Gatlinburg

We headed up to Rainbow Falls. Patrick had the best ride of all.

Mama and her girl.

It was a hard walk for Patrick.

After 3 hours we made it to the top of Rainbow Falls, the highest waterfall in the Park.

We did it!!!

The only black bear we saw.

Future Rice in the Making

Updates:

• Patrick is giving open-mouth kisses on command, pointing, and expressing his displeasure when life is not going the way he envisioned it.
• Mary quote: "Mom, may I have some chocolate milk." I told her yes but she needed to wait 5 minutes so I could fully wake up. "But Mom, my belly is really starving."

Future Rice (Mike's Dad)

Rub-a-Dub-Dub

Mary was very cold after her bath so Mike warmed her up with three blankets.

Patrick wasn't sure who was hiding under all those blankets.

He soon figured it out though.

Happy Birthday Patrick

I know I am a week late in posting-it has been crazy around here. Patrick turned one on May 12th and then was baptized on the 14th. I also finished teaching this week, so now I feel like I can breathe a little easier. Patrick's new "trick" is to give kisses!! So sweet. Enjoy birthday and baptism pics!

We started the day at the Butterfly Show with Mike's parents, my parents and Aunt Katie.

Cheeze!!

The White Men!!

I made Banana Cake with cream cheese frosting for the birthday boy. He liked the frosting alot!

There goes the cake!

His first lazy chair. He was acting like a king.

An unprompted kiss for the birthday boy.

Mary gave Patrick this stacking ring and was trying to teach him how to do it.

Patrick was watching himself on the slideshow that Nana made of his first year.

Our happy family!

Baptism Day. Patrick is wearing a traditional Arab dress from Jordan.

Our little king.

My pretty girl!

Happy Mother's Day

What a wonderful day! I am so blessed!!! This week we will be celebrating Patrick's first birthday and baptism. I can't believe my baby will be one!!!

Patrick loves looking out the front door just as Mary did when she was young.

Mike and I bought Mary another bike as a whim. She loved test-riding it at the bike shop so we just went for it.

Patrick is working on his driving skills. So far he is not fit for the road.

Visitors

We had a fabulous visit with Mike's sister, Jen and our niece and nephew two weeks ago. In spite of the rain we made it to a Reds game a first for the majority of the group and the zoo. Here are a few highlights of their trip!

Peyton, Owen and Mary at Pump It Up (a bounce center) on a rainy day!

WEEEEEEEEEE!

On the way to the Great America BallPark.

What a bunch of cuties!!

Mary's first ballgame and bite of cotton candy.

Patrick and Aunt Jen snuggling up.

Mary asked Peyton to sleep in her room. Mary had to sleep right next to Peyton.

We hope YoYo likes this shot of her grandkids!

Enjoying ice cream after a fun day.

Kite Festival Fun

We had a wonderful week with Mike's sister and our niece and nephew. I have not uploaded pictures from our adventures yet. That will be next week's post. Here are a few pictures from a Kite Festival we went to with my good friend Patty and her two girls. Two moms, two toddlers and two babies on a very windy day. We really enjoyed ourselves. Happy Easter to everyone!!

We had to take a Yellow School Bus over to the park to see the kites. Mary was so excited to ride a bus.

Does she not look like she is in chill mode? Behind them is a group of kites that were "dancing" for us.

The Kite Festival had a candy drop from a kite. Once the kite reached a certain altitude the bag of candy opened up and floated down. Mary liked the idea that it was raining lemondrops and gumdrops.

Reily and Mary-best friends!!

The babies watching while the girls have fun flying their handmade kites.

Patrick tried flying the kite as well.

Mary thought the higher she raised her arms the higher the kite would go:)

Walking back to the shuttle bus. What cute girls!