Gideon Convention - Charlotte, NC - Part 2

 As we continued on with the week, we had one adventure of our own.  Thursday is the day that the kids stay at an outing all day long, so I had brought the girls back early to rest and get in bed early.  Nikki had brought Tre and Quinn back early too, so we took them all out for dinner and to play around in a park close to the hotel.  The kids loved climbing in the various statues, and then they found the splash pad/fountain.  They had a great time, and they were soaked at the end.  The funniest thing for me was that Mary Ellen led the pack in getting in the water.  A year ago, Mary Ellen wouldn't go near a sprinkler.  Now, she can't stay away!

 Charlotte under the charlotte signs!

 Playing at the Discovery Museum.  Charlotte loved it, because she had an area that was perfect for her to play in and move around in!

 At Panther Stadium

And finally, she had to say goodbye to her new friends!  Mary Ellen became very close to both of them, and was very sad to say goodbye. 


Along with all of the fun we had during the week, Charlotte showed us her ever changing ways these days.  When we left, she was rolling around to get things, but now, she has a perfected military crawl that will get her wherever she wants to go.  She also had one tooth that has popped through and another one on the way, and she learned how to put her puffs in her mouth herself.  Our world has changed, and we are all learning new things as we watch her!

Gideon Convention - Charlotte, NC - Part 1

After leaving Pigeon Forge, we headed to Charlotte, NC for the Gideon Convention.  It was a great week full of many fun outings, new friends, and new adventures.  Mary Ellen would wake up each morning asking what we were doing today, and never wanted to leave, even though she would be asleep in the car within seconds.  Charlotte was a trooper and would sleep in the stroller and didn't mind going to the nursery, even when it was past her bedtime.  Mary Ellen was so excited to see her friends, Tre and Quinn.  I think that she remembered Tre from last year, but she hadn't see Quinn, since Quinn was a baby and Mary Ellen was just over one.  They all became fast friends, and it was actually hard for Mary Ellen to say goodbye at the end.  During the week, we went to an amusement park, water park, Discovery Museum, and Panther Stadium. When we first found where we were meeting, there was a huge ball that the kids loved running into and bouncing off of it!

 Mary Ellen and Quinn walking like penguins.

 Here are some pics at the amusement park.  Charlotte started off asleep.  Mary Ellen loved the rides, especially the airplanes.

 At the water park, I was able to get this pic of the new great friends.  They all had so much fun in the water.  Mary Ellen ran through the sprinklers and made mommy go on the same water slide over and over again! Charlotte slept through some of it, and then enjoyed some time in the water herself. 

Pigeon Forge, TN

We started our trip in Pigeon Forge, TN with Nene, Pops, and Aunt Sarah.  We had a great time hanging out in the cabin, going to the Aquarium to see the penguins among other things, and enjoying kiddie rides and games at "Light #3," which Mary Ellen called it.  We actually had an adventure with our cabin, because we had two cabins.  We returned home one day to find the basement flooded, but to our luck, we got a much bigger cabin that we all enjoyed.  Charlotte found that she loved to play on the pool table.  If you put her on the floor and she was near the pool table, she wanted to be up!

Mary Ellen loved all of the games at both cabins.  She kept wanting to show them to everyone!

The first night we were there, while we were at dinner, it rained.  Mary Ellen was having a lot of fun playing in the puddles.  Guess we don't really have to travel to have fun, just need some puddles!

When we discovered that the aquarium in Gatlinburg had a penguin exhibit, we knew that Mary Ellen would love that.  She was so excited to see the fish, but especially the penguins, which we visited twice.  She liked most everything there, except for the sharks and bigger fish.  But, we all had a great time!

We ended the trip with the kiddie rides.  I knew that Mary Ellen would like the carousel, but she also found a new love for the swings and train.  She also loved the games, which Pops and her won many tickets on.  They were so proud of themselves and excited about their loot! Charlotte also got to try out the carousel and seemed to like watching the lights and pictures go around.