Keep on rollin'

So, what's been going on with you?

Let's see... we've gone on vacation, potty trained Emma and celebrated Father's Day. We have also wrapped up another season of soccer and baseball. We have started football workouts and basketball camps. I've lost my job so I am back to being a domestic goddess & taxi driver.

To begin - vacation was in Pigeon Forge / Gatlinburg this year. We stayed at the same condo that we have the last several years. This year our big event was going to Dollywood's Splash Country. We went after 3 p.m. on Thursday and got back in for free on Friday. We stayed until about 3 p.m. that day. It was alot of fun & all of the kids seemed to have a good time - even Emma. Saturday we went to Gatlinburg for our usual Hard Rock visit. We also stopped by the Guiness World Records Museum. From there we drove to the Great Smoky Mountains. We drove up to Clingman's Dome. Drove isn't really accurate. Clingman's Dome is the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains. You drive to a parking lot - then hike (and I do mean HIKE) 1/2 mile to the observation tower. We all made it to the top - even Emma - who walked almost the entire way up. Unfortunately, it was really overcast (we were in a cloud) so you couldn't see anything. Still - we did it! We also stopped at Newfound Gap on our way back down. We headed home the next day. It was a really nice vacation.

We've been working on potty training Emma for several months now & just were not getting anywhere. She would pee in the potty without too much fuss (except at home - but that is just Emma being difficult). We had decided to just let it go and make a real big effort over the summer. So - before going to Splash Country, Cris put Emma in a little swimmer (diaper/pullup used for swimming) and told her that she wouldn't be able to poop in it. What do you know - 10 minutes later she walks into the bathroom and says she needs to poop. She gets up on the potty, does her business, and acts like it was no big deal. WE are very excited. She now only wears a pullup at bedtime. A couple of accidents but we are more or less poty trained!!

Some of you know - some of you don't - but I was let go from my job at the end of May. It is really ok. The company I worked for was still relatively small and there just wasn't enough work for the full time & part time positions. Me being part time - they had to let me go. I am sad. I really enjoyed the work and being around adults again. But it is the way things go. If business picks back up, they will let me know. Otherwise, I am home with the kids this summer. It's been a blessing in several ways - mostly because of Tyler's crazy sports schedule.

Father's Day was this past Sunday. We didn't do anything really major this year. The kids got Cris a new coffee bean grinder (he's been grinding beans lately and using his old one). We went out for dinner Saturday night. That is really about it.

This is probably long enough for now. I will work to get our vacation pictures put up on Flickr so keep checking back.

Love to you all.