Last trip of the summer! :(

Kalee is a little nervous about starting 1st grade, so we decided to take her on a surprise weekend trip. We went to Helen yesterday and went tubing down the Chattahooche River - they call it "tubin' the hooch", which Rich got a kick out of! The low water level made it a little bit of a work out, but we had a lot of fun. After tubing we went swimming in the hotel pool - Kalee was in heaven! Helen looks like a small German town, so after dinner we walked around and enjoyed all the little shops and of course...funnel cake - yum! Today we went gold and gem mining in Dahlonega. We went on a tour of an old gold mine, then got our chance to pan for gold and Kalee's favorite - gem mining. She was so cute - she would find a gem, ooh and aah over it and say "this is the best day ever!" She did this over and over again. Such a sweet kid!

This is a picture of part of the river that we tubed. It was much more crowded when we tubed!

Kalee was picking which river rocks she wanted to take home...little did she know we were going to the gold mine!

Kalee chose ice cream over a funnel cake - crazy girl!

Oh, to be a kid again!

Kalee & Chase had fun playing in the sprinkler (or ghetto wet-n-wild as we have affectionately called it through the years - we were only missing the kiddie pool!) Chase was here for 12 days and they had so much fun playing - they got along great for being together for so long. It is kind of amusing - they are so much like me and Anthony...Chase wants to love on Kalee and be with her and Kalee does not want to be loved on!!! Kalee is not a big snuggler, so it was great to have Chase around - he is the exact opposite! We miss him already!

Can you tell that Kalee loves to dance???

I don't even know....

So, I had to post these pictures to show you all what a little drama queen, picture loving child we have. I don't even know what to say - only I think we are in BIG trouble!!! Chase, as you can tell, is less impressed with the camera! We have a Covered Bridge not far from the house and my parents and grammie took the kids down to play on the rocks.

Our Beautiful Girl...

After dessert Kalee said, "I think we should stay here for the rest of the day!!" Too cute. The food was de-lish (another Kalee word!)

Happy 80th Birthday Grammie!

My Grammie turns 80 tomorrow! We went to lunch today at the Blue Willow Inn to celebrate. Happy Birthday Grammie!

Ugh...I'm 30!

So, it's happened...I turned 30 today! How??? Anyway, we've had a fun day so far. Kalee & Chase picked all the peaches off the trees and Rich and I planted a few peach pits to see if we can start new trees. Then Rich took me shopping - very nice! Now, Crystal, Kelly & Charley are here for a visit - very, very nice! So, here are some pics and a video of the fun so far today. Kalee, Chase, my mom, dad and gramma decorated the house while we were shopping - they did a really good job!

Sweet Charley! She'll be 3 weeks old tomorrow...already!!!

We went to dinner with our family to a Japanese Steakhouse...yum!
My mom ordered a cake and asked for one or two black balloons, but the whole cake was black when she went in to get it!!! Gish, I'm scared to turn 40, now!

Finally!!! Kalee loses a tooth!

Kalee has been waiting for a looooong time to lose her first tooth. She has watched her cousins and friends lose teeth and was very excited when she realized that she had a few loose teeth a couple months ago - but, they all tightened back up!! So, she patiently waited & noticed that this tooth was loose a few days ago. She let Rich twist it, which hurt a little and caused her gum to bleed...that's when the drama started! She didn't want Rich to touch it after that - she gets herself so worked up, that it becomes a little comical to watch. Finally about 20 minutes later, she let Rich pull it out the rest of the way. Very exciting!

A Day with Charley!

Kalee and I went over to spend a few hours with Charley...oh, and Crystal and Kelly, too! She is looking fabulous - such a pretty little GIRL!! Attached are some pictures and video - enjoy Grammie T! Crystal looks wonderful, too. Motherhood certainly suits her!

Six Flags!

Donnie & Luv-Ann came up to celebrate the 4th of July with us. It's been great - we've had friends up here 2 weekends in a row! I'm wondering...when does the homesickness really go away??? Anyway, we went to Six Flags on the 4th and had a blast. I told Rich I can tell we are getting older because we were all exhausted by the time we left!

Rich, Donnie and Luv-Ann rode Goliath. I volunteered to stay with the baby! Rachel slept and I was ready with the camera when they arrived back! Goliath's first drop is approx 200 ft. I rode it last time Rich and I went to Six Flags and I just couldn't force myself to get on it again!

Rich couldn't resist the pool game. He had 4 shots to get 4 balls into the pockets. Of course he sank all 4, so he picked out a Bugs Bunny stuffed toy for Kalee.

Rich and Luv-Ann paid extra to Bungee Swing. Donnie and I thought they were CRAZY! I have always wanted to do it, but I really think I am losing my nerve! Video's are below!

A couple videos from our FL vacation!

Kalee is just too funny sometimes! I love these videos...such a cute kid!