Trip to Virginia/Tennessee- Part 1

On Thursday afternoon we started making our way up to see Memaw and Pawpaw in Virginia.  We try to go at least twice a year.  We stopped the night in Knoxville and then arrived at their home on Friday afternoon.  It was so nice to see them, and the ride up is beautiful. 

Pawpaw let each child get a big handful of change out of his change bowl and then count it. 

The artist made a crooked arrow with his quarters. 

Charlie liked lining his up and sorting by coin type. 

On Saturday Pawpaw took us to Cracker Barrel for lunch and we ran by the bookstore for books to read on the ride home.  Julia read The BFG, Marc read the first book in the Brotherband Chronicles, and Tucker read The Way Things Work Now.  We enjoyed sitting around and watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy at night.  :)

And as usual, we played many rounds of Bingo. 

Unfortunately it rained all day every day the entire time we were there and we never got to enjoy their wonderful yard.  Still, we had a great time. 

On Sunday we went to mass at a Maronite Church in Roanoke, Va.  Then we had lunch at a neat place called Sal's.  They gave the children pizza dough to play with. 

Sunday afternoon we arrived at our 1/2 way point on the way home- Pigeon Forge, TN. We got to our condo and then headed out to have dinner at the Alamo steakhouse.

We always have fun with Wiki Sticks-

We decided to go to a little amusement park for the evening.  Everyone had a blast.

The boys raced in these cars over and over- Charlie LOVED it!

We also went on the big, giant track that went super fast.  Mommy drove Charlie, and Marky and Julia went in single cars.  Julia changed her mind and they let her leave the race early.  :)

Charlie slept in Julia's bed in Virginia and when we got to the condo he said, "I want to sweep wif Marc this time- Julia doesn't give me any woom!"  Now we have photographic evidence of the true bed hog.  :)