Fall Break in the Great Smoky Mtns.

We just took our annual fall break trip to the Great Smoky Mtns. Mom has treated us the last couple of years to a cabin rental and 3-4 days stay in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. This year our cabins were in a great location in Gatlinburg so we were close to just about everything. Our family went, Tracy's family went, and of course Nana went.




On our first night there (Wednesday), Nana, Randy, and I took the kids swimming outside (in October!) The cabin resort had a heated outdoor pool that stays open until Thanksgiving. The twins had a blast swimming in the kiddie pool and the "big boy" pool which had a waterfall. Corbyn and Elijah always enjoy swimming so they were in heaven of course. It was so beautiful and surreal swimming surrounded by the beautiful foliage. I didn't take my camera to the pool because I knew I would be swimming so I missed photo ops. There was an adjoining playground to the pool which the children played on after drying off. Needless to say, the kids slept well that night after swimming hard and playing afterwards. I regret not taking my camera because that was the only night that it was warm enough to swim outdoors.



The next day we went shopping. Randy was kind enough to take the boys to a couple of parks so the rest of us could shop. I have to mention that while at the park, Randy was approached by another gentleman who asked him if the boys were his grandchildren (heehee). When we got back it was too cool to swim in the pool but we hit the hot tub at our cabin.
The twins were obsessed all week with playing in Nana's car ("Nanny's core"). They would stand out on the balconies and cry to go play in Nana's car.

Of course Nana caved and the boys played in her car.

While the boys played in Nanny's car and watched the Wiggles, Elijah and Corbyn played air hockey, playstation, and video games. The cabin came with a video golf game and Ms. Pacman & Galaga. Uncle Dave spent some quality time at the video games too while Randy sifted through Elijah's newly purchased football cards (I'm not sure if they all made it back to Elijah's stack or not). Tracy and Dave provided cookout supper on Thursday that was delicious. Thanks Randy for doing the grilling. While the other kids played video games and air hockey, the twins longed for their favorite game - basketball. Fortunately, we found a Nerf basketball (over-the-door) game at KB toys and installed it in the upstairs game room. Carson was elated!

See the slide show for cabin fun...

Thursday night after the cookout, we ventured into Gatlinburg with the sole intent of getting doughnuts at the Donut Friar in the Village. We were so excited to get those mouth-watering donuts. After we drove forever looking for (free) parking spaces, we finally met up at the Village. The Donut Friar was out of our donuts (aargghh!) so we went to the Candy Kitchen instead. Corbyn got white chocolate candy and the boys got lolly pops. They were eager to share their lollies with Aunt Tracy.

The kids ran around the Village and touched all the pumpkins. It was a great evening out in Gatlinburg! More Village photos in the slide show below...

Friday began with a trip to Dollywood for Nana, Tracy, Carson, Micah, and me. It was the first trip to Dollywood for the boys. Randy and David took Elijah and Corbyn to play miniature golf. The boys liked the show at Dollywood but thought Nana was a little odd as she clapped along to the music.

They wanted to see the choo-choo train but not so much ride it. They didn't want to ride the carousel or any other kiddie rides either. They did get to pet a horse though as it made sorghum and they played the "duck game" and won stuffed frogs. We tried to get into another show but the theatre filled before we could get in. It was a pretty uneventful trip but we laughed the entire time at all the "loo-loos" we encountered at Dollywood.

Nana treated us to a picnic in the park Friday evening. We picked up Kentucky Fried Chicken and headed to a park in Gatlinburg. The children played in the creek and the twins went nuts (pardon the pun) over playing basketball with walnuts (we forgot to bring the basketballs). Believe me...Carson will find something to throw into a goal. No one fell into the creek.

The Reeders, Nana, and Corbyn headed to Cades Cove for a drive around the loop while Randy and I took the boys back to the cabin for some hot tub time. They loved playing with Daddy in the tub. The loop at the Cove was closed so the others ended up back at the cabin with us. Micah and Carson took a tubby and then went to bed. I played the "flash game" with them as I tried to catch them playing in the dark. I pointed the camera towards their bed not knowing what I would end up with on the shot. Check out some of the photos in the final slide show.