Vacation Part I (Maggie Valley, North Carolina)

August 26 - September 4, 2011

Family Summer Vacation

It is really impossible to sum up our last week. But I will attempt to go through some pictures of each day to show you just how wonderful our week has been. We set off Friday afternoon August 26 in the GMC Acadia fully loaded down for a 2 day driving adventure. We all had a blast and Isabel was in hog heaven to have BOTH mommy and daddy's undivided attention. We broke the trip up by stopping in Auburn (shout out to LBG!!!) at midnight and then finished the drive on Saturday to Maggie Valley, North Carolina.

Phillips' attending physician allowed us the opportunity to stay a week in his vacation home up in the mountains. The home looked like a wood cabin with 3 bedrooms/2 baths, a loft, a huge deck with hot-tub, and very spacious family/kitchen room. It was located almost to the top of the mountain and outside you could hear a waterfall....not too far away from us. It was perfect in everyway!

The rest of our trip in North Carolina was spent visiting surrounding areas of Maggie Valley, hiking, fishing, Santa's land, and of course some shopping!!

DAY ONE: Great Smokey Mountain National Park

Great Smokey National Park

Isabel ready to go hiking.

Mom and Isabel on hike

Twinkies!!

Daddy and his 35 pound pack.

Lookout point in Great Smokies

Cutest pic EVER!!!

Family of bears

Family shot at a lookout point after a 1 1/2 mile hike....and Isabel not participating in family picture time.

11 am to 8 pm we spent driving and hiking the National Park with picnic lunch on hike and dinner at BBQ place in Maggie Valley.

DAY TWO: Santa's Land Theme Park and Zoo

Candy shop

Feeding the fish

Brave racer!

Brave volunteer at magic show

Family shot paddle boating

We spent most of the day at Santa's land. Then we drove to the near city of Waynesville, NC to do some window shopping and dinner.

DAY THREE: Back to Great Smokey (Tennessee side of Park)

Jenkins Ridge Overlook

Creek on hike

Another Creek on Hike

8 am to 7 pm we spent driving and hiking in National Park with a lunch stop in Gattlinburg, TN.

DAY FOUR: Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC

The Biltmore....sorry no pics of us today!! We spent the day at the Biltmore Estate touring the estate, eating at the village, wine tasting, and enjoying the afternoon with ice cream. Then later that evening we watched the sun set at the Grove Park Inn.

DAY FIVE: fly fishing for Phillips and shopping for Laurel and Isabel

Daddy caught a fish in Cherokee, NC

Girl time in Highlands, NC

Vacation Part II (Greenville/Clemson, South Carolina)

For the second leg of our vacation we drove to Greenville, SC to meet up with some friends. Friday night (September 2) we stayed at The Foret's House (my Lake Charles friends: Jon, Shane, Emma 2 year 6 months and Raley 11 months). They were so wonderful for letting us take a glimpse of their lives all the way in SC. Their home is precious and their family even cuter. They will be moving back to Lake Charles this coming summer as Jonathan finishes up his Orthopedic residency. Isabel had an absolute ball hanging out with Emma, and Shane even provided them with matching princess gowns. The adults got to enjoy a night out in downtown Greenville eating at Pomogranite and then after dinner drinks at a local bar.

Saturday (September 3) we headed to Clemson to enjoy some quality time with Jon Hungerford. We also got to take a glimpse into how he spends most of his weekends during football season. His spacious and very comfortable condo is right across the street from the Clemson stadium. We tailgated most of the day and then gambled in taking Isabel to her first football game. Phillips was apprehensive and I was optimistic! She LOVED every second. Jon graciously gave us tickets right in front of the cheerleaders on the first row!!! So you can guess how the girls spent most of the game....thats right practicing cheer moves and imitating the cheerleaders, while the boys were behind us going back and forth in watching the game and picking out the cute cheerleaders. After the Clemson game, we watched the Ole Miss game and LSU game on the big screen at Jon's place. It was a perfect way to end our vacation! Sunday, we made to drive home.....the whole way to avoid weather on Monday from Tropical Storm Lee.

