090718 - Picnic

090718 - We braved the Gatlinburg traffic one last time
to get to the picnic area in the Smokey Mnt park. L had packed us a nice lunch and the boys played on rocks and climbed and jumped and explored. We ate and explored some more then on the road for the long haul...

090718 - Walkin back

090718 - The boys headed back, helping eachother and being best of friends. Got back to the room and L had the car all loaded up! We got changed and checked out.

090718 - Last Swim

090718 - Up and all got bfast down, then the three amigos and I headed out for our last swim. Jack was swimming the whole length of the pool, Grant jumped in by himself and Dylan diving for missles. I got to throw them each a couple times and they loved it.

090717 - Comedy Barn

090717 - The boys rested on the trip home and when we got back we quickly got changed and headed to the pool.  We had a FANTASTIC time at the pool.  After a couple hrs in the pool we headed back to the room through the rain for a bit of rest.  We played and Grant jumped on out backs and made us all laugh.
All loaded up again for a final night on the town.  We went to the Comedy Barn show and the boys again LOVED it!  It was a great family variety show and we laughed and laughed.  Back to the room and Jack and I took a walk and sat by the stream.  He told me how he was part bat, because he can see in the dark and part fish, because he can swim so well and part monkey, because he can climb trees so good.  The little fella was tired so we didn't get to stay by the babeling as brook as long as I would have liked, but I was just happy to have him to myself for the time I did.  Back to the room where D was playing with this fuzzy worm like thing they got at the show.  Jack joined him and the boys put on a show for L&I while we started packing up...

090717 - Put put

090717 - After the zoo we headed back to base and happened upon a lovely little Chinese restaurant which everyone was thrilled to go to; but they survived. We also stopped at another put put course. It was pretty hot and we were on the all morning so a pretty quick and stressful game.

090717 - Pony Rides

090717 - The last station was the pony ride and J&G saddled up and took their rides. They had a really good time on the ponies: Jack rode Rusty who is close to 30 and been giving rides since 92 and desperately needed the farrier to pay him a visit. Grant rode Patches and loved it. Patches was well behaved until Grant got off and jumped around a bit. Grant was tickled and even got a shirt that said I took a pony ride... Great time for all until G went to pet the cat and it scratched him.
Only thing I didn't like a out the stop was Dylan NOT taking a pony ride. He thinks he's too big. He's growing up too fast...

090716 - Back to base

090716 - After the show we stopped at a couple shopping joints and battled the traffic. We got home and then more swimming! After the swimfest we had a snack and played with our new toys. Got the boys to bed and trying to plan the last full day.
Ugh I hate saying that! I don't want this end. They are growing too fast and are so cool to just spend day after day with. I want them to stay little and think I'm cool and like taking walks and swimming and thinking throwing rocks in the creek with me is the best thing ever and hearing them say 15,000 times 'Daddy look at this!', 'Daddy watch me! (SPLASH!)'. This week, once a year, are the best days and... Well, I can't express it without falling apart...

090716 - Black Bear Jamboree

090716 - We got to the Jamboree and they served us dinner and then what a show! Our boys LOVE shows! I mean they watch every minute in a complete trance. I even had to buy the DVD of the live show we just saw so they could watch it on the way home...

090716 - The Fam

090716 - After a good swim and a light lunch L got all us boys dressed up and we headed out for dinner and a show. What a good looking family if I may say so myself!

090716 - Golfing

090716 - After bfast we hit the Davy Crockett mini-golf course. We had a great game and saw lots of cool stuff. Then more Swimming!

090716 + Pancakes

090716 + Everyone up and out to the the place the locals go for bfast. We had mounds of food and it was GOOD. The fam headed out to ride the dinosaur as I paid the bill.

090715 - Jumper

090714 - Second 2 headed calf!

090715 - Believe It or Not! My boys are the luckiest in the world, you can see it in their faces! Our last stop on today's outing was at Ripley's Believe It or Not! Here the boys were amazed and stunned at the things they saw. How many boys get a great vacation with two, count them TWO, TWO HEADED CALVES ON THE SAME TRIP! How lucky are they!?!?!
After 6 hours of walking and seeing the sights of Gatlinburg we had 3 VERY tired and GRUMPY boys.  So I did what any good dad would do; bought each boy a pistol and set them loose on eachother!  Got them back to the room and we all chilled put for a couple hours. Then we went to the pool with the waterfall for a couple hours. We had dinner and then just played and hung out watching the rain.  Then Grant went at little crazy, see the video above...

090715 - Gatlinburg

090715 - After the aquarium, we walked around downtown Gatlinburg, grabbed a quick bite and then toured another 30,000 do-dad and toy shops...

090715 - Fishy

090715 - All up and out. First stop, Ripley's Aquarium! We walked around and under sharks, stingrays, pirahnas, and more fish than we ever knew existed. We tried to pet the stingrays but mommy was the only one to reach in and touch their wings. They swam really fast and also shared a tank with some sharks so we had to move our fingers out of the water really fast when the sharks came near us!

090713 - Running Water, AWESOME!

090712 - WE MADE IT!!!!

090712 - Not long after the Rubic's Cube we hit the tourist traffic at Pigeon Forge... But we turned off the TV and forced the boys to look at all the sites. They saw LOADS of things they wanted to do and buy :-( Then we stopped at a dinosaur musuem. Pushing on we found our resort. We got unpacked as fast as possible and then hit our new favorite hang out for the next 6 days, THE POOL!!!!
We all swam until we had to get our rasin pruned bodies out to go find some food. Down into Gatlinburg and way too many people! We found a place to park ($$$) and then I hit the parking attendant up for a good local place to eat. We had to walk a couple blocks and back in an alley, but we found it, the Best Italian. We had a spectacular meal. Jack choked on a cheese stick which I pulled from his mouth, along with the 6 inches he had already swallowed... Yuk, but it gave us a good laugh after he said 'that was all the way in my belly!' Grant enjoyed pilin up the minced garlic on top of his rolls, he'll smell good tomorrow... and Dylan ate so much chees stick and rolls he couldn't eat his dinner... Back through the crowd, a couple 'Gift Shops' (Dylan's favorite) and to the car to get to the grocery. We got our groceries and then back to the room. L got a snack for G while DJ&I took a walk around the resort checking out the pools, listening to the creek and looking for bears! Back and all boys to bed, no complaints from them... L&I up looking at all the phamplets trying to plan a fun week.