Happy 5th Birthday!

We couldn't find a horse for Lorelai's fifth birthday extravaganza so we improvised!















CC actually stayed home, even though our cabin is dog friendly we opted to leave her at home, these pictures were taken last weekend right after put the finishing touches on her birthday outfit. 










The party details.











The birthday girl!  Five years has flown by!











Making a wish!  She wished for a new American Girl Doll!  I will make sure to send Santa a request for her ASAP!












Present time!














Family picture time....




































Then we were off to DOLLYWOOD!  It's basically been a life long dream of mine to go to Dollywood, and really if you're looking for a place that will go above and beyond in the birthday celebrations, go to the Smoky Mountains!  Dolly does big hair, big make-up, big boobs, and big birthdays!!!  Everywhere we went Lorelai was recognized, from the rollercoasters, to the restaurants, even the parking lot trams!  And, Lorelai, my all-girl-girl LOVED seeing Dollys costumes, and kept exclaiming "I love Dolly" and "Isn't she beautiful!"  It was a perfect birthday!















Miss Lillian's Chicken House restaurant, is an all you can eat fried chicken buffet, and my little Southern belle LOVES fried chicken and ate her biscuit for dessert!  Miss Lillian danced, and sang happy birthday for Lorelai!!







































I made my mom get this scooter, and it was fantastic!  We were able to load all of our stuff into it, and Lorelai and my mom were able to quickly and easily get around without tiring out!















Family photo at Dollywood's Gristmill!  














More than anything Lorelai wanted to explore the play grounds, so we indulged the birthday girl and she had a blast just playing and "performing" for her most favorite fans, us!

Lorelai's 5th Birthday Video

Wordless Wednesday

Quote of the Day

"Fall is time of both nostalgia and renewal."- Lululemon FB Status

I love this, especially as we are one week out from Lorelai's FIFTH birthday.

Marley & Me

“He taught us the art of unqualified love. How to give it, how to accept it. Where there is that, most other pieces fall into place.” - John Grogan


We have been kenneling CC since we got her, but about a month ago I thought maybe we should leave her out during the day.  So we did.  And, she did fine for about a month... with the exception of once she knocked a box over causing our alarm to go off and the police to respond.  Oops.  Then last week I came home to find that she chewed up my Ugg boots, and tore Lorelai's duvet cover, and she ATE my glasses, leaving only a tiny bit of the frame and the lenses.  She is back in the kennel for now, maybe she's just not old enough to be out during the day yet? 

Anyway, this is our first family dog.  Really, my first dog ever.  She's amazing... like unconditional love, and added warmth to couch snuggles, and patience with Lorelai putting clothes on her, and make-up and hair bows, and squeezing her rentlessly.  She is exactly as everyone described a rescue dog to be, she seems truly grateful and it's like she "knows".  But, then she has days where she knocks us over with her excitement, literally, and does nearly $700 of damage in an afternoon. 

All of this to say we watched Marley & Me last night, and were in stitches laughing so hard because CC could be Marley... the worst dog, ever.  But not really.  Not at all.  She's the world's greatest dog, too. 

“A dog has no use for fancy cars, big homes, or designer clothes. A water logged stick will do just fine. A dog doesn't care if you're rich or poor, clever or dull, smart or dumb. Give him your heart and he'll give you his. How many people can you say that about? How many people can make you feel rare and pure and special? How many people can make you feel extraordinary?” - John Grogan


 

Lorelai and CC Dog

The slide!

In the little patch and the corn maze...

The photo ops

Fun for the whole family!

The Pumpkin Blaster

Basically you load little pumpkins into this giant gun/machine and then you blast them down a field and try to hit metal trash can targets. 

The haul...

Lorelai explaining to us that she picked a papa, mama, and baby pumpkin.  Of course the baby one was juuuust right!

Riding TO the patch

Biggest Hit

Barrel Rolling

Also, super country, and super fun!

Country Fun

This cow ride was pulled by a four wheeler.  And, very fun!!

Pumpkin Theme Day

Eat clean pumpkin pancakes with clean raspberry honey syrup, off to the pumpkin patch, maybe a trip through Starbucks for pumpkin lattes, eat clean pumpkin chicken stew (it's already simmering in the crockpot), and we'll wash it down with pumpkin pie blizzards from Dairy Queen!