Go Clemson TIgers!!!

Isabel and Emma watching some Mickey and snacking on raisens

Jumping game on the air mattress!

Friday night dinner and drinks with Jon

The Jenkins and The Forets

Prayer needed

It is with great sadness that I bring you this news. Our dear friends Maria and Gianna Lewis lost their husband/daddy this past weekend. Maria has been a dear and close friend of mine since I was very young and I consider her a sister. She also serves in our life as Isabel's Godmother for those of you that may recognize this name. Iain was a wonderful husband, daddy to 3 year old Gianna, and great friend to many. I offer this family up today as they attempt to move forward with their lives. Please send pray for strength, healing, comfort, and peace.

First Manicure

Isabel's First Manicure: Club Tabby in Lake Charles

I sent Isabel to Lake Charles yesterday to spend some time with CC and Paw Paw. I got these pics from CC this morning via cell phone and could not resist blogging this experience....HILARIOUS!!! I have to admit I am so jealous that I was not there to see this.

Red polish with sparkles!!!

Singing at Club Tabby

Isabel and PawPaw

Paw Paw and CC made a special visit to New Orleans. We spent Friday night eating at La Petite Grocery off Magazine...which is a MUST for all those visiting the New Orleans area. Saturday, Phillips had to work and CC was tied up with a Silpada meeting; so Isabel, Pawpaw and I made a trip to City Park and Storyland. Below are pictures of the fun!!! Saturday late afternoon we met up with CC and ate at Superior off St. Charles. Then to top off our weekend, on Sunday we all had amazing brunch at Ralphs on the Park. What a wonderful weekend of eating and family!!!!

Watermelon Snack

I picked Isabel up from school today and she begged for watermelon. She ate 4 slices!!! And I might add that this marks the first day with NO potty accident. She wore the same pair of princess panties all day....HOORAY for my big girl!

Potty Training

We have been potty training for the last 3 weeks and here is our story:

The Jenkins Family Journey is planning on taking a 13 hour road trip to North Carolina at the end of August (just the three of us)....so in my mind I was counting on waiting until after we returned to really focus on potty training....in hopes of avoiding a 20 hour road trip with potty breaks every hour. Isabel had a different plan perhaps.

We have been reading books and watching "Elmo's Potty World" for about 3 months now. We have been talking about it and encouraging how BIG girls go pee pee and poo poo in the potty for 5 months. SIDE NOTE: Isabel has been extremely focused on taking care of her BABY doll "Sophie" (she is the BIG girl and Sophie's momma) which has added to our ammo of "this is just what BIG GIRLS DO!" About 3 week ago, her teacher reported that she seemed interested in going to the potty at school so she played along. Isabel was starting to go about 2-3 xs a day in the potty at school. So naturally we continued to practice at home. Her teacher recommended bypassing pull-ups, because Isabel was so good at working her diaper.....hint: she has been changing Sophie's diaper apx. 10 x a day for a long time and is quite good at the process. So three weeks ago we began and here we are today.

Today is the FIRST day Isabel has worn BIG girl panties all day with ONE accident at school!!!!! Yay!!! This is still such a working progress. She sometimes wants to go and sometimes fights us on the subject. Everyone says DO NOT push the issue. When she says no....I don't force it.

For all those Moms behind me in potty training. Here is what the incentive is at home. We have a potty chart and every pee pee is one sticker, every poo poo is two stickers. When Isabel reaches the star (7th sticker) she gets ICE CREAM at TCBY!!!! Yay, a plus for Isabel and Mommy!

Here are some frustrations. Isabel has had many accidents....pee peeing on my rug, the sofa pillow, blankets, in the high chair, and all over the hard wood floor. We have only successfully poo pooed in the potty ONE time....by accident. And here are the questions that I have askied myself along the way. Why is she regressing and going less and less now? Why can't she tell by now when she has to go? When is she ever going to poo poo in the potty? Does she really understand this chart?

So now you are up to speed. Wish us luck as we continue this process.