THE CIRCUS...

...three months later.

We brought the kids to the Charleston Civic Center for their first circus experience. It was a rousing success. They loved it all...the lights, the sounds, the animals, the crazy jumping guys...all of it. Cate's favorite was the pony dance (unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures of that). Jonah was awe-struck by the Motorcycles in the Sphere if Death. Eve just liked being able to sit with Mommy and Daddy without much interruption for three hours.

Without further ado...

The "side show" tattoos

In circus gear (Jonah appears to be praying for a dad who would NOT take a picture of his own son in a pink and purple circus outfit)

The painting elephant

Glowing Necklaces? Check!

Sphere of Death? Awesome!

Line of Elephants? Sweet!

This is only about half of the tigers in the show

Some mid-air flippery

Trampoline Dancer Guys

The big finale

The Ring Master's exit

Mommy with three tired, over-stimulated children

Oh...one more thing from Dollywood

We saw this wagon and thought it must be the original minivan concept.

In a pinch, it'd get the job done.

Pigeon Forge Vacation - Everywhere Else

Between our two days at Dollywood, we headed to Ripley's Aquarium where we encountered to standard aquarium fare. It was a lot of fun...especially the penguin tubes and the interactive fish tanks.

The kids admiring one of the many "Walls o' Fish"

"Inside" a fish tank

Deep Seas with Eve

I'm not sure what she was looking at or what she was thinking about, but this is a classic cute Cate pose

When you stand (or lay down) on this trout it shakes so, Jonah had to try it out

More interested in their reflections than in the penguins

In the Penguin Tube

The family at the falls

A little Smokies adventure

Eve's theory of perpetual motion

Serenity

A little more serenity

And some more

It was a wonderful vacation

Pigeon Forge Vacation - Dollywood

Over Spring Break, we went on an actual family vacation. Normally, when we vacate, we head to familiar locations, visit familiar people, and do familiar things. Not so this time around.

We headed to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and took in Dollywood, Ripley's Aquarium, some sights in the Smokies, and a little around town in Pigeon Forge.

We had a blast.

The kids' most favorite part about the whole adventure was...the hotel. They are still asking us if we can go back to the hotel. A close second was the Carousel at Dollywood. So, that is where we begin.

Cate loved the horses

Eve couldn't stop smiling...

...same for Jonah

"Cinderella" the Steam Engine

Back to the Carousel - Mommy and Daughters

Daddy and Son

Cate behind the wheel

Eve is The Distracted Driver

Trying out the drums

They were amazing on these "low ropes" obstacles

Eve

Cate

Jonah

Luckily, the kids are still too young to be embarrassed by their parents

GO VOLS? Ummm...no!

Let the duckies roll

And we're done...

...that is, we're done after one more Carousel ride

Yep...Cate's tall enough

So's Eve

Jonah too

Out at Camp

This was the weekend of the Appalachian Association Youth Retreat. It was held out at Camp Joy this year, and we brought the kids for their first over-night Camp Joy experience. It went really well. The kids had a blast running around and getting dirty. They ate well, played hard, and slept intermittently. All in all, not a bad two days.

the kids plus mommy on the least safe bridge for foot traffic

(notice the lack of railings)

Cate drawing her version of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

Eve figuring out a new toy

Jonah trying to find a place to play where he won't be bothered

the kids in the Berea Church building

the kids plus mommy examining the local livestock