Tennessee Camping Trip - Around Camp

In October, our family traveled to Tennessee on a two fold trip. One to spend time with Uncle Eric and his family and two to camp and hike in Smokey Moutain National Park! This post has several of our favorite photos from around the campsite.

Who knew a Cheerio's box could be such a good toy?? Our campsite was amazing. It was hard to find a campground that allowed both an RV and a tent in the same site. So we had to go off the beaten path to find one, but we hit paydirt! It was the prettiest camp in all of Eastern Tennessee! This creek was about ten feet behind our site. What a beautiful thing to look at when you wake up and crawl out of your tent! (too bad we could only enjoy it for half the week due to all the heavy rain)

Daphne really loved throwing rocks into the creek. And of course, what is camping without a camp fire and s'mores? In the picture below, you can see the little girl's reaction to s'mores fresh from the fire!

Is it time to go back?

Trick or Treat

October 31 can only mean one thing when you have kids - Trick or Treat time! Technically, Jude had gone out the year before, but he was only 3 months old. So this was really his first time to enjoy it. But since he's just started walking, we didn't think he could handle walking that far. So we piled the kids into the wagon and off we went down the street. Jude's first ever house was right next door! They were very excited for us to Trick or Treat at their house!

After the sun set, we went further into town and met up with a few friends. Here Daphne went up to a house with Spiderman (aka Elijah) and a Princess (Eden).

Since both kids had a slight cold, we didn't stay out too long. But we still enjoyed our Halloween!

Pumpkin Patch

A few miles down the road is an Apple Orchard/Pumpkin Patch. It's a small one, but the perfect place to avoid the crowds. Each fall, we've taken the kids over there to get a few photos. We took the kids in their Halloween costumes this year.

A Frankenstein monster and a Halloween Princess! Aren't they cute?

There was a cute wagon where we wanted to get a few photos, but Daphne wanted to move it first. She's a character!

We sat Jude up in the wagon and he tried to touch the scarecrow's nose. That's the first body part he's learning and therefore, likes to point at noses. (Even though in this photo, it looks like he's pointing at the eyebrow)

Grammy was trying to keep the kids' attention during some photos.

It ended up being a great day at the pumpkin patch!

Is Jude walking?

At the end of September, Jude finally showed some interest in walking. At 14 months it was about time. And it helped that Gramps would walk laps with Jude (the house makes a circle loop). This really help build Jude's confidence.

Family Time!

On September 19, our family welcomed a new baby!! Tatum Grace was born, and she is simply adorable!! Tatum is the daughter of Eric (Shelley's brother) and Courtney, and little sister to Drissy! Eric couldn't be more proud of his daughter!

And not long after Tatum was born, the new family had to move cross-country for Eric's new job. Luckly for us, our house was a perfect stopping point halfway. So we got to see them for a few days. And we got to celebrate Drissy's Birthday! She's into ribs right now, so Eric and Aunt Katee picked out Jack's Stack on the Plaza. Here's the new happy family!

Daphne and Jude were very excited to meet their new cousin! Too bad all their cousins live in different states.... And Daphne better pay attention to how she is holding Tatum!

When Daphne was a baby, one of our favorite photos is this one of her in Ian and Shelley's hands...

So Shelley tried to recreate it for Tatum with Eric and Courtney's hands. Daphne was about two months old in her photo, and Tatum is only two weeks old in hers. Oh, and she peed on Eric!!

Jude's First Haircut

Jude's hair had gotten rather long in the back and on top, but ironically the front was still very short. It had gotten long over his ears, so around 11 months old, Shelley trimmed that. But at 14 months old, it was time for the "Official First Haircut!" Even though his hair was long, it's curly and thin. So it probably could have held out, but the curls were getting matted (madded?) together and knotting. So it was time for a cut. Shelley and Ian did the haircut instead of taking to a barber... Here's the before shot. Shelley holding up the hair to make the first cut.... *don't close your eyes Shelley! don't cry Shelley*

And just like that, a almost two inch chunk of hair was cut off! Time to repeat all over his head.

Here's the finished product. Jude wasn't too fond of this process and was bawling by the end and not wanting to hold still. So the back might not have been too straight. Thank goodness for curls, huh? We discovered he has some unusual calicks (again with the spelling tonight, geez!) on the top of his head in the same places as Daphne's. So his next haircut might be at a Barber so Shelley can watch to see how they do it for later replication.

"I like to feed myself"

Jude may only be 14 months old (or he was when these photos were taken) but he's already getting his independent streak. No longer the days of clean feedings, nope. Jude has gotten to the stage where he wants to feed himself. And sometimes this works out for the better, because when Jude wants food - he wants it NOW.

And we get some cute faces out of him. Plus he has learned to say the word "Drink" instead of pointing at his cup. So mealtimes have gotten a little easier on Mom and Dad, but a little messier to clean up after.