Thanksgiving Trip to the Smokey Mountains

Thanksgiving 2008

We took at trip up to the Smoky Mountains for Thanksgiving. We did lots of fun things - ice skating and Alpine slide at Ober Gatlinburg, the Dixie Stampede dinner show, shopping (and laser tag/bumper cars for the kids) in Gatlinburg, hiking, touring and picnicing in Cades Cove (part of the National Park) and going out to eat. The best thing about the trip, though, was getting to see Marc's brother Jason, Karen and their 5 children. They live in Louisville, KY and we do not get to see them very often.

Getting ready to go down the Alpine Slide.

Resting and warming up inside afterward. It was very cold, icy and we even saw a few snow flurries!

Square Dancing to "Rocky Top" at the top of the mountain over Gatlinburg.



Posing at the top for a nice family photo.

Along the roads in Cades Cove, there were many areas to hike and sight-see. This is a place we stopped to have a lunch picnic. The kids, of course, had to see if they could make it across the river on the rocks. We ended up having to buy dry socks later!

Aunt Tonya came down from Knoxville to tour Cades' Cove, go to Dixie Stampede and eat Thanksgiving dinner with us. She was able to get this photo of the entire Allen Family!

Aunt Tonya joined in on this one for a "Girls Photo".

Beautiful scenery in Cades Cove.

We hiked up to a primitive cabin and got to see how people lived long ago. Here are the "big" cousins (Alden and Elizabeth napped in the car) together on a log. We also toured a working grist mill. It was so cold, the supply to the water wheel was leaking and making icicles!

href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZlhmA8iSYq87rEd48zMlmFA4YVