Surprise trip

Koli and I went up to Tennessee for 1 whole week, while Nog was left behind for work purposes. We were sad to say goodbye for so long but I knew we would love it!! I wanted to surprise Brian so Pat and I had it all planned out one month before. He had no idea what so ever it was great and just how I wanted it. We decided to go straight to his work and have Pat come in holding Koli to see if he would notice. He had only seen her only at Christmas time, (besides pictures) so I was sure he wouldn't recognize her and sure enough he didn't. Pat called to front desk girl to have him go in back while we sneaked in and I hid behind the counter. He came back in front and was on the phone when Pat came in. He gave her a kiss and kept talking on the phone, not noticing Koli at all. Then he got off the phone and asked who she was holding.? Pat avoided the question and kept saying to Brian, "Say hi uncle Brian, say hi uncle Brian." like 7 times (I was going to say 5 or 10, but truthfully 7 seems more like it). He thought nothing of it, just thought she was being weird and picked her up out of Pats arms and started playing with her. Then he said again, "Trish, who is this?" It was clear he had no idea so I popped out from behind the counter. He said"Tuner (one of my many names) your in Tennessee! What the heck?" It was awesome!

We had so much fun together and did so many fun things, I had no idea that Tennessee was such a big deal, but it sure it and it sure is great and SO green! I love green places and I will live in a green place someday (mark my words).

One day Pat and I really wanted to go shopping.

1. Since we never do.

2. Since there were some amazing deals.

3. Since I know that because I'm on vacation Nog might let me spent a little bit more than usual. And I'm too far away for him to hurt me. :)

So we brought the kids along and poor kiddos didn't get a real nap ALL day long. Koli was passing out on me in the moby wrap and La had had it. So after both of them screaming and everyone looking at us in the store as if they wanted to kick us we decided to switch off driving around with them in the car so they could sleep. We should have thought of that long before, it was a great idea! La only slept for 10 minutes that day. They were such troopers. I didn't know I missed them all as much as I did till I got to spent some time with them. But I think it is true, no matter how much it stinks to have family so far away, I believe it does make the heart grow fonder. I love those 3. Leia and Koli became best buds, La would stick everything in Koli mouth and of course no matter what it was Koli would open right up with that bird mouth of hers. If I was feeding Koli La would come up every time opening her mouth too, she didn't want to be left out, even when she had just eaten. In the car they were facing each other and Koli would stare right past me next to her, right at La. I love how Leia calls every other baby "Leia" in her low deep voice she would see Koli and say, yeeeyaaa yeeeyaaa. And "hi" to every person she saw (multiple times) even when she was upset she would stop and say "hi" in the happiest voice she could.  She would follow me around and into the bathroom to watch me get ready and hold onto my leg. I fell in true love with that happy little girl! Makes me so excited for those days I have ahead of me as Koli grows up.

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Here we are waiting to get on our flight. I refused to pay for a checked bag and carried 3 giant bags. One I tried to claim as my purse, a carry on, and diaper bag. I was fought on taking on my huge purse that looked like a carry on but in the end I won and was able to take them all without having to pay for a checked bag. I did however regret that decision though once I realized how the crap am I going to carry 3 huge bags, a baby, and car seat and stroller by myself?

Well, somehow I did it while everyone stared at me, I'm sure wondering why I had brought my whole house with me. Koli did so great on the flights and layovers. I sat next to the nicest people who helped me out when she started getting fussy and it turned out to be quite fun.

Here we are at Dollywood. A huge theme park I had never heard of before. Kind of like Disneyland and Six flags mixed. They had some crazy scary rides but had a ton of rides and things for little kids too. We came one day with the babes and the next day just us while Patti's friend Deidre watched the babes for us.

First day with the kiddos...

First thing, Brian bought cotton candy for Leia. She loved it!

  Then we gave some to Koli :)

 First time riding a horse

 Then she drove us around in this little car. (she was the driver)
She seemed a bit nervous but in love at the same time.

Day 2

 Best and biggest pizza ever! I could have pizza for diner every night pretty sure.

Saturday I got to go to Brian's work and see what he does for a living.

I call it Zip climber riding (long story, not really just don't feel like explaining, and probably wouldn't be funny if I did. It's one of those you gotta be there to enjoy it kind of things.)

Hanging out before the ride.

 This is what we zip line through, are you serious?

Here is the bridge you go to last, then you repel down on the other side.
Um ya I could for sure do that every day!

Sunday at church Koli fell asleep on during the closing song like this. :)

 
 Relaxing

The view on their back porch. Hanging out in the hammock

 Everyone got a hair cut, including Koli.
First haircut down. "I don't know about this."

 Backing herself up into everything.
 She moves so fast going backwards now

 In Gatlinburg

 
This is the tallest man ever! He was 8'11! Brian 6'8 doesn't even come close. Koli is as big as his foot, barely.

 hahaha giving eachother kisses