Camping in Pigeon Forge

The Wings of America show at Dollywood was excellent. It was our second trip there this summer - thanks to our season pass. We took in the Dixie Stampede too on this trip and what a hoot that was.

We clapped along with the Smoky Mtn. String Band music at Dollywood on Thursday.

One of our favorite shows is the Kingdom Heirs' gospel music.

the very "smoky" mountains on Sabbath morning

We biked Cades Cove loop Sabbath morning in Smoky Mtn. National Park. About 40 feet off the road was this mother bear and her cub! Then just another 2 or 3 minutes down the road another bear ran right across the road in front of us! I prefer to see bears from the safety of a vehicle. . . but since we lived to tell about it, it was kinda' cool - they were the first bears we've ever seen in Cades Cove.

The shade felt good since it was a very hot, humid morning.

After our picnic lunch, we cooled off in the creek in the park. It's been unusually hot in the Smokies this summer too. It was mid-90's there these last 4 days that we spent there.

We found a nice private campground in Pigeon Forge with lots of trees, and bigger campsites than most private campgrounds. We like having AC and power for summer camping we decided over camping in the national park with no power like we did in June.

So our summer of welcoming Claire into our lives on May 24, several fun short trips to see family, and a couple long weekends of camping in the Smokies has been wonderful.
We go back to work tomorrow ~ we are so thankful for our great jobs at CA.

Claire AFTER Cancun, at 2 months

Sabbath evening with Claire, 2 months old tomorrow!

There's that little finger up!

"Here's my tongue, Mom! You keep asking me where it is."

Worn out from all her admirers! ( Notice whose sweetie she is)

Dressed up to go to the Olive Garden after a little nap.

"Time to go Dad!"

Sure is hard leaving her. When we see her again, she will probably be driving!

Claire - at 7 Weeks

We spent a day with Claire before our trip to Cancun.

Stephanie made some homemade salsa with fresh jalapeno that she cut up that morning, and for the next several hours her hands were on FIRE. She tried several things to stop it, the last being soaking her hands in milk.

sleepy girl

fading . . .

Gone!

"Aw Dad, you really mean that?"

I couldn't resist this cute little Carters outfit I found on clearance in MI for $2.99!
Can't wait to see it on her sometime.

Comfy with Grandpa

A Week in Cancun with Ruthie & Milton

We arrived on July 16 for a week in a 2 bedroom Royal Mayan unit in Cancun with Ruthie and Milton. This is part of the view from our balcony down over the pools and Palapa restaurant and out to the beautiful Caribbean turquoise water.

notice the orange inflated "Sea Doo" floating in the pool. We think Madelyn, Nate and Claire would love one of these!

On our way over to the Haciendas

We were shade seekers more than sun worshipers most of the week.

Looking down from our 9th floor balcony at the Royal Mayan

Cancun from the air

Sisters - we've enjoyed a LOT of beach/pool vacations together, starting at Lake MI, then at Treasure Island, FL and then various resorts we've stayed at when they've traded locations through their time share. Thanks for taking us along again to Cancun!

At the welcome party on Sunday

Sunday evening after we came in from jumping the waves it rained for about 5 or 10 minutes. That was it for the week!

We enjoyed playing bingo by the pool three days - Milton even won.
Can you read what he won?

Randy hiding from the sun in the pool at the Islander. We used this ledge to for our discard and draw pile for Uno with the waterproof cards we got at a yard sale in MI.

At the Hacienda Sisal having some delicious vegetable fajitas and being almost deafened by the entertainers who came to sing and play at our table. The trumpeter really belted it out who was part of the group, and the singers were VERY loud. Milton paid them so they finally moved on.

in the lobby at the Royal Sands

The snorkeling wasn't that great at the Haciendas near Playa del Carmen

This mosaic on the wall was really neat and had water running down over its surface.

Shade seekers at the Royal Caribbean pool - it had a lot of shade from the buildings in the morning so Randy swam laps there a couple of mornings for about an hour.

We don't leave home without our favorite game. I couldn't believe my luck one night when I won three games in a row!

Our last walk on the beach from 7:15 to 8:15 in the morning Sabbath, and it was already HOT!

The ugly iguanas are all over the rocks on the beach beyond the Royal Islander.
We kept our distance.

We watched the huge sea turtles come in and lay eggs one night on the beach. Their conservation specialist collects them and then buries them in the sand further from the shore. In 40 days they dig them up and send them off to sea, with guests at the resort naming them and putting them into the water.

Washing the sand off after our walk on the beach.

Beautiful flowers in front of the Royal Mayan

Randy got this great shot as we left Cancun of the Royal resorts.