stepped out right in front of the car! How beautiful!

The playground view at night from our Balcony!

Here is a picture of Grant checking to see if the sliding glass door is closed! Smart boy!

Before Daddy had to leave, we made one of two trips to the Apple Barn. Franklin loves their homemade peach icecream. Grant had his first taste of icecream here when we went two years ago!

He ate some of Daddy's icecream....

and most of DeeDee's!

We went back to the condo to let Grant "rest" before going to Dollywood, he begged his Papa to take him down to the creek. They threw rocks and leaves in and he loved it, but he couldnt understand why he couldnt get in!

To distract him from the creek, we headed for the playground, hoping that would make him tired!

DeeDee and I joined in on the playtime! Some things never change!

Grant and Papa playin' in the leaves.

Needless to say Grant never napped :( So we got ready and headed to Dollywood... which by the way was CLOSED. We had season passes and wouldn't you know that it was closed Mon, Tues, and Wed? The days we were there? So disappointing.

The next morning we got up and played around for a while and got up and got ready and decided to hit the streets of Gatlinburg and just walk around and drive through the mountains!

Grant trying to be patient..you can tell by the look on his face, patience wasnt in his vocabulary that day!

There is a store in Gatlinburg called "All Sauced Up" that is now carrying my Uncle Richard's BBQ Sauce, "Ole South BBQ" and it is DELICIOUS! I was proud and had to get my pic next to it in the store!

Next we hit the little villages where Grant had a blast!

He had to stop to make a call!

Here he is "riding the horse".. I think we could have a future bullrider!

After the villages we headed to find a place to eat and Grant spotted this candy store/arcade.. OH BOY.. thought we'd never get him out!

He talked about driving this car and train ALL DAY LONG!

While at the Villages I bought him this cute penguin hat! He wore it all day!

After driving through the mountains we found this place where this couple was playing acoustic music! It was so much fun, they had popcorn and rootbeer! Grant loved it!

He even got up on stage!

Of course after that we had to make a stop at the creek!

Wednesday, on our way out, we had to make another stop at the Apple Barn! I have been craving apples and the Pink Lady apples here are to die for!

We had a fantastic time and cant wait to go back next year, hopefully Dollywood will be open next year! Thank you to Papa and DeeDee for a great trip!

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween from "Bruce the Shark"!!!!! This year Grant was "Bruce" from the movie "Finding Nemo", he loved it! We started off Halloween by going to church and then aft lunch and a nap Buddy and Grandaddy came over and went back to church with us to attend Harvest Hoedown and man was it packed!
When we first walked in there were 3 police officers on horses and Grant LOVED them!

Then he found a sand/rice table that had "hidden treasures" in it, he finally stopped digging for the candy and just grabbed them with his hands!

This was a huge bubble that came around your body, all the other kids thought it was so cool! Grant, not so much, he was not a fan!

However, he did love the bubbles that he could do himself or with Daddy!

The Whale Toss was a hit as well!

And naturally he went crazy in the Bounce House! We spent probably 30 minutes in it!

The adults "needed" cotton candy and some popcorn so we headed to get that and Grant spotted the fire truck! He LOVED IT! But couldnt understand why they wouldnt let him drive it!

So he settled for a picture with a real fireman and Grandaddy! After being there in pure chaos for about an hour and a half we headed back to the car, where Grant got a special ride from Grandaddy!

After hoedown we changed clothes in the parking lot and headed over to see his buddy, Bates Brown, they were super excited to see each other! Mary Leigh, Bates' Mom, and I got so tickled at this picture because these boys are only 3 months difference in age. Yes, Grant has always been big and Bates was born early but still Grant looks like the Monster in the picture! hahah

Then it was off to see Nate! Grant loves his Nate and Abby! Wegot there and Nate aka: Woody was ready to take pics.. check out his stance! I LOVE IT!

This picture cracks me up, where did Nate's face go?

I love this picture because there is something funny about it to me and Em. Last year we took this same picture but she was preg with Abby and this year Im preg! Neat!

After the hoedown and visiting friends we were starved and so Daddy made us a big ol' pot of chili and we scarfed that down and then headed out trick or treating.

We had so much fun this year, I cant believe how much Grant enjoyed it! His bucket was so heavy that by the end of the night he was draggin it on the ground, he wouldnt let us carry it because he thought we were gonna eat his candy, and rightfully so! I admit, I was in the bucket! But I promised him I wouldnt eat any more! Hahahah!

I have to say though, my favorite part of the night was him walking up to each door and saying "Happy Halloween", it was so sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Harvest Party Gone Wrong

Thursday was Grant's Harvest/Halloween Party at school and he was so excited! This year he is "Bruce the Shark" from the movie "Finding Nemo". All he talked about that morning was trick or treating and wearing his costume to school. Franklin and I told him that we were coming to school to be a part of his party and he seemed excited at the time. I dropped him off and told him we'd be back!

We got there promptly at 9:30 and came in to see the above and below pictures! Happy as can be!

Then Grant saw us and he became ... well... hysterical? We have no idea why but he cried and cried and cried to the point that Franklin and I had to walk out of the classroom. Thanks to some cuddling from Miss Amber he calmed down. While we were in the hall his music and Bible teacher sd "Is that Grant crying? He NEVER cries".

We managed to sneak in some pictures from the hallway, he didnt leave Miss Amber's side.

If you click on the picture below, you can see how red his little eyes are and the huge tear rolling down his face :(

Finally it was time to go "Trick or Treating" from classroom to classroom and I got to go with him. Even though he was holdingon to me he was still whining in b/t stops.

Here are all the kids lined up! SO CUTE!

Grant... still crying!

A sad, but cute shark!

We still arent sure why he was so upset but after we left, I called the school to make sure he was ok. She told me he was enjoying his pizza party and he was fine. Oh well... after that we headed to the mall for a "costume playdate" with friends (more on that later) and he was fine. I'm starting to rethink attending his Christmas Party, I think we interrupted his day!