Vacation in the smokies

Vacation…my middle name is vacation!!!  Even though we took a vacation during spring break we needed another getaway…who doesn't!!!  A road trip to Gatlinburg, TN was on the calendar.  Last Friday after the boys last swimming lesson we jumped in the car and took off!  I was a little worried about how well Nolan would do in the car but for the most part he did okay.  We stopped in KY and stayed at a hotel for the boys to swim and get some rest.  The next morning after a morning dip we finished the drive.

We stopped for lunch and it down poured while we ate. 

We finally arrived and wanted to take in some sights.  We ventured down to a park with the river flowing through it.  It only took several seconds before all three were barefoot and wading into the river!  Couldn't help but snag a photo of those cute little piggies!

This little guy follows every move this big brothers make!

Loved how they hiked up their shorts to wade into the water.  Check out those tan lines!

On Sunday, we started the day with a dip in the pool at the resort.  Next Nolan stayed to nap with Maw Maw at the resort and Bob and I took the boys to have some fun!  We ventured to a place called The Track…it was full of go karts, bumper boats, and arcade games.  We had so much fun.

On our way back to the resort, Bob found this cool little cascade that we jumped out to explore.  Wouldn't you know the minute we are at the top of the cascade both boys decide they have to poop!  Oh yes, we dropped drawers and made our mark on the rocks.  As Bob was wiping Landon with leaves we pulled off a tree he said in the most surprised voice, "I didn't know you could do that!"

Later that day we ventured into Pigeon Forge to check out this tourist attraction called The Jurassic Jungle Boat Ride.  Since we have just done lots of activities at home about dinosaurs I thought this would be so much fun.  I grabbed a brochure which included a coupon of course.  On the brochure it raves: family friendly multi million dollar ride.  We called and asked about it and the sales man said come on down it will be so much fun.  We arrived and while you wait in line there are several strange mannequins dressed up like paleontologists and a T-rex came out and roared.  The boys loved it!  I remember thinking that it was going to be fun.  Once we were all on the boat (Maw Maw sat in the middle of the front row with Carter and Landon, Bob and I were right behind them with Nolan) the doors to the ride open and it was complete darkness.  I thought they might be turning on the lights once the ride started…NOPE…the lights were out the whole ride.  When the doors closed behind us it was complete darkness with load scary noises all around us.  Nolan climbed up my body super fast and was clinging to my neck like a spider monkey. Carter had his hands over his ears and eyes clinched closed.  Landon was holding onto Maw Maws arm very tight.  At that moment I had the feeling of…"How do I get my kids off this ride and out of here?"  This was such a Bad Life Decision (BLD).  As the ride progressed there were spotlights that would come on to reveal a dinosaur.  The first pterodactyl was shown and I quickly say in a sweet voice, "Look guys, it's just like the dinosaur train show we watch on TV!" Then from behind us a pterodactyl swoops in carrying a doll that looks like a baby.  I was shocked…This was so ridiculous.  Bob then looked at me and said, "Just remember this was your idea!" The ride did not get better from there. It continued to be complete darkness with scary noises.  Then a spotlight appeared on a dinosaur that fanned out it's neck and spit water directly in the face of Maw Maw.  She was soaked and looked like a wet rat. Just when we approached the exit door and were celebrating completion of this night mare, the boat tips backwards as if to dump you out and a large T-Rex with bloody teeth comes down to eat you.  This was a ride I wish you could have videotaped our faces to see the reactions of all of our faces.  In the car ride back to the resort, Carter says to Landon, "Did you get a little scared when you saw the stegosaurus?" Landon said , "Oh yes".  When we asked Landon what his favorite part was he said, "Nothing of it." Even though I thought I would be up many nights soothing the boys as they have nightmares about this place, they begged to stop again every time we drove past.

This was a great start to our vacation!