We had the best time last weekend with the Stewart family! We all took off to Pigeon Forge on Friday for a day of shopping. That night we crashed at a cabin in Gattlinburg. The next morning we all managed to get ourselves up and ready for an extremely cold day at Dollywood. I have to brag on all three kids. They were all very well behaved. Ellie and Lexy rode every ride for which they were tall enough. We were looking forward to the parade of lights that started at 7:30pm; however, the three girls were exhausted so we will have to do that another time. Sunday morning was crazy trying to get up, pack, get dressed for church, and check out. We did manage to get to church before the sermon was over!!

After lunch and more shopping, we traveled to Bryson City, NC for the Polar Express train ride. Last year we went during the daytime and were very disappointed. After talking to Rebecca and hearing how great of a time they had at night last year, I decided to try for a night ride. I have no regrets! It was completely different. They turned the lights off in the train and you could really enjoy the Christmas lights throughout the ride. The girls loved it!! As busy as we stayed, we still were not ready to go home Sunday night. Lexy even wanted to go back to the cabin. We have decided to make the Stewart/Dotson Christmas weekend an annual event.

Sorry, my pictures are backwards! This is Santa on the Polar Express train ride. All the kids got a bell.

Lexy's favorite part of the movie is the handing out of hot chocolate. She was singing right along with the song!



We are so thankful daddy works hard for us girls!

This was taken when the train first pulled up. Another thing we didn't get to see last year. Lexy flipped out when she figured out what was coming.

This was Lexy's favorite ride! She is still talking about the "tea cup ride with Adam, Mary Katherine and Ellie. Adam went fast. I liked it."

She is a Santa fan this year!

Prego did get to ride some rides.

Lil' lunch at Dollywood.

Ok, this is my absolute favorite picture of the whole trip! Look at Katelynn's big blue eyes. She is such a trooper.

Only two reindeer on the carousel and Lexy had to ride one.

It's a Girl!

A few weeks ago, a friend from college offered to scan me and see how the baby was doing. She works at a high risk ob office with the very best equipment in town. She scanned the baby from head to toes. When she turned the 4D image on Lexy went crazy! She was so excited to see a real baby in my belly. When she scanned down to see if it was a girl or boy, it was the most obvious looking girl ever. Jaime and I both started laughing! Poor Russell would have loved a boy. Instead he is blessed with another healthy little girl. Now, Lexy likes to play this joke on people and tell them it is a boy. Crazy girl!

Boo at the Zoo

Pumpkin Patch

I'm sure you were all wondering if I let my child enjoy the Fall. I have just been a little behind this year. We usually go earlier in the month. Not sure I will plan another trip to the Bahamas in October!! Here are some pictures from our visit to the Oakes Farm. Lexy and Ellie had a blast. They actually took off in to the corn maze alone. Crazy girls were giggling the entire time. Then, we went on a hayride to the pumpkin patch for them to pick out their pumpkin. I think the highlight of the adults day was the fried oreos. They were pretty yummy! Good idea Mary Katherine!

Disney on Ice

Thank you McKenzie family for inviting us to Disney on Ice in Chattanooga. We had a great time. Lexy always enjoys her visits with the other Lexi! She thinks it is neat there is another Lexi her size. Knoxville moms, I think Disney on Ice is in Knoxville this weekend. You should check it out.

Week At Sea

A few weeks ago we set sea to the Bahamas with a two year old. She actually did really good! I do believe she enjoys vacationing as much as Russell and I do. She is still talking about the trip to this day!

This was when we first arrived in our stateroom. I am not sure which one of us was more tired!

This was taken inside the ship while we were docked in the Port of Miami.

We visited Atlantis on Paradise Island. This was one of the aquariums there.

Lexy loves Uncle Kenny going on vacation with us. He is a tremendous help!

We are in a taxi in the Bahamas. As my child is sitting in the taxi with no car seat, the driver informs us they have a lot of car wrecks there!

On a boat taking us to Norwegian's private beach for the day.

The water was very clear and the beach was so clean. Lexy loved it!

Lexy lying on a hammock while watching daddy and Uncle Kenny play beach volleyball.

This was the true highlight of Lexy's vacation. This was her getaway from us. We would let her go to the kids korner and play during show times at night, which gave all of us a break. Of course, I am crazy and would spy on her every 15 minutes.

At night when she left the kids korner, we would get a snack to take back to the room. She always had a surprise animal waiting on her.

The last night at the kids korner they colored t-shirts. Her teachers were mashed potatoes and coach. Her favorite was marbles. He was on a break at pick up time. :(

Plane ride home!!

Tattoo

Let me just start this off by saying, I don't usually allow my child to have a pen on her own! We were over at our friend's house playing cards one night, and they have a little girl Lexy's age. It is so nice because the girls go upstairs to their playroom and play for hours. Of course, we always sneak up and check on them. Most of the time they are in separate corners doing their own thing. Super cute! Anyway, Lexy found a pen and pad that she brought down and showed us. I thought no biggie she is writing on the paper like a good girl. Next thing I know, she comes back to us with both arms out. Wow! We were surprised what our little angel had done. My first thought was what else did she write on. Luckily the couch and other little girl were ink free. Then Russell picked her up and went straight for the bathroom. Needless to say, the trip wasn't to wash the ink off of her arms!! After the anger and embarrassment wore off and we got home, something hit me. Now, if any of you watch Prison Break on TV, you will know the hot Michael Scofield has the same tattoo my daughter now has. OK, maybe not the exact same one but pretty close. It at least made me wonder if that is where the idea came from, and made it worth taking pictures! FYI, Johnson's baby soap took it right off. The next day I went to her bathroom and noticed the whole tub had ink all in it. Gotta love em!

The Swing Ride

Friday night Russell and I took Lexy to the park. Now that Fall is getting close, it has been cooler at night. She was in a swing that I think is for special needs children. (That is another story in it's self) Anyway, it is this big blue chair you can sit back and relax. I'm sure all you moms have seen em. Russsell gave her one BIG push and off she went. First thing she said is, "it's freezing up here". We both just smiled and said are you cold. And she said, "it's cold up here in the clouds." Pretty cool. She really thought she was so high up she was in the clouds. It is something new everyday with her. I absolutely love it! Big Mud Puddles & Sunny Yellow Dandelions!!!!!

Check it out...
http://members.shaw.ca/mcinnes-hume/mud_puddles__dandelions.htm

Here are some pictures we had taken a couple of weeks ago. I am disappointed I let a year go by without professional pictures. Lexy did really good considering we waited an hour and a half past our appointment time. Beware of Olan Mills at Belk's on a Saturday!