Good Ole Rocky Top!

For Spring Break we went back to TN to visit!  There are alot of things about TN that we have missed since moving to TX almost 3 years ago.   This is our old house and we just had to go see it.



Our Yard there, with all the trees and land, was definately one of the things we have missed the most.  In Frisco you don't really have yards.  You have very small, I don't even know what you would call it but isn't not much of a yard. When we moved into our house in TX the kids would say "Mom how are you going to make the yard bigger?" 3 years later they still miss their really big yard.



While we were in TN we went hiking several times.  There are so many beautiful places to hike to.  This hike is to one of our favorites, Grotto Falls. 

Waterfalls.  Lots and Lots of Waterfalls in the Smokey Mountains to hike to.



Brayden and I crossing a stream in the mountains.  Our family loves water and their are alot of streams, rivers, and lakes in TN.  Something we did frequently when we lived their. 



We also went on our favorite drive in the mountains while we were there.  To Cades Cove.  In Cades Cove their are always lots of animals to see.  Black Bear, lots and lots of deer, wild turkeys, and even wild horses.  But this was a new one for us, even though we have driven through here 100's of times, a coyote.  Yes, a coyote walked right past our car.  Totally awesome when you are safely in your car, but would not be so cool if we had of been hiking or riding our bikes.

Like I said there are always lots of deer to be seen.  In this one spot there were 26 just hanging out.  So, we got out of our car and got as close as we could without scaring them off and made pictures.  It was sooooo awesome.  We even saw Elliot, the 1 antler deer from Open Season.

The Great Smokie Mountains.  We spent ALOT of time in the mountains when we lived in TN so we had to spend as much time as possible in the mountains while we were there.

This is the Little River that runs through the Smokie Mountains.  We spent alot of time here year round.  In the summer we would tube down it and in the winter we would throw rocks and just hang out watching the river.

Bryan and the boys seeing if they can actually catch a fish with Bryce's makeshift fishing pole.

Ms Savanah posing by the water seriously thinking about wadding in the cold water.

Brayden checking it out.  Yep, it's pretty cold!

Sierra Girl finding rocks to skip.

We also visited our favorite aquarium, The Aquarium of the Smokies!

The kids touching the sting rays.  They have several places, in the aquarium, where the kids can touch different kinds of sting rays.  It is so awesome!

Bryan and the kids in the shark tunnel. 

Savanah & Sierra in a fish tank.  "Get me out!"

Bryce and Brayden in the fish tank. "I don't know how much longer I can hold my breath!"

And you know our family, we HAVE to have a funny picture for everything we do.  So, we found this machine where the kids could put their money in and either get out a mustache or crazy teeth.  The kids just HAD to do it and Bryan and I couldn't resist, we thought it was to stinkin funny.  What was really funny is Bryce put his money in and got a black mustache, then Savanah put her money in and got a red mustache.  How quinckeydink is that?  Then Brayden and Sierra got silly teeth.

Bryan and I couldn't miss out on the fun!

We had a blast in TN!  We stayed with our adopted TN family, Marie and Jim, I should have gotten a picture of them.  They live on 30 acres right outside the Smokies.  It is so beautiful there.  I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to get my family out of TN.  We just LOVE being outdoors exploring and we haven't really found that here in TX where we live.  The day after we got home was a beautiful day so we tried to get the kids to go outside and play.  But they hate our yard and their friends, who have little yards too, only want to play their game systems.  We decided we were just not made for Subdivision Life.  We needed land and trees and water.  SO, we decide to put our house on the market and find just that, here in TX.  SO, we are looking @ 2 different houses.  1 right by the Lake on 1 acre and 1 about 5 minutes from the Lake on 2 acres with a barn and a place for animals.  Decisions, decisions.  But one thing we know is that we are out of Frisco Texas and need some space to roam and be free!  We will keep you updated.  My house will go on the market on Friday and since the market has really picked up here the last 3 weeks we are praying that it sells fast.  (My friends sold in 3 weeks, so I am praying mine will also!)  Land, trees and water here we come!  Thank you TN for inspiring us and reminding us of what we really love!