Smokies take 2

Day 2 of the Smokies began with a beautiful sunrise over the mountains....

the sun was beaming and so were my littles...so excited to experience the mountains again....

The day was the ...perfect.....fall.....day

Tradition called us to begin our day at the Sugarlands visitors center.....

and then tradition called us to one of our very favorite places...the Chimneys. It is just the best place to sit back and enjoy the beauty of your family.....against a beautiful back drop.....

see.......

Riggs was brave enough to cross the water by shimmying over a fallen tree...

He is getting so big....and braver every day....and as he crossed I see the sign that hung in his nursery..
“Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. Christopher Robin to Pooh” (Deep sigh)



Then we headed to Clingmans Dome....

and up we went.....

all the way to the tip top!

There were lots of bear at Clingmans Dome compliments of Uncle Jeff.

We climbed and played....laughed.... and took in the beauty of the mountains....

We also stopped at our favorite picture spot on the way down the mountain....

That night we went into town for candy.....

yes...$75 dollars of candy between all of us... (it was hard to choose....what can I say?)

and then off to the Doughnut Friar for my little piece of heaven...seriously it's too much happy for me....

At the fountain...Riggs made a wish...it had something to do with State...that's all I know....

 bhopefully it will come true!

Good night Smokies! What a great day!

Heading to the Mountains

We have been non stop....running...literally eating, breathing and sleeping XC. With state looming before us...we decided to take a few days of fall break and head to the mountains.

I was so excited to just.....be.....just be with my family.

 And the littles were beside themselves as well....they love the Smokey Mountains!

 I love them too...but I love stepping away from home to spend time together the most. I felt wrapped up in the warmth of family the minute we stopped to get the key to our cabin.

 We got there later in the day so we decided to head to the aquarium. The aquarium there is lovely!

 Grandpa and Bumpa were along with us on day one....and so was Mamaw.....it was so nice to bring her back to the smokeys and just be with her.

 It was a great first day of our little get away! We were excited to head to the mountains tomorrow!

Goodbye Smokies....

We said goodbye to the Mountains with breakfast at The Log Cabin...sitting by the fire and the smells of syrup all around us.... it is always so yummy!...and with a final rock on the porch we got in our truckster to head home! It was such a fun trip! It is always great to reconnect with family...to be around the people you love from sun up till sundown gives you a chance to really be with them. I know Jason and Tonya have only been to the Smokies with us once but I really missed them this year. I am working on a reunion with Mikey and the magic kingdom for next fall break so everyone start saving up so you all can come with us!

Another beautiful day in the mountains....

The second day in the mountains started just as great as the first one...with a beautiful sunrise and hot coffee but this moring we had the Doughnut Friar doughnuts so it was even better! They just melt in your mouth and there is something special about not being able to have something all the time...making it taste even better!

Running has somehow slipped into our routine...it is a given that Riggs will run and Jeremy too...and Ryan and Jeff...and now Heather, who is doing so well with her exercise since she discovered she has diabetes, runs too...so they went for a beautiful run in the mountain this morning! I was so glad they got to do that...running is importnat to all of them for different reasons but they all enoyed their four mile run together!


I hid 30 plastic bugs in the basement this moring and the kids had a scavenger hunt to see who could find the most! The prize...Halloween gear for everyone! The boys really liked their army skeleton hoodies with the zip up mask

 

We headed off to a beautiful creek for a picnic and time to skip rocks and enjoy being in the mountains! Sarah Kate is a champ as an explorer...don't let her girly ways fool you! The boys climed and played and I watched them all together..so beautiful as the sun hit their faces as it filtered through the trees...it is almost magical to sit and watch your children make memories.

We made the long drive to Cades Cove hoping to see wildlife but this year we only saw one turkey!The kids played there and crossed over a huge tree to the other side of the creek and we all sat in the leaves...not really wanted to go...happy to be there but knowing we had a long trip back we had to go.

 So we said goodbye to Cades Coves and headed back to the cabin where Lila was reunited with Lucky...a puppy Bumpa bought her in a toy store in the town last night...I am pretty sure she loves him with her whole heart...and pretty sure she thinks he is real. Welcome to the family Lucky!