My summer vacation is quickly coming to an end. Last week Stephen and I decided to take the kids on a road trip and had checked into several different locations. With the funds being low we did not have a whole lot to choose from, therefore, we ended up in Cherokee, NC and made our way back down through Helen before heading on home. While in NC Stephen and I played a little while in the casino and took the kids whitewater rafting. We had an amazing time must I add. It was Brittaney's first experience on the water and I was a little apprehensive about her paddling abilities because she tends to be a little, well a LOT lazy! I must say we were pleasantly surprised. She and I managed the front of the raft while Hunter kept the cooler in the middle and Stephen steered from the back. Austin was on his own in a fun yak until we stopped down the river for snacks and drinks and at that time he and Brittaney traded boats. Once we got loaded back into the raft and started down the river again it was hard to keep up with Brittaney. She looked like a pro in the fun yak, and her Daddy was worried for no reason, she did great!

While in Cherokee we went to a petting zoo, did a little shopping, played in the creek, and had the kids ole time pictures taken. They turned out so cute and the kids actually had a good time dressing up. As we got ready to leave Friday morning I had to go to the laundromat to wash clothes because I did not know if we were going to spend the night somewhere else. Stephen, Hunter, and I went to the mat to get clothes washed and once they were put into the dryer Stephen and Hunter rode down the road to the fireworks store. I sat behind talking to the lady at the mat hearing her Jerry Springer story. Stephen calls me and quickly tells me " go look outside me and lil bubba are getting into the helicopter". So, I walked outside and waited on them to fly over. It was a short trip, but it was Hunter's first trip in the air and he loved it. Stephen said that he was scared at first, but did great. He was excited to be able to wear the head phones and be able to talk to Daddy. The clothes finished so we headed back to the hotel to get packed up and head towards Helen. Britt dropped Stephen and I off at the casino to play our $40 comp tickets that the casino had sent us. We were down to our last $20 and he called Britt and told her to come and pick us up. In the meantime, he told me "let's go to the $5 machine and put it in". I was not happy about that because I knew that we were going to blow our money. The first spin I did, and of course I lost! The second spin I told him to do to see if he had any better luck than I did. Of course, he hit triple seven's all the way across and won the jackpot! To bad we only played two bets and not three because we would have hit for more money, but I was happy with what he won because it paid for our trip. The kids came and picked us up and off to Helen we went.

On our drive towards Helen the scenery was absolutely beautiful. We were making our way through the mountains and headed UP the mountain...our headlights were facing towards the sky. Brittaney being the genius that she is says "Daddy are we going up the mountain or down the mountain?" Keep in mind she is an A & B honor roll student. If I had to choose I would rather her have book sense then common sense though. She did give us a good laugh. We finally made it to Helen to tube the Chattahoochee. It took us about two hours to float down the river, but it was definitely more work than rafting. Britt and I stayed together for most of the trip and Stephen and Hunter were tied together. Austin would occasionally run into Britt and I or Stephen and Hunter. As we made our way back to the car we changed into our dry clothes and it was off to the go cart track. Stephen and the kids rode the go carts while I took pictures. Hunter was actually able to drive the cart with Stephen and he was in heaven. He said "I been wanting to drive for years". We finished the evening with a great steak dinner at the Safari Steakhouse and then it was time to head home. Stephen and I wanted to sleep in our own bed, it's just not real comfortable sharing a queen size bed with a little boy who has to sleep under his Daddy's shoulder.

We had a great time and shared so many laughs that we will never forget. One of my main goals as a mother is to give my children memories that will last a lifetime and Stephen and I did that with our trip. We can not wait to go back next year! Now summer is coming to a close for me because I start school on July 12 and the kids go back the first of August, but I think they can say that they have had a great summer!