20190519 - Long Drive for Local

20190519 - Up in the am to too many people asking me to do too many things... Got to the field on time and got things lined up for the game. The first game was good against a local team and our boys were on and did their thing for the W - GLBLUE 12U (8) vs Knoxville Fire (3). After the game we left our stuff at the fields and headed to Quaker Steak & Lube for a long lunch. Back to the fields for game 2 against JBAC, a team from Mansfield OH and the curse of the between game delay set in and we were done... L - GLBLUE 12U (2) @ JBAC (17).  The game was not good and we were out of the tournament so we packed up and headed home. But this was a great experience for the boys.

Got on the road, stopped for ice cream and gas, one more stop for gas and to eat dinner. Got American Idol playing in the car for L and heard of huge delays on 71 so went home up through Wilmington and Washington Courthouse to get home around 11pm. Checked in with D&J and heard about their weekends: D had practice and J had his big end of year choir concert that GmaW took him to. Headed off to bed. Up 3 times in the middle of the night.

20190518 - Beautiful Baseball Day

20190518 - Up in am and we headed to bfast. Then we split up a bit, L hanging out at pool with the girls, G went tot he field with the team to see the other Gahanna team play and check things out, I hung out int he room and got some things done. Terrill wanted to go exploring and I am all for that so G&I joined him and 3 other boys and we went to see a new sky bridge, line too long. We then stopped along road to explore river, G leading the way, he only one to fall in up to his waist hahahaha! Went to visitors center got directions to another park that had a waterfall. We got there and took a short hike to Cataract Falls and the boys climbed and explored and the boys did OHIO on top.

Back to the hotel and rested a bit before heading to the fields. The place was AMAZING. It had a brilliant layout and the setting was amazing. The 1st game was delayed twice for lightning and then a downpour. The boys made the most of it and G put cups on his ears, a trick he learned from his big brother and they played tic-tac-toe on a baseball with other team. Once we got back to a game it was a good one and the boys won W - GLBLUE 12U (7) @ Knoxville Smokies (2). After a short break and move we started game 2 which was a bit more intense... the game was a bit closer than we like but the boys pulled it off W - GLBLUE 12U (12) vs Derby City Dragons (11). We got done about 10pm and the plan was o to Dave & Busters but too late for us so I spoke up, G not going, others spoke up immediately too, so all back to hotel and got pizzas and ate together in lobby. It was the better choice for many reasons. Long nice day.

D had a hot 3 hour baseball practice today, Nicole took J home and GmaW came down and took D&J out shopping for J's bday. They got some Cane's and came back to the house to eat on back porch and watch the Indians game. J had his girlfriend over for a bit.

20190517 - Dinner and Putting

20190517 - Up late and L had taken J to school and G is off to school, L at work and D still in bed. I am taking the day off today so we can drive to Pigeon Forge. I finished syncing and updating the phone as I got things ready to head out. I got D up, had a little 'talk' with him about getting his butt out and finding a job as he drove me to pick up the car. I then ran and got G out of school. Home and L was there. We packed up the car and got on the road to Pigeon Forge. We avoided some bad traffic and stopped once for lunch and to gas up. Then the rest of the way, checking in to the hotel and meeting the team for dinner. Most of the dads by this point had consumed way too much and it was a bit out of control... We finished dinner and headed to play some putt putt, L won. Back to the hotel and settled in for the night. I was exhausted from the drive.

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 + Up & Over

090713 + Rained like crazy all night... Everyone up in the am and had bfast and wandering around the room wondering what we would do today. So since it was a bit overcast and not real warm we didn't want to go swimming... we got everyone loaded up in the car and head to the national park. We stopped by the park visitor office to get some directions. The ranger said we may want to wait a day as it was overcast and we might not be able to see anything... Then I asked him what we really needed to see? He was impressed and said 'man you didn't do any research before coming here did you'. I calmly and quickly replied 'Why no. I thought it was part of the O'bama stimulus plan: if I did all the research myself, then what would you be doing?'. He gave me a look, nearly fell over laughing, and gave me the best park tips anyone has gotten in the last 3 years ;-P
we headed into the park and made first stop at a picnic area right next to a creek that was unbelievable! The boys went nuts, climbing Nd digging and throwing and laughing! Headed back up the mountain with a couple of bear watch stops. One stop at the very top where we stood in both TN & NC at the same tame! Then down the NC side where we went into Cherokee NC. INDIANS!!!
So not having a clue what to do here I stopped at a motel where there was unsuspecting clerk waiting for me. I spent a good 15 minutes with her, and then I had a plan! We headed into the reservation looking for the recommended lunch spot, but it was closed Monday's! Argh! But we found a buffet where the boys and I pigged out am L was MORTIFIED! After lunch we saw BEARS!!! How frigging cool is that!?!? Then we spent HOURS SHOPPING. Each person had to find something 'special' (oh how painful!). G got a cowboy outfit complete with hat and guns; the Indians around town really appreciated this little white kid screaming when they want him to get his picture taken with them and then draw his guns and blast them... J seems to be into quantity and got jewelry and beaded emblems and a wooden snake... D for the love of the Lord couldn't find a thing in the tourist stores, so we found him a place off the main drag, a place that has things made one the local reservation. He found a real bow and arrow and was SO happy! L got a very ornate leather belt and one of those 'As Seen On TV' wonder purses. Me, I got a cane sword! The coolest thing of the day!
Back in the car and heading back to the resort. We started up the mountains and then right there, a HUGE ELK, standing right there just eating watching the cars go by... Amazing! Good very scenic trip all the back while gifts and rest were enjoyed. Had a fast dinner and to a different pool. Of course we had a blast and poor Jacky was freezing. Back to the room for Cheetos, ice cream and beef jerky! Relaxing by the fire preparing for tomorrow.

090713 - Running Water, AWESOME!