Christmas in July

These are the photos from Santa's Land in Cherokee, NC. It's Christmas in July! The girls loved everything. Curious George loved everything..especially the part where he got to tell Santa that he wanted Lego for Christmas.

Thing 1 is wearing green and Thing 2 is wearing blue.

the bears' den at Cherokee

This is a backtrack to the end of July on our trip to Cherokee, NC. It's an Indian reservation that is thriving and very busy during the summer months due to tourism. We found a "zoo" of bears and brought the kids there. It's not much of a zoo, but when we're talking about 4 and 2 year olds, it's just a perfect size. :)

The bears were doing tricks for food and the girls loved them!

Curious George's puncanny imitation of the bear in the entrance.

One of the bear poses for food.

Thing 1 (pink) and Thing 2 (green) love the bears!

There is an iguana cage that is covered with chicken wire. Unfortunately, little fingers still fit through. Thankfully, with Mommy and Daddy's super sonic speed, we were able to keep the iguana from having a finger lunch. Thing 1 wasn't too happy about being told "NO" of course.

A baby goat was walking around saying hi to the visitors. Thing 2 said, "How cute!"

Thing 2, Curious George and I pose for one more picture before heading out.

what does one do when you don't want to take a nap?

A couple of weeks ago, I drove Thing 1 to VA because she came down with a fever. Normally, I wouldn't get concerned but since Thing 2 and I were recovering from strep throat, and Daddy had just gone to the doctor and had a confirmed flu (thankfully not the swine flu), it wasn't looking too good her. We made the drive for an appointment the next day. Now why would we have to drive all the way back to VA just to see a doctor? Well, there's Medicaid for you. The children are not covered out of state unless it's an emergency.

On the way back to NC, Thing 1 refused to sleep even if she was obviously delirious with sleepiness. This is what I caught with my phone. It's hard to hear because of the wind noise and the radio, but she was singing along at times and arguing with me.

the Great Smoky Mountains and family

We spent the weekend in the Great Smoky Mountains to attend my mother-in-law's family reunion. While there we explored the Cherokee Indian Reservation, which was busy with tourists. We stayed at the motel my MIL's father built. It is now on the 3rd owner after her father. It was my first time there, though I had seen it before. It was the kids' first time. Though the motel brought back a lot of fond memories for Daddy, he said it didn't hold the magic he remembered it having as a child. I think the big part of that magic is his grandparents. Grandparents are special like that. But I think it holds a different kind of magic, though - the kids and I being able to share part of Daddy's childhood.

Front of the motel.

Twin River's Lodge (originally known as Ela Motor Court)

Nana chasing after Thing 1.

Curious George went fishing in the back with his Papaw and cousin. This is one of the fish he caught.

Papaw helps Curious George.

The river in the back of the back of the motel.

Thing 1 (pink) and Thing 2 (green) enjoying the open space. They bust into 'Ring Around the Rosie' when Daddy pulled out the camera.

Thing 2 (laying down) and Thing 1 enjoying the kiddie pool.

Enjoying the big pool.
(Thing 2 in blue, Thing 1 in pink.)

fun in the sun with daddy

Curious George found a firefly in the pool. He now knows more about the great outdoors than I do.

Having fun with Daddy.

Daddy embracing his inner child. We love that. We truly do!

potty training twins. how crazy is that?!

Thing 2 on the left, Thing 1 on the right.

My girls will probably never forgive me when they discover that there are pictures on the internet of them sitting on the potty. Oh well. I say it's my right as a mother. You girls will have your turn when you have kids of your own.

These were taken in the middle of June when the potty training journey began. They hated sitting on it! Then I gave them 1 Mike&Ike and they didn't mind anymore. We had success the first time when we took them out and they stayed dry for 4 hours. I took the opportunity to sit them down and had a great success, but not before they shed some tears. Then it was good for a few days and then they absolutely hated it. So the training tapered off. Then stomach bug hit, and it was forgotten. We really need to "get back at it" but it's tiring! *whine* One of these days, we will. Eventually. Probably. You don't see teens walking around in diapers, do you?

big kids

(Thing 1 on the left, Thing 2 on the right)

I forgot to post this one as part of the previous set. It shows how big the girls have gotten! They can definitely take Curious George on nowadays. In fact, they sometimes reduce him to tears...being in the prime of their terrible-twos and all. There is nothing like an out-of-nowhere-bang-on-the-head with a glass spice container by one of his sisters.