Fall Break 2010

This is a beautiful time of year! I love the colors of fall and the crisp air, especially in the Smokies! For fall break we took a mini vacation to the Smokies. Matt and I have not been there in years (and never together), so we were so very excited to have a getaway with our family and my sister’s family.

There is SO MUCH to do in the Smokies. We didn’t get to do everything that we wanted to do, but our days were packed. We’re looking forward to going back so that we can go to the Titanic Museum.

Thanks to Stephanie’s recommendation, we stayed at the beautiful, scenic Appleview River Walk condos. Our view was breathtaking and the condo was amazing. The nearby Applewood Restaurant was so good that we ate there twice (dinner and breakfast).

On our first day there we went to The Pancake Pantry for breakfast and Wonderworks (aka The Upside Down House). It’s a kid’s hands-on museum, with plenty for adults to do also. Kennedy climbed the rock wall numerous times, and Case enjoyed touching just about everything there.

We went to Dollywood, which was a lot of fun. Kennedy is a coaster junkie. I’m glad she doesn’t have my weak stomach! Case enjoyed the coal burning choo choo train. He said, “Ride choo choo train,” so many times that day! And, we discovered that suckers are a miracle worker with him. Case doesn’t really like to eat them, but he LOVES to hold them! Please, never try to take a sucker from him! Seriously, he held one for about two hours that day.

(Notice the brand of the tractor.)

After Dollywood, we had fun just walking the strip, eating at yummy restaurants (no matter how bad the service), and taking funny pictures.

My sister, Lark, her husband Michael, and her daughter Paige watched Kennedy and Case so that Matt and I could do the Sky Lift in Gatlinburg by ourselves. It was so fun to go with them. They were very helpful with the kids, and they kept us laughing! I am so proud of my big sister, and I love that we have become such good friends in the last four or five years!

We girls went shopping our last full day in the Smokies. We went to the huge Christmas store and the huge outdoor (outlet?) mall. I could have spent all day there, but by the time we got there, we only had a few hours to shop.

Our last morning, Matt and I took Paige with us for breakfast (Kennedy was sleeping and Case didn’t want to miss Mickey Mouse). Then we all loaded up to leave. We drove to the Smoky Mountain National Park. Lark and her family did a little more shopping, and we actually met up again on the road.

Thanks to traffic and some closed roads, the drive home was LLLLLLOOONNNGGGG! But, we finally got home, and I have enjoyed being home this past week with the kids. Kennedy had a blast, and we made some special family memories!