Into the Smokies

One of our fun summer trips was a family vacation to Tennessee with my mom (thanks Mom for bringing us all along on your vacation!) She rented a big three level cabin, WAY up in the mountains for all of us and we spent a week hanging out, sleeping in, and enjoying the general gaudiness of Pigeon Forge, TN beauty of the Smoky Mountains. My mom got up early every morning with all of the grandchildren and let us sleep in (I think she thinks she has to do this to keep us coming, but she doesn't know that we'd come anyway and she's darn right!)



This cabin was SO far up in the mountains that our van almost didn't make it. We got stuck on one steep incline and we had to unload the kids and Granny while my brother-in-law, Eric, used his mad All Terrain driving skills to maneuver us and our practically bald tires up the mountain. The next day, we high tailed it down to the local Wal-Mart for new tires and we were pretty fine the rest of the trip going back and forth. But there is nothing like sliding backwards down a steep gravel road, with a 100 foot drop on your right to take your breath away!

We had fun taking the kids to Ripley's Aquarium, checking out local shops and visiting (one of the MANY) mini golf/go cart/amazement park type of establishments with the kids. My personal favorite activity was shopping, which I partook of TWO days while there. I'm usually not a big shopper, but I have been so severely short on clothes that fit lately, that I had a good time at the huge outlet mall, stocking up!









On another note, Isabelle's birthday is coming up and Conrad mentioned something to her off handedly about getting her ears pierced. Well, that stuck with her and before you know it, we were at the Claire's in downtown Gatlinburg, getting the girls ears pierced for her birthday. She was a bit nervous, but she never shed one tear!