Tennessee

Hello my favorites! I hope you are all having a great start to your week. My kids and I left yesterday to come back to my roots, East Tennessee, to visit family and take a little vacation. I love coming to visit it's nice to be a tourist even if you grew up in the area. Today I got a mommy day and got to see a friend of mine, Kimberly. She and I have been friends since high school. We took a girls day and went to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Spent the day window shopping and going in all the neat little shops scattered throughout Gatlinburg, and grabbed dinner in Pigeon Forge! It was a nice relaxed day. A well needed mommy day! Of course when I am away from my little ones, even if only for a few hours they are still constantly on my mind. In one of the little shops we went into today I ended up getting the my older two a little box each that old a "dinosaur bone". By the time I got home they were all already tucked tightly in bed, but I'm sure they will be very excited to get them. Then I got all three new little activity pads by Melissa and Doug. I love that company, they always make the cutest, neatest little toys puzzles and coloring things. I'm saving those for our journey back home this weekend when we leave. Thankfully they did really well on the drive down here, but it did take 10.5 hours with the stops and all that had to be made. I'm sure it will take just as long to get back. Thank goodness for dvd players, red box, and patience. Tomorrow I am taking my older two back to pigeon forge to go to Dollywood. Mason, my youngest, is still too little to ride any of the rides or really enjoy it I think he would just be upset to be in a stroller and missing his nap time. He will have plenty of chances to go as he gets older though! :) I can't wait to go we have been to a Disney park, Sea World, carnivals, and last year was the first year we went to the fair so this will be fun! I love making memories with them like this.

I would like to reach out to my fellow foodies for new recipes! I am going to have a pretty good sized cook out this Thursday and I would like to get new recipe ideas for side dishes! If you have anything you would like to share, please feel free to share on Country Mom Chef's facebook page, or email them to CountryMomChefHeather@hotmail.com. :)

Have a fabulous week!! Sending much love from Tennessee!