Emma...

 My brother Joey just got the most adorable Golden Retriever puppy for his birthday! She truly is very dear. Here are some pictures of the little cutie...

 The proud owner. :)

Family Trip to Gatlinburg, Tennessee!

This post is seriously overdue. But then, any post on this neglected blog is overdue. But just because I'm not posting doesn't mean that I'm not doing anything. In fact...I am doing lots of things, hence the fact the blogging is getting pushed aside again...and again...and again. But here it, the long overdue "Tennessee Post!"

In the very beginning of June our family took a trip to Tennessee. Our parents were there before, and so they wanted to take us. And because we have 360 pictures, this is going to be the biggest post I ever did in my entire life! Just kidding. Posting 360 pictures would be...dreadful, to put it nicely.

Okay. So I'll start at the beginning, where it all starting with a 10-hour drive. Actually not that bad, all things considered. Even the little one-year-old Caleb, trapped in his seat, did preeeetty good for being only one.

Family picture! Taking pictures isn't my favorite thing to do, but they're good for the memory.

Caleb standing in the door of our cabin were we stayed. It was a few minutes from Gatlinburg. 

Me reading The Scarlet Pimpernel on our porch. That book is easy read compared to many of the other classics I read. I wouldn't exactly call it a masterpiece of literature despite what other people say, but then I haven't finished it yet. I will do a review when I actually get it finished. And despite the easy reading and somewhat shallow plot, (maybe I'm just used to Charles Dickens?) it is really is a great book! It's exciting, and I am eagerly anticipating the ending. (Who is the brave and elusive Scarlet Pimpernel anyway?) :)  

Daddy and the boys doing their grilling thing.  

A bedtime snack the night we got to Tennessee. :)

Joey hiking the almost-straight-up hill across from our cabin. I didn't attempt that hill. :) But Haley did it, so...

 My dear sisters.

Go-karting! :)This was fun. I did bumper cars before, but never go-karts.

Mommy and Daddy both took Haley on the ride in the double kart.

And no matter how hard I pressed the gas pedal...

...Ben and Joe could always pass me. :)

We celebrated Jalisa's eighteenth birthday in Tennessee. Visit her blog here.

We visited the  Dixie Stampede on the night of her birthday. That was a neat experience.

 We took a loooong hike way back in to see this awesome waterfall. There were steep cliffs all around, and it was actually kinda dangerous, but it was great.

 The boys climbed the whole way to the top of the waterfall.

 

Yes, these cliffs were HAZARDOUS! :) 

 And here are some family pictures to finish the Tennessee post.

Sweet Summer

Summer is here in all it's glory, although the official first day of summer...isn't until June 20. Can you believe it? The weather is lovely! I guess some hot spring weather is just what we need. After all, we had a very mild winter, so I guess Spring is just following suit. And if it's 90 degrees in the middle of spring...what about the middle of Summer? :) We shall see! For now I will enjoy today, which the forecast says will be "a high of 79 degrees Fahrenheit." And right between the UV index (which it says at 9 is "very high", anybody for tan?) and the time of sunrise (5:37 am), the page reads: "Snowfall: 0 in." Yup, that's my kind of day, since summer is my favorite season and the winter snows aren't my favorite. And by the way, the moon is currently a waxing gibbous. :) Weather pages are very informative. 

         So, we are in such a streak of lovely weather...this blog is due some pool pictures. :) My little brother (age 1 year and 8 months) went swimming twice now in his little blue pool. So here are some pictures from both occasions.

Yeah ,we know all that he's 100% cheesy. :)

 Haley...

 ...she braves the ice-cold sprinkler.

 My other little brothers (one of which is 2 inches taller than me) riding through the sprinkler.

 Life is great...

 We all need some sisterly affection...

 ...and a duck.

What a novelty: a hose! 

 "Wow...this is just...too cool!"

Older Brother gets caught in the freezing spray.

 Many more fun summer days to come, I think!

Have yourself the wonderfullest summer ever.