At the Cross

On Easter morning, we didn't have any trouble getting the kids to wake up. They ran downstairs to see what the Easter Bunny had left in their baskets. Cole loved the Alvin and the Chipmunks movie, the noise putty, and Mad Libs he got, along with more candy and chocolate than he really needed. Among Mary Conlee's favorite things were a candy wrapper purse, daisy head band, and peace sign bracelet.

 
Cole's loved his Easter basket

 
MC showing off her goods

 
Is this Peter Cottontail? No, it's Mary Conlee's bloomers!

One of our favorite family traditions is getting our picture made in front of the Easter cross at Calvary. It is covered in flowers brought by our church members. I treasure these pictures each year. It's amazing how much they change from year to year! After church, we ate lunch at the Tupelo Country Club. This is one of the only times we eat there on a Sunday. We prefer our down-home cookin' place, which was closed. We loved getting to see Causey and Bounds in their "Easter best!"

 
Celebrating Jesus' resurrection

 
Sara Frances, Mia Katherine, Meri Alan, Cole, and Mary Conlee...Cole was certainly outnumbered!

 
Mae Mae, Bounds, and Causey are up to no good. Cole doesn't know whether to stop them or join in!

 
Cole, MC, Bounds, and Causey

Dressing them for Easter isn't as much fun as it was when they wore matching outfits. I don't know why Cole still can't wear smocked John Johns to coordinate with Mary Conlee's smocked bishops. But I guess my 9 year old isn't a baby anymore. This year, MC wore a pink dress that Bubbe bought for her. Cole agreed to wear a white sweater vest with his shirt and shorts...but not wholeheartedly!

A look back...
 
Cole's first Easter, 2001

   
Easter at Bubbe and Pop's- 2005

 
We LOVE hunting for eggs- 2006

 
Some unhappy campers this cold and windy Easter, 2006...Mary Conlee, Cole, Sara Frances, and Meri Alan

   
Egg Hunt and activities at church, 2007

 
Easter morning, 2007

  
Celebrating Easter at the cross and with Mr. Walt and Mrs. Betty Gayle, 2008

 
Posing with the Easter lilies at church, 2009

That afternoon, the kids and I drove to Birmingham for MC's eye appointment scheduled for Monday. We met Bubbe at Elmwood Cemetery to visit Granny's grave. Bubbe brought the most beautiful flowers that were growing in Granny's garden. This is exactly what she would have wanted. Although the children never had the chance to meet her, they know Granny through pictures and stories we tell about her. As long as I live, I hope to instill in my children the same ideals my Granny taught me...to be a servant to those in need...to be kind to those around you...to be like Christ in all you do. Happy Easter, Granny.

 
Bubbe and the kids

 
She just had to stop and smell the flowers!

 
Named after my Granny...Cole McDaniel Wilson

Homeward Bound-Day 5

After a wonderful 4 night stay in Gatlinburg, it was time to pack up and head home. It was a wonderful trip and we had lots of fun, but we were anxious to get back home to our own beds and to our little Brody. We took a lot of last minute photos and found a few picturesque sites on our way out. The weather could not have been more beautiful. We enjoyed both warm weather and "snowy" conditions. Just the way we like it!


 
Another beautiful view from the porch...our last morning in Gatlinburg

 
Early morning with Bubbe...MC looks like she stayed up all night at one of those Oscars after-parties and she's still showing off her "award!"

 
One last game of foosball before we head home

 
Saying our goodbyes to Gatlinburg and a wonderful family vacation

 
We will definitely be back!

 
Leaving the Smoky Mountains

 
Walking through the woods, we found the most beautiful stream

 
 
Cole and MC had to feel that cold mountain water and gather some river rocks to bring back home

 
My sweet babies!

Sharks, Slopes, and Movie Stars- Day 4

We started our day at the Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies. There are two things that the Wilson family L-O-V-E-S...aquariums and wax museums. Lucky for us, Gatlinburg had both of them! We loved riding the tunnel beneath the sharks, while watching the underwater life on all sides. Mary Conlee and Cole were given shark teeth by a diver who had gone in to do his routine check of the sharks. Mary Conlee pet the horseshoe crabs while her brother looked on...he's not touching one of those dirty things!

 
Cole posing with an iguana...at an aquarium?

 
Glad we weren't the ones who had to dive for these shark teeth!

 
Careful, Mae Mae. You don't want to be their dinner!

 
Going for the pearl...the girl knows what she wants!

 
Not in the least bit intimidated by the Japanese spider crabs

We thought Gatlinburg would be a great place for first time skiing for Cole and Mary Conlee. That way, we don't fly them to Colorado to discover they don't like it! Mary Conlee was the only one that agreed to try...that's my girl! We left Cole with Bubbe and Pop to go exploring near the chalet while we went to Ober. We had MC fitted for skis and got her enrolled in ski school. It was great because she was one of only 3 students in the class. Her instructor was a 64 year old gentleman who had been coming to Gatlinburg on the weekends for over 30 years as a ski instructor. She got the concept a little quicker than her adult counterparts!


Getting fitted for skis


Learning from the pro


Loving ski school

After her lesson, she practiced a few times with Daddy and then was ready to retire. At least she had a positive first experience on the slopes and looks forward to going again one day. As for Cole, we have some work ahead of us!

 
Ready to go!

 
Girls just wanna have fun!

 
Getting help from daddy on the lift


Way to go, MC!!!

 
Our newest skier!

 
Mom's turn on the slopes

 
Made it down safely!

 
The Wilson Family skiers

We made our tired, aching bodies back to the chalet to pick up Cole. He had missed the skiing activity and we know he wanted to go to town. We celebrated our last night in Gatlinburg at the Hollywood Wax Museum. Not to be a wax museum snob, but this was nothing like Madame Tussaud's...considered the best in the industry! However, we still enjoyed getting close to the rich and famous. Mary Conlee even took home an Oscar award for the category of best sister!

 
One last trip to see the taffy

 
MC and Angelina strutting their stuff on the red carpet

 
"Life is like a box of chocolates"

 
All I have to do is blink my eyes and disappear!

 
Daddy and Willie both say I'm "an angel flying too close to the ground"

 
Shhhh...don't tell them where I am!

 
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me!

 
Couldn't Charlie use just one more angel?

 
After being gone for so long, we all agreed "There's no place like home!"

 
And the academy award for the "Best Sister" category goes to...Mary Conlee Wilson!