Slip and Slide fun

It has been 90+ degrees for the past 3 days and it is not expected to cool off until Wednesday. Considering that our air conditioning has not been working and the community pool is not open yet, we had to resort to other methods of cooling off.

To my surprise, the boys spent hours slipping and sliding down the hill. And since they wanted to add an element of heightened nonsense, they went through an entire bottle of ajax (note the pile of white bubbles at the bottom). They learned that ajax makes you go really fast and it burns open skin.

I'm sure ajax in the grass goes against some sort of green platform but we should get credit for not using the air conditioner, no?

Here's to living green and good old fashioned slip and slide fun!

Peeping fun

Early in the morning we were greeted by our "peeping Toms." You should have heard them giggling out there on the porch, they couldn't stop.

No one is ready to go home today but we have to. Here's to a great vacation!

Here we are at Dollywood

A family shot

Everyone tries to get oriented

More mexican singers

Dan and Michael on this super high up ride that twists and turns upside down

the band and stilt walkers

The german stilt walkers

More rehabilitation of animals

A bald eagle nest is about the size of a toyota prius. Seriously.

There is a huge bald eagle conservatory and rehabilitation program on property. These guys cannot fly and will never be able to.

The biggest skillet I have ever seen. I asked the men how they clean it and they told me it goes in the dishwasher...

You can tour Dolly's tour bus and her museum. She is really talented and tiny.

The beautiful tulips were all over the grounds of the park. Pink are my favorite

We enjoyed the Imagine production. It was outstanding! No pictures, pls

The mystery mine roller coaster

The bird who squaks at you before you enter the ride

Guys on the ride (how do I love my camera!)

Just so you know where you stand

They had the cutest sayings on the wall at the mystery mine rollercoaster

Michael after the mystery mine

Matthew makes funny faces

Because Grandpa makes us listen to spanish tapes in the truck

Let's go do some go carting then shopping?!

While grandma and grandpa went to the theater, we decided to try our hand at go carting. The boys also did laser tag and played in the arcade.

Michael says the prizes are a rip off (I think that's how they stay in business...)

In any case, the boys had lots of fun.

Their hands were frozen when they got out of the go carts.

No arcade would be complete without blacklight glow miniature golf.

3hrs later-Now let's do some outlet shopping!

Eat here

We decided to eat lunch in the bass pro shops as it was recommended by one of the locals. "A five star restaurant, I believe" she told us. Well, not exactly five star but they do have an amazing bread that's rolled in sugar. It is to die for. Plus, we are in no hurry since it is still snowing outside! (If you click on the picture it will enlarge so you can see the super huge snow flakes.)

What should we do?

Let's go to Bass Pro Shops! It was a gigantic store. We tried on shoes, enjoyed skeet shooting, dreamed about a new boat or atvs, looked at the gear and then worked up an appetite.

Here are some of the black bears in the store (note: my children came in the store with the requiste sweatshirt)
Dan does skeet shooting (yes, we're those people who take pictures in the store)

We were so excited because we got the pink pig to come out!

Michael got the bottle to blow up

Matthew with the pink pig

We woke up to snow

As you can see, it was colder today and quite snowy. I guess we will have to do something indoors. You can see some of the snow that has fallen on the big mountain far away

In the town of Gatlinburg

After we had lunch and finished up at the river rapids we went in town to Gatlinburg. On our way a little black bear ran out in front of us then back into the woods. We had noticed the sign that said bears were around but we thought they might still be hibernating. Well, apparently not. And if there's a baby, there's gotta be a momma...

The temperature was falling like a rock and the boys were cold since they got soaked. No worries, there were enough attractions and places to stop and check out stuff to keep them occupied. Including a million and one airsoft gun stores. Is Gatlinburg a mecca for airsoft?

Now home to the cabin and hot tub!

Trip to the River Rapids

We went out to the river rapids at the Great Smoky Mountain National park. When you listen to the video you will get a sense for how overwhelming the water is because the background noise is from the water. It was beautiful.


Matthew starts on his journey on the rocks. Please don't get wet, ok? Dan and Michael start climbing

Michael is right in the middle of the rapids

Matthew trekking deep

The water was barely above freezing

Before they got soaked

A video of the rapids

In the cabin for some fun

We hiked our section of the mountain after dinner and then relaxed in the hot tub, played games and a few rounds of pool. Dan who wants to know where the beer is

Matthew vs. Grandpa

Mike, who we can't keep out of the water. "Mom, is it okay to swim in the hot tub?"

It's getting serious