Hunting and Our First Real Tree

On to December! The Christmas season always goes by faster than we want it to and this year was no different. Even with covid limiting our holiday activities, it still seemed time was flying right on by. Here are some of our favorite memories:

How many kids can say they’ve rabbit hunted with their 82 year old great grandfather? These two don’t realize how blessed they are!


Jack and daddy enjoyed the hunt 

Sis didn’t want to miss out on the fun and went too! I’m proud of her for going and being the only girl on the hunt.

This selfie just makes me smile :)


Proud as punch about their kills






Just a sweet picture of our boy in cable knit and sherpa. Give me all the textures on this boy!


We have talked about getting a real tree for several Christmases and decided last Christmas we would wait until 2020 and start the tradition on John’s first Christmas. This is sis looking beautiful at the tree farm. She’s growing up right before our eyes.

We found the perfect tree and Jack helped pack it out for us.

Of course I couldn’t pass up the opportunity for a photo op! Baby’s first Christmas and first real tree experience for all of us.

One of my favorite memories with our family of five!


The tree behind them is the one we chose!


They had way more fun picking out a real tree than dragging our artificial one out of the attic. I think this tradition will continue. 


I captured baby boy’s new truck-thumb sucking! Our first thumb sucker. So sweet!


It’s a beaut, Clark!


They recommended you let it “fall” for a day so that’s what we did. 


Our Christmas tree 2020! Hands down our favorite tree ever.


Just a couple of guys worn out from all the Christmas festivities. 

A Smoky Mountain Christmas 2020

Two weeks before Christmas we decided to take a last minute trip to the mountains. We have pretty much been homebound for the majority of 2020 and I would be having surgery right before the new year, so we thought a trip was what we needed to recharge. 

First stop-Bryson City, North Carolina. The drive had some gorgeous views. I loved the train track on the side of a mountain.

If you guessed we were going to Bryson City for the Polar Express, you guessed right! 

All the boys ready to ride the train and meet Santa

Punching our tickets in true covid style ;)

A glimpse of the North Pole out the train window. Jack is a skeptic so it better be pretty good or he’ll smell a rat ha!

Our Santa picture for 2020. This wasn’t what I had in mind for John’s first Santa experience but it will have to do. I’ve learned this year to let go of unnecessary things you want and be thankful for what you have.

All three of them received their punched tickets and a bell as souveneirs.

I bought the big kids Polar Express pajamas right after Christmas in 2018 on sale (I sized up). They wore them last year and could still wear them this year. I found the matching footed baby jammies for John on a resale Facebook page and my sibling Christmas pj dreams came true :)

They really enjoyed it. It was a neat experience and a memory we will always have! I don’t think we’ll make the drive for it again but I’m glad we did it once during their childhood to make Christmas a little more magical!

We stayed at an inexpensive lodge in Pigeon Forge. As much as we love staying in a mountain cabin, our trip was a quick one and we knew convenience would have to be a priority with a baby. This place met all our needs, was cheap and allowed us to spend more on other attractions. 

A few pictures from our favorite restaurant at the Smoky Mountains, Five Oaks. It was delicious!

Sweet boy rolled with the punches the whole trip and was just happy to do whatever we did! I’m thankful for my easy baby number three. 

A gorgeous restaurant that just makes you want to go buy a farm, build a farmhouse and raise chickens.

It’s not a trip to the mountains without visiting Cade’s Cove. We had mild weather and sunshine. Snow would have been nice but the weather we had made things much easier for traveling with a baby.

I love this tunnel we use to get to Cade’s Cove and finally got a picture this year!

Our bargain resort also had a pool and waterslide that the big kids LOVE.

Our mountain model! She loved wearing all her pretty winter clothes that hadn't got much wear this season due to covid (we stay home and live in pajamas lol).

Our night out to Old Mill. We love that place and seeing it all lit up for Christmas.

It was a 45 minute wait so we passed the time walking through the cute little village that's close by.

Brother bear loves his stroller! It usually puts him to sleep and he'll sleep for as long as you'll stroll him.

More modeling from our mountain mama

He despises pictures so when mom gets one that's not blurry, I feel like I've really accomplished something!

Taking a four month old on a trip four hours away during covid probably seems crazy to some but they haven't met this boy. Thank you Lord for an easy third baby.

Taking the ski lift to Anakeesta!

Daddy took this on top of Anakeesta while I was nursing John. I love it.

We loved all the Christmas displays in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.

Mom and daughter matchy-matchy <3

Our value resort that was perfect for us. Thank you Grand Smokies Resort Lodge for an awesome stay!

The beauty of a last minute trip is when you also score last minute reservations. We assume we probably bought the tickets from someone with covid misfortunes. I'm so thankful we got G to Dolly's Stampede! She loves her some Dolly.

Masks on to see the show. The kids were super disappointed they couldn't meet Dolly ha!

It had been 16 years since Marcus and I had been to the Stampede so it was just as much a treat for us as it was for the kids

Sis and her modeling poses :)

Our view for the week-so majestic! I have laughed about this so much.

Before leaving town, we stopped at the Apple Barn for breakfast. I love everything about this place.

We had a few last minute Christmas gifts to buy and Paula Deen helped us out! I would love for Georgia to meet some of her cooking icons someday.

Our Stampede family picture. I paid $20 to have the watermark removed so you know I must be proud of it :) 

We had a great trip and it was a spontaneous decision I'm glad we said yes to. The mountains at Christmastime just put you in the spirit and helped me appreciate the simplicity of the season.