Where we've been...

Have you met me??? I really really like to travel. So, wherever we live I have to discover what's "near" us. This time
we went to the Great Smokey Mountains in Tennessee. To get there we drove through, Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. It was a beautiful place. We invited my parents to come out and see us in Illinois and then go on the trip with us. it was so fun to have them along and so helpful (as you can see from the photo above. I rarely had to sit back by the kids and entertain them. And grand entertainer Grandma Ruthie is and Grandpa Robert kept Lola happy and Brad happy when I took over that seat and snoozed for a second) So...The Smokies...
It was very cold when we went but we still saw some spectacular scenery.

 We stopped at this Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum and that's just what it was. I loved it for the artistic coloring and set up. It was quite impressive to see.

 The driving around brought amazing views and scenes.

 A 2 miles hike up to this gorgeous waterfall.

 There was this large meadowy area which you drove around and could get out at several spots.

 That road seperates North Carolina from Tennessee. I guess you could say we've been to North Carolina because you could stand in both states at one point. Kind of like the time we drove 2 hours over the most rocky terrain in the Andes to be able to say we were in Chile and Argentina at the same time. Another trip with Ruthie and Robert. We are adventures!!

After a week of fun in the Smokies we drove home via Mammoth Cave Kentucky. This cave is 400 miles long. We did the "easy" hike with over 500 stairs and narrow passageways. Brad and I carried Lola and EZ. I would definitly recommend going to the cave if you every can. It was amazing to see.

Then a stop at the Louisville Slugger Museum in Kentucky.

And finally, a quick trip to the Kentucky Derby. Something is so fascinating to me about horses and racing. Once I was accepted to this all girls college in Virginia somewhere and I was awarded a pretty good scholarship and was really considering going until I received something in my welcome packet that asked me about how many horses I owned and where did I stable them. I could've only faked it for so long!! Another time, Brad came home from studying all day and I was glued to the tv watching a horse race called the Preekness. I'm just saying...it's fascinating stuff and seeing Churchill Downs was spectacular. Come to find out both my parents would love to go to a race one day.

And look at Chloe. She did her second dance concert. This time we tried the cheerleading/tumbling class. She loved it and did so well.

 Here we are smiling, which was a good thing because about 20 minutes later I got my first ever blow out in the van and had to leave it at Baskin Robbins. Good thing our friends was there to rescue us.

And Lola, see the boot on her hand. She sleeps with it sometimes and almost always will crawl around with a shoe on each hand. Crazy lady. She is officially walking, too.