Mammoth Cave National Park

Last weekend we decided to go camping up at Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky, there was a chance of rain, but decided to try it out anyway. We headed up early friday afternoon, pulled Emma out of school early. We stayed at the main campground, which is really nice campgrounds, at the entry way there is a store, laundry and showers, so thats nice to have with little ones camping. Just down the road is also a hotel and visitor center. Mammoth Cave got its name because its the longest cave in the world. so beautiful, and we only saw a small portion of it, the only way to see the cave is to take a tour and most of the tours that we can take the little ones on, sold out quickly. The kids loved camping, they rode their bikes, roasted marshmallows and playing in the tent. We cooked up some dutch oven potatoes and chicken for dinner, then came the marshmallows for smore's. We also went to a fireside where the forrest ranger talked about the different types of birds found in the park. We saw lots of animals: wild turkey's, deer, skunks, frogs, and squirrels. We had a great time.....up until the storm hit saturday night, while we were on a cave tour, the storm came in and quick. By the time we got back to the campsite, and it was still a downpour of a rain, our fears were manifested- we left the windows down on the tent and everything got soaked- the sleeping bags, airmattress, all our clothes. So we decided to pack it all up in the rain and head home a night early, who wants to sleep in wetness. Yes there is a laundry service at the campground but they were already closed. We enjoyed hiking and walking around the camp site and just enjoying nature.

Saturday morning we headed off to dinosaur world in Cave City just down the street from Mammoth Cave Park. The kids loved coming here, Rick especially.

Rick and Emma did a fossil dig, they dug for all kinds of fossils and after digging for 15 mins, they got to keep the 3 best fossils they found. Emma found 3 tiger shark teeth and was excited to keep them. Rick found a shell fossil, shark tooth, and a sponge fossil. Emma and Rick worked together to put the giant puzzle together.

After dino world, we stopped by a family fun center, we rode on a ski lift and went down the Alpine slide (this is the 4th state that I have done this in), Rick couldn't go down the slide but did enjoy riding the ski lift, Emma loved being able to ride by herself. We also rode on some go carts (oh Rick just loved driving the go carts) and then onto the bumper cars, Emma didn't like the bumper cars.

The New Entrance to Mammoth Cave, this part of the cave has lots of rock formations, we were in this part of the cave when the storm hit.

Even though part of the trip was literally a wash out, we did have a lot of fun and we got to see party of Kentucky. We will have to make another trip to the park.

Mighty Tikes Triathalon

On May 14th, Rick participated in the first annual Mighty Tikes Triathalon at the Williamson County Rec Center, ages 3-6. Emma was bummed that she couldn't race, for the first time ever- she was too old to do something. The race started with the bike, then a run and finish with a run through the sprinklers. All of Rick's little buddies also participated. Rick is #1 in Heat 1
Rick and Tyler (#6 in Heat 2)

All the little boys lined up on their bikes

(Makai, Rick, Tyler, Donovan, and Ashton)

Here is Rick on the run portion

Here he is running to Finsh, and he WON his Heat! Yeah Ricky

He Didn't like the sprinklers and kept running around them (as did most of the kids)

Everyone got a medal, and the look on his face when daddy told him that he had Won the race, Rick was sooo excited and really Happy!! we were soo Happy too! When he started the race on the bike portion, he just took off from the rest of the pack and had a huge lead on the other kids. He really loves to ride his bike, and we ride often as a family. Emma was a great cheerleader.

All the little winners with their medals, what a great experience for these little athletes.

Rick loves to be active and race Emma around the yard and gets competitive with his parents too (wonder where he gets that from....both of us!)

All the Happy Moms at the Finish Line!

Easter 2011

Chattanooga Childrens Museum

On the way home from Atlanta we stopped by the childrens museum, kids choice. They really enjoyed playing and having alot of fun learning. Rick dressed like a dinosaur
digging for bones

I thought this saying was pretty funny