Trip to Gatlinburg!!!

So my brother Joe called me Wednesday and said to meet them in Gatlinburg, TN - they had been up there all week staying in this beautiful cabin the mountains. It worked out perfectly and we were able to go at the last minute! We loaded up the car and drove up for the weekend! It was the best spontaneous decision we have ever made! We got there Thursday evening and Joe had grilled all this meat and they had dinner waiting for us. After we put the kids down we talked, ate junk food, played games, and got in the hot tub (there was a huge hot tub on the back patio!). Not to mention the view was spectacular!

Right after we arrived

Chase & Uncle Joe

View from our cabin - absolutely beautiful!
Friday we decided to hike the Great Smoky Mountains. We found this 200 ft. waterfall that everyone stopped at the bottom to check out. Not us, we climbed to the top! It was such a gorgeous hike and the kids did so well. Chase just chilled on Ramon's back the whole way, didn't cry once. On our way home we saw a baby black bear in the wild!

The view from the top of the falls

The bear!
Saturday we went up to Gatlinburg and hung out all day around town. When we got there we stopped at an Old Time Portraits studio and got some old Western photos done which was so fun, I always wanted to do it! (picture to follow, I need to scan it in). Then we went to this place called The Pancake Pantry which was the best not only breakfast, but meal we all had in a long time. It was seriously heaven. I have never had better pancakes in my life. After we stuffed ourselves, we rode the skylift to the top of Gatlinburg and went down a waterslide and alpine skied which is this sled thing that you sit in and ride down on a track. The kids rode a couple other rides and played in the kiddie area. Since we had checked out of the cabin that morning and we were all too tired to drive home Saturday night, we decided just to get a hotel in Gatlinburg the last night which we are glad we did! Ramon & I went to dinner - this place called Cherokee Grill which was delicious and Chalice and I walked around the shops Saturday night late. We stopped at a candy shop and got fudge and other goodies and another shop where Chalice got a henna tattoo (only lasts 2 weeks) on her back! We didn't tell Joe until he noticed it when we got back. It was so funny to see his reaction!

The weekend was so much fun and we are so glad we went! Thanks Joe & Chalice!!!!