Miles of Smiles!

We spent the past weekend at our favorite getaway:

Defeated Creek Campground in Carthage, TN!

Jason hooked up the camper on Thursday morning before work and we met him that evening for four days of peaceful fabulousness!  The campground is only about 75 minutes away and is a great place for bike-riding, swimming and memory-making!

After settling in on Thursday night, we woke up to a beautiful, hot Friday.  Jason headed to work for a few hours while the kids and I passed the time with fun activities and FOOD!  Cooper and I hopped on our bikes while Ivy rode in the cart and we went for a morning ride.  After cruising the campground, we rode up to the marina restaurant where the kids were thrilled to get a good dose of pancakes.  Our table overlooked the boat dock.  The servers love kids and are always attentive to their needs.  It is a simple little place and their friendliness only adds to its character.  Cooper enjoyed finding the artwork taped to the wall that he had made in the Spring when we were there with the Shaffer kids.

A big breakfast for a busy boy

Waiting for pancakes

With full bellies, we headed down the marina steps to feed the bluegill and giant carp.  For this purpose, the marina store sells bags of popcorn for $0.25.  These infamous fish seem to be the hungriest you have ever seen and they can gulp down a sandwich-sized bag in no time flat.  The fish are huge and they often pile on top of each other to grab whatever you throw their way.  The kids loved it and enjoyed getting splashed as the fish fought for every bite.

Feeding the giant carp and bluegill

Feeding frenzy

Super Elastic Bubble Plastic

After we finished, we rode back to the camper to cool off.  I keep a box of play stuff on hand which is where we found the Super Elastic Bubble Plastic.  Cooper and I played a bunch of games: "Chick-Tac-Toe" (a tic tac toe game from the Easter Bunny), Go Fish, spinning tops, harmonica, etc.  It was cool, quiet, down-time that we all needed.

Giant Green Bubble - the biggest one yet!

Ivy loves to color and she enjoyed the Crayola "Color Wonder" markers that miraculously only show up when used on the accompanying coloring book.  That is why I was so amazed to turn around and find her legs and forehead covered in blue and purple marker.  She apparently managed to dig deep enough in the box to find some hidden gems of fun that were not from the "Color Wonder" line.  Oops.

After Ivy's nap, we went to the campground beach to swim.  Ivy has finally figured out how to stay upright with her floaties on which gives her some independence in the water.  The beach area is partitioned off and is a great place to build sandcastles and cool off in the sweltering Tennessee heat.  We rode our bikes from our site and enjoyed some fun in the sun.

Jason returned that afternoon (with groceries) and we got cleaned up and started dinner.  He went on a deep sea fishing trip in July where he caught some red snapper and he threw it on along with brats and dogs for an early dinner.  It was amazing (as is most everything he cooks) and we all turned in early from exhaustion.

  

Dinner's on!

Red Snapper

Waiting for a bite

On Saturday morning, we headed back to the marina for breakfast because it was simply too hot to cook.  When we got back, Jason and Cooper went down the hill to fish.  We had picked up some night crawlers and they spent awhile enjoying some guy-time together.  Although they didn't catch anything, they had a nice morning together while Ivy napped. 

Fishing buddies

We all went back to the beach that afternoon to cool off and Jason pulled Cooper around in this huge inner tube.  He loved it - especially when he went "super fast."  Ivy and I played in the sand with a bunch of other kids - many of which had plenty of beach toys for us to borrow.

Ivy shares her ice cream cone

Saturday night was hot yet again and we decided to forego the cooking and try out a catfish place down the road - The Mountainside Cafe.  It was a total dive but we loved it and its artery-clogging selections of southern goodness.  We liked the catfish but the slaw and fried squash were superb!

The best daddy ever!

Off they go for night fishing

At dusk, the guys trekked off for their night fishing excursion.  Ivy and I went to bed and I awoke to the squeals of Cooper having caught his first bluegill!  He was so proud (almost as proud as Dad) and the tall tales of its size soon began.

Sunday we took a bike ride and then decided to pack up early to avoid breaking-down the campsite in the hottest sun.  It is always a lot of work for us (mostly Jason) but it is so fulfilling to come home to hear the kids ask: "When can we go camping again?" 

Taking a break on our Sunday morning bike ride

Dirty girl loves camping

Cooper devours his first Goo Goo Cluster

Plenty of room to roam

Batting practice

Rainy morning activities

Casting

Ivy meets Teletubbies

Dueling Checkers