Tennessee Vacation 2014

We had the honor of going on a Waibel family vacation this year to Tennessee.  Thanks to mom and dad for using points to their timeshare and getting this all together to make it happen.  Such a fun time and many memories made.

Busy watching a movie as we travel.

Morning breakfast.  We stayed with mom and dad in a three bedroom condo.  Kelli's and Aj's stayed together in a different three bedroom condo.

Time to hit the pools!!

Indoor Surfing!!  They loved it.

Our Condo faced this water park area.  We were on the ground floor so it made for easy access to this park.  What a plus!!!

Ellie didn't want much of anything to do with the water, UNTIL the very last day she decided getting wet wasn't so bad.  We even got her to go down a slide by herself (and she did it probably a couple dozen times).  She found grandma's goggles and wanted those on too.

This was the outdoor wave pool and lazy river.  Spent much time here.

One day Dad and Mom treated us all to Go Karts for the day.  We had a wristband so we could come and go as we pleased.  We were there for several hours(4 I think) as we all raced around tracks.  Ellie unfortunently couldn't ride a single ride(which I thought was silly since there were definitely kid friendly rides for her there).

Vrooooom!!!!

 There was one race track that was for little tikes like Liam and Austin.  They enjoyed getting to drive their own cars.

Ellie and mom just sitting around waiting for others to ride the rides.

Bumper Boats

Mom and Dad had went to the outlet mall for a few hours while the kids swam.  She came back with matching dresses for the girls.  To cute!!!

Vacation was a blast and everyone headed home, except last minute we decided we might as well extend our trip.  We had read in the newspaper that Nashville, TN was one of the top places for fireworks.  Well, since we were 3 hours from Nashville and it was only Friday why not extend our vacation??  So when everyone left on Friday morning at 10am we headed over to the outlet mall for several hours.  Then we drove to Knoxville to meet up with our "old" neighbors whom I miss dearly.  We met them at Brusters ice cream for an hour then drove on to Nashville. 

WOW.....so many people!!  We walked around wondering where on earth was a good place to watch fireworks?  We ended up finding this road and it seemed like it could possibly be a good place??  So we set up "camp" (two blankets from our car) and sat for over 3 hours waiting for the fireworks to begin.  Within those 3 hours hundreds of people started sitting around us and before long the street was unable to be passed thru.  FILLED with people!!!

We got some italian ice for the kids to help pass time.

 Ahhhhh....its finally getting dark!!!  We are very ready for the fireworks to begin at this point.

 And what a show it was.  Over 30,000 shells are released.  We were in PRIME spot where the fireworks went off directly across the river from us (where the stadium is).  The only negative thing about our location was that we could not hear the orchastra playing as it was synced with the fireworks.  Non the less it was the best fireworks we have ALL seen.

 Ellie stayed like this the entire time.  They were loud.  In fact, more than once both nick and I commented on how it was vibrating our own bodies from all the loud booms that went off.  I felt like a few of the fireworks were so close they could land on us.  A great show indeed!!!

It was a 30 minute firework show of NONSTOP fireworks.  It took us less than 30 minutes to get out of the mass of people and cars and back onto the interstate but within 5 minutes this is what Ellie looked like:).  She was exhausted!!  We drove for an hour(1 am) and then spent the night in Bowling Green, KY....then headed home on Saturday.  

   What a wonderful vacation!!  Looking forward to many more!!  Thanks again Dad and Mom.


 

Caden's Golden Birthday!!

Caden's birthday was June 9th.  He typically has a "friends" party, but this year my sister Tricia and her family just happen to be in town for the week on Caden's birthday.  So he asked if he could have his girl cousins over for his party.  So I decided to invite the entire Gutwein family to come have a day of fun in the sun and then eat dinner at our place and have a small party for Caden.  He chose the Despicable Me theme.

 Made up some napkins/silverware combo.  Then made a banner to hang up.

 Decorated the tables to be minions and made some little minion people to put onto the tables.

Saw this on pintrest and made little minion vases.  

Jerry and Jancie Gutwein's Grandkids!!

 Then I decided to asks my parents if they wanted to rent this slide for the family:).  Of course they were happy to and wow did we every have fun!!  The adults of course joined in the fun and we had obstacle course races, we had timed races and we had two people head on races.  Lots of tackling, fighting, and even a few injuries:(.  How are you feeling tricia???  Thanks to mom and dad for a fun fun time!!!  We all LOVED it.

 Then it was time to head in for dinner.  Loaded (anything and everything you can imagine) haystacks and fresh fruit.

 Kids tables filled with little kiddos and basement table had the older kiddos.

 Caden opening his cards.  He asked for money this year.  Had plans to purchase a new ipod touch, but then found out his brother wanted to sell his, so he bought Elijah's used Ipod touch.  Now he has money left over to spend elsewhere.

 I made a half sheet cake minion for him.  I think he was happy with the end results.

 Happy GOLDEN 9th birthday Caden!!!!  We love you so very much!!

Happy 12th Birthday!!

I realize this post is way over due!!  Elijah turned 12 on May 11th, but we did not have a party for him until May 31st.  He wanted to wait until school was out for the year.  He decided to have just a couple friends over and go bowling, then out for pizza and back to our house for a slumber party.  So he invited his cousin Avery and his really good friend Ethan.

All ready to bowl!!  Played two games.  Avery won the first game and Elijah the second game.

After a few pointers from Nick, Avery was ready to bowl.  He hadn't bowled since he was 5 yrs old I think.

 No pictures at pizza hut, but then we came home.  Elijah opening his gifts.  He got a water gun from Ethan and candy/gift card to Barnes and Noble from Avery.

 Cake Time!!  I gave Elijah many different options and recipes to look at and even a few cookbooks to look through to find what cake he wanted.  This is the cake he chose.  A three layered Salted Caramel Cake.

Enjoying the cake and ice cream.

Thanks Avery and Ethan for coming over and making Elijah's birthday extra special.  You two are very dear friends of his and we are so thankful he has friends like you!!

We love you Elijah and continue to pray you keep Christ in the center of your life and lean on HIM when times get tough.  Happy 12th Birthday!!!