On the road! RF rode with Meme and Ellis rode with RA and I...
We made it to Tennessee!
That's our exit!
Lunch at a yummy Mexican restaurant with cute Christmas ornaments on their tree...
He said he was freezing...
He LOVES chips and cheese dip...
Chatting with penguin while we stop for gas...
We made it to the cabin!
Super excited for a week of FUN in the mountains!
The immediately found the pool table...
And of course their daddy showed them how to play...
Ellis plays his own way...
Meme and I ran to the grocery store, we heated up a pizza for dinner, and then enjoyed a relaxing evening in the cabin before our first full day enjoying the Great Smoky Mountains...
Morning sunrise from the front porch...
We love the mountains...
After breakfast we had plans to go out and about...but the cabin was at the bottom of a super steep hill that was COVERED in wet leaves from the previous few days of wind and rain. We could't get up the hill...my car kept sliding, so finally a local man came and blew off the road so that we could get out.
A CLEAN road so that we can go explore!
Beautiful view from the entrance to the cabin...
Meme and I headed to some antique stores to see what we could find...
I love antique stores...
Vintage Christmas decor...
An evening walk with my littlest buddy...
Love the mountain views...
He loves his mama...
Pretty leaf with water droplets...
That's a turkey...a wild turkey walking across the trail...
Some yummy hamburgers for dinner and then a friendly game of dominoes...
And a puzzle...
We love Snoopy!
Warm cup of coffee and a white chocolate covered oreo...
Enjoying some chocolate ice cream!
Ready for bed!
Wednesday morning we ventured over to Cades Cove to explore!
Stopping for some little boys (and RA) to wander along the mountain river...
I love mountain roads...
And they love mountain rivers...
Of all the times we've been to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, we've never been to Cades Cove - it was so pretty!
Having fun exploring!
Just wandering...
So pretty!
Handsome boys!
John Oliver Cabin...
Can you imagine that view everyday? So pretty!
Exploring!
Wandering...
Daddy gives the best piggy back rides!
Just walking and chatting...
I love the open space and views!
Deer!
Cades Cove Methodist Church...
I love wooden pews...
What a peaceful final resting place...
We love exploring!
Excited to see the deer up close!
After a busy morning exploring, we stopped for a bite to eat at a local restaurant...
A little coloring while waiting on their food!
We stopped by the local post office to drop off our first postcard of the trip!
After a quiet and low key afternoon at the cabin, we made spaghetti for dinner...someone loves spaghetti!
And then it was time to try out the jacuzzi tub!
They thought it was the BEST thing!
"I'm bubble man, mama!"
A good soak in the tub makes you pruney!
Wednesday AM the boys and I got up early to spend some time at the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge!
So excited to visit the Titanic Museum!
Anchor!
The only place you were allowed to take photos or video was at the end of the tour in the room with this LEGO replica of the Titanic!
Amazing! A 10 year old boy made it!
So cool!
Sweet boys!
Having fun!
Being silly!
After the museum we headed back to Gatlinburg to meet Aunt Haydn, Uncle Nick, Toby, Meme, and Mamaw for lunch. Look who we saw on our drive!
Time for some pizza!
Taking a look at the map to decide what he wanted to do in the afternoon...
Holding hands with Toby...
My two boys LOVE Toby!
We decided to take a ski lift up to Anakeesta - a mountain top theme park of sorts.
He was a little un-easy about it...
Toby and I had a blast!
Sweet boy - look at those EYES!
Sunset at the top of the mountain!
Ice cream for dinner is perfectly fine when you're on vacation, right?
When Uncle Nick lets you finish off his brownie...
Really pretty views!
RF way ahead of everyone and Ellis enjoying walking with Aunt Haydn...
So pretty!
Meme with all of her boys!
What a view!
A little unsure about this thing...
Gorgeous!
A little obstacle course fun!
Truth.
Time to wander the rope bridge!
Ellis leading the way (actually he had to walk in front of me because he and RF were arguing...#eyeroll)...
Now it's RF's turn to lead the way!
Pretty, isn't it?
Rope bridge selfie!
Mama and her boys!
Ellis decided to take the open air ski lift down the mountain with Aunt Haydn and Uncle Nick...
He loved it!
My more practical kid...safe inside the enclosed ski lift with mama, Meme, and Toby...
Such pretty views of Gatlinburg...
He loves Christmas!
And is a daredevil...
Sweet baby boy...he fell asleep on my chest while we were going down the mountain!
A busy day calls for a glass of wine once we got back to the cabin!
I have no clue why he was doing this...
Thanksgiving morning fun with...an egg...
This is Egger...unfortunately about 5 minutes after this photo Egger was bumped and splatted all over the floor...
Mr. Happy ready for Thanksgiving!
Mr. Grump not ready for Thanksgiving!
Enjoying his warm onesie...
Taking a back road out of the cabin to avoid the huge leaf-covered hill...
Hanging with Aunt Haydn at Thanksgiving!
He loves Toby!
Sisters!
Dropping off another post card before heading to Dollywood!
Dollywood!
It's A Wonderful Life!
Having fun on rides with Lily!
Having fun with Meme!
Pretty lights!
Chapel...
Dinner time - homemade cornbread!
YUM!
Watching the Parade of Many Colors!
Parade time!
A train all decked out!
Mouse and cheese!
Snowglobes!
Butterfly!
Dove!
FUN family photo!
Love my boys!
Packed up and ready to head home!
But first one more stop in the park...
Explorers...
He's happiest when he's outside!
Wandering...
Family...
Pretty falls...
Piggy back rides from daddy...
Daddy helping his buddies get to an island in the river...
They made it to the island! Brave explorers!
My buddy!
My hubby!
My sweet family...
Love these boys!
Mailing our last postcard of the trip!
Lunch at...Cracker Barrel!
Super excited to have beaten his daddy at checkers!
Thank goodness I stopped for coffee...traffic jam on the drive home...
Zonked!
We had a great time in one of our favorite places - the Great Smoky Mountains!
