Gatlinburg 2012

Boys, this weekend was such FUN!!  Santa had given you boys a note on Christmas morning saying that part of your Christmas was that we were going to get to go to the indoor waterpark near Gatlinburg, TN.  Mommy and me decided that this weekend would be a good tome to go because it was also the weekend of my 40th birthday!  We had a BLAST!  We left home on Saturday morning, and we drove up to Gatlinburg....you boys had never really ever been to the mountains, so you were amazed at the views and how high we were.  Out plan was to go snow tubing on Saturday afternoon, but the tubing place had closed for the season the day before we arrived.  Nevertheless, we decided to have some fun anyway.  We hopped on the trolley and headed into downtown Gatlinburg.  We grabbed us some lunch, and we let you boys decide what you wanted to do.  You chose the Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum....i couldn't believe it...lol.  We saw the world's largest tire, an 8-legged cow, the world's tallest man, and many other things.  You boys really seemed to enjoy it.  After the museum, we walked through Gatlinburg and went in some of the shops.  We got you boys some ice cream, and then we decided to walk back to the hotel.
Then on Sunday morning, the really good part of our trip began.  We got up and ate breakfast, then we headed out to Cades Cove....a natural reserve in the Great Smokey Mountain National Park.  As we drove through Cades Cove, we saw about 200 deer, a few turkeys, and a squirrel.  I wanted to see a bear, but mom said that they must have been hibernating.  I had read this week that over 1500 bears live in Cades Cove.  I find it hard to believe that all 1500 of them were hibernating!
After Cades Cove, we drove to the indoor waterpark.  It was AMAZING!  All indoors they had a huge wave pool, 2 tube waterslides, 2 family waterslides, a big indoor pool with basketball goals, a big kids area with one of those buckets that splashes water on you, an area where you could surf with a body board or surfboard, and an indoor / outdoor hot tub.  We got into our swimsuits and we headed for the wavepool.  It was without a doubt the strongest waves ever.  They were knocking me down.  You boys had a great time jumping into the waves.  By the time we did it a few times, we were tired.  Then we went on to the other rides.  You boys loved the surfing...you were all 3 naturals at it.  By the time we were done, Jay was doing rolls and staying on his board.  We laughed at all the people that wiped out, fell off their boards, and got pushed up the hill....it was funny.  We rode the "runaway canyon" slide as a family 3 times...we could get all 5 of us in a raft on that slide.  You boys and Mommy rode a 4 person slide as well, the "storm chaser"...it was kind of like the toilet bowl.  I waited at the bottom for you guys on that one, and when you came out, Mommy was laughing so hard that she could not contain herself.  You boys looked scared to death.  Mommy said that it was so much fun, and you got so steep that she thought that Riley might fly out of the raft!  We also loved the hot tub...especially the outdoor part of it.  After swimming all day, we went to our room, and guess what it had....BUNK BEDS!!  You boys loved them!!  Cody slept on the top bunk, and did not fall off!!
Then on Monday morning, we got up and went back to the waterpark when it opened at 10am.  Mommy and Daddy were just going to let you boys play for a couple of hours, and then drive home.  Well, we sat there for about 5 minutes, and we decided that we were not going to let you boys have all the fun, so we went and put our swimsuits on and got in the pool with you!!  We played for hours!!!  When it was finally time to leave, we grabbed us some lunch, and then we went back to Gatlinburg to the place where Mommy and Daddy were married....The Chapel in the Glen.  We took some pictures there....it's amazing to think how far we have come in 16 years.  I could not imagine a better life than the one that I have.  You boys and your Mommy are such a blessing to me...I thank God that He sent you guys to me!  Then we headed home.  We started driving up the mountain, and guess what we saw...SNOW!!  Thats right...it had snowed on Sunday night on top of the mountain.  I was very nervous driving around the curvy mountain roads that had snow / ice on them, but we were careful and made it home ok.  I love you boys, and Mommy and I had a great time with you.  I hope that we created a memory this weekend.


Click here to see more of our Gatlinburg trip pictures.