Birthday cake

Finally got a birthday cake for Nathan tonight. We didn't have one for him on his birthday since we were in Tennessee. Bible study was at Bill and Bev's so took it with us and had it there. Nathan wanted an Oreo Blizzard cake from DQ, so that is what he got. So many pieces of cookie on top that we couldn't write anything on it! Don't think he minded~

The technique works!!! (see video below)

Gatlinburg 2009

We had a really nice time in Tennessee this year. It was very hot so spent a lot of time at the pool. Spent one day at Cherokee where we went fishing. Brought back 6 rainbow trout to the chalet and Allen grilled them up for supper. Allen and the two boys spent one day at the Nascar Speed park racing go-carts.

Allen and I in downtown Gatlinburg.


Dad and Mom at IHOP

The only family picture I got of us and it was taken in the parking lot of IHOP's on our last day in Tennessee!!!
Game of mini golf that we played one day when it was rainy. This was an indoor black light course. You can see the glow from the black light off the kids. And yes, that is Allen behind them looking like he is about to club one of them!

There were a lot of these painted bears around Cherokee.

The kids in a giant rocking chair in Gatlinburg.

Game of mini golf on Nathan's birthday. This was a really fun course, but it was very hot that night. Started playing around 8:00 and the temp. was 94 degrees! We had a good view of the tram going up the mountain from the pool.

The pool. Spent a lot of our afternoons here. Sarah, Mom and Dad at the nature center.

Nathan fishing with some help from Allen.
Nathan with the fish he caught. Greg fishing. Greg's catch.

Rainbow trout. A very well stocked pond!
Sarah fishing.

Sarah's catch! She doesn't like to hold them~

Allen and I at Newfoundland Gap.

Sarah, Nate, and Greg at Newfoundland Gap.

We love to go see the bears when we are in Cherokee. This is Ben. He is 23 years old. They told us most bears in the wild only live to be 9.

Another picture of Ben.

Yet another picture of Ben.

Grizzly bear waiting patiently for some apple.

These bears were really good at catching the food that was thrown to them.

Baby bear

Soccer season over!

Nathan's team played their last two soccer games on Saturday. It was the tournament games. They won the first game, but lost the second. Ended up winning the division championship and getting runner up for the tournament. They went the whole season undefeated and then lost their last game that they played in the tournament!

Here we all are at Hacienda after the last game. Coach is handing out their trophies. They ended up with a ranking of 14th in the state of Indiana!

Some shots of Nathan in the morning game on Saturday. The next four pictures are of Nate fighting for the ball. He actually ended up getting the shot, but it took a lot of work. I was lucky that it took place right in front of where I was sitting.

The whole team (coach in white, Allen and the other dad were assistant coaches).

This was their "#1 in the division pose"!! Ha!