Smoky Mountain Vacation Summer 2011

In June, we took the kids on vacation to the Great Smoky Mountains! It was beautiful. We all loved the incredible waterfalls that provided entertainment as well as awe.
I will never forget a couple of moments of this trip. The first being the 5 mile round trip hike up an altitude difference of 1700 feet. I expected to hear a TON of whining on this hike. There was a little, but for the most part our kids were in their element. Cy set the pace on all of our hikes and he just seemed to really enjoy the freedom of running up the mountain. Will, being only 3 at the time, had a harder time keeping up. But he was a trooper. And Lana did a great job on the trip too. I am always amazed at how content she is.
The next moment was not so good. Cy tripped at the top of one of these beautiful waterfalls. I have never been so scared in my life. Both Shane and I saw it and were far enough away that we could do nothing. By the grace of God, he caught himself. It looked kind of like, he stopped short at the edge of the cliff and since he didn't know it was the edge kind of stumbled back. In all honesty, I think I will never stop replaying that moment in my head. I am just so thankful that he was and is okay.
The last thing I will always remember from this trip, is that we learned a few days after we returned that Cy had pnemonia. Ha! We were "making" him climb mountains, while he had pnemonia. I'm pretty sure that is a dumb parent moment. However, we just had no idea that his cough was that bad, as he only coughed at night and never really complained about it. He was fine a few days later after a couple doses of strong antibiotics.
Well I do believe we had fun in the Smoky's. And I believe the Cresses are going to be hikers. I look forward to the many years to come when we continue to keep up with Cy and hopefully by that time his brother and sister.

Cades Cove Cy has no fear! He crossed this bridge countless times.

Will playing in a stream. This was a blast! We brought some water shooters and had some fun with those too.

It looks like they are way up high, doesn't it? Well, they're not. They loved finding these bolders on the side of the trail to climb up on. Where they are in this pic, is only about 2 feet off the ground.

Karen and the boys walking behind a waterfall.

Another waterfall.

My latest project: Will's baby book! Yes, he will be 4 next month

Click here to view this photo book larger

Thank You Cars 2

When Cy was around 2 years old, he went everywhere with the red car (Lightening McQueen) he has in the picture below. It is the one toy I know I will never ever get rid of. He loved the movie Cars and his Lightening McQueen car.We watched Cars SO many times and we acted out SO many scenes from Cars with his Cars toys. Now that he is bigger we still act scenes out from movies (it's his favorite playtime activity). But I will always think fondly back to the days when Cars was his world, you know the time before Light Sabers made its way into our house. But this weekend we watched Cars 2. Thank you, Pixar for making a movie my children love, so once again we can be playing Cars in my house. It has given me great joy!

Healthy choices

Dinner time has been a struggle in the Cress house. Cy does not eat ANY vegetables. We have been working on fixing this issue. He is a very stubborn little boy and it has taken us week but here is our first small victory. Yep, that is Cy eating a carrot! In the past, he has even told his entire preschool class that he is allergic to carrots. But THEN, we watched Bugs Bunny the other day and Will has been eating tons of carrots so he can be, "Just like Bugs Bunny." Cy picked up his half eaten bag tonight and enjoyed his veggies. Thank goodness for old school cartoons. I do believe this is the first time TV has ever taught my children anything positive.

We have also been trying to cut fast food out of their diet. Here are the boys with their homemade "Happy Meals" with a mom approved toy. They were a hit!

Will has been funny lately...

During the last thunderstorm he asked me (in his most earnest voice), "Mom, is that dinosaurs making those sounds?"

Then today while we were checking out at the drive-through pharmacy he told the pharmacist, "Thank you, medicine farmer."

I do love that boy!