We had a week off school this past week, and Tim took off work for the first time since we've been here in Georgia, so we skirted the city and headed up to the Great Smokey Mountains!! It was a much needed vacation for us all to remember we are a family and we love each other and there is more to life than waking up early, scrounging for food with little time to prepare, and hustling to the next "thing."
We went up there on Sunday, Sept 15-Thursday Sept.19. We stayed with the Ensign's on Thursday night at their cabin.
On Monday we went to the Titanic Museum and played around at the cabin. Tuesday we roamed around the shops and outlet mall at Pigeon Forge. Wednesday we went to Dollywood and had a blast!! We saw the Ensigns there and they invited us to stay at their cabin on Thursday night. Thursday we packed up and went to the Ensign's in Gatlinburg (20 min from the cabin we rented) then went to lunch and the Park visitor's center. We then did a driving trail/tour in the Park and enjoyed time some playing in the creek. Then Thursday night we played games and visited and the girls watched movies and played. Friday morning we packed up and headed home. It was the first vacation in a long time I was sad to come home from. I felt recharged and ready to tackle life again.
We had a great time. Here are some of the pictures to help tell the story. And a
Video
The girls on our way home, we had to stop at the sign!
First night at the rented cabin in Pigeon Forge, TN
A visit to the Titanic Museum. This was fascinating and so well done! We all loved it (no pictures allowed in the museum though )
The actual size of the anchor on the Titanic
Goofing off at the cabin, the girls play like they are ponies all the time!
La la laaaaaaa!!
Best vacation pass-time...
Our squirrel by the stuffed squirrel :)
The "smoke" in the Great Smokey Mountains.
Audrey being... Audrey
Picture looking up in the canopy as we drove through the park. It was so lush and green and beautiful. In about a month all the leaves will be turning colors for fall. This park was absolutely beautiful.
Out the window picture on the driving trail. This was awesome!
Kennedy was midsentence, saw the camera and gave me this pose, then continued on with her sentence. Goofy kid!
Little Pigeon River. It refreshed all of us as we waded and tossed rocks in it. It's sights and sounds were breathtaking (and life-giving)
Playing in the creek
All of us at the Ensign's cabin in Gatlinburg, TN. We ran into them at Dollywood, they are in our ward, and he is our Bishop! They invited us to stay at their cabin to extend our vacation another night, and it was wonderful. They were perfect hosts, they showed us all around Gatlinburg, and introduced us to Great Smokey Mountains National Park. It was truly the icing on our wonderful cake of a vacation.
Another shot in front of the sign Emma 10, Kennedy 5, Audrey 7.
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