A full day in the mountains!

I woke up this morning to the most beautiful pink sun rise coming up over the mountains...and Lila's warm pudgy hand on my face...I could hear the boys trying their best to whisper from the blow up mattress on the floor...but they were excited and ready to get up so the whispering was short lived and before long we were all up...and I happily had my coffee outside on the deck with Bumpa and the girls with the beauty of the mountain all around us!

 Our day in the mountain began at our favorite spot...The Chimneys! It is the most beautiful place with rocks and running water...and the perfect spot for pictures as the trees canopy over you and filter the sun for just the right picture light.

It was then off to the Sugarlands to see the big map and stuffed animals exhibit of the animals in the park...we all know it by heart but it is part of our tradition and so we still go every time so the little ones will know it well...Lila was particularly taken by the bear..."see that bear..right there," she said with delight!

We stopped to take a picture by the sign since Lila is the perfect age...it is her fist trip  here where she is aware of the wonder around here. It is so cool to sit there for the picture and think about the thousands of people who have sat right where you are sitting and have this exact same picture...with their family...and their memories.

Next it was Newfoud Gap and the beautiful ride to Clingmans dome...which I got to share with my Rollins in the back seat...such a little lover and a wild man in the same breath

At Clingmans Dome for the hike to the highest part of the park my cross country star son and nephew decided they would run up and they did with Rollins and Jeff! Jeremy and I followed with the girls.... and then Bumpa and Heather and Reagan .

I say the order of our arrival at the top because as Sarah Kate and I got to the top we could look down and see Bumpa below us...Sweet Sarah Kate called out "Good Job, Bumpa!" and this lady beside her told her to hush and be quiet...that she didn't enjoy screaming in her ear...I was fuming mad as her little face changed from delight to shame....poor k-kate...why some people have to be so mean I will never understand. Lila was so sweet and ready to comfort her sister right there as high as we could be!

 We stopped by our picture spot for our pictures that we take every visit to the smokies....it is something to see how the children have grown and changed with each photo session at this spot...this year Ryan and Riggs even took some of the pictures.

We went into the town that night to witness the magic of watching the taffy be made and fill our bags up with gummies, brown bears, and all the candy we wanted....and then it was off to the Doughnut Friar for the treat of all treats for me! Jeremy took the boys up on the sky lift and Lila and I sat in the truck and shared her first Doughnut Friar doughnut and it was amazing! The doughnut was good but not quite as sweet as her cinnamon sugar kisses after we had finished the last bite of bliss!

It was a full day of Mountain fun...and we all fell into bed...exhausted...but happy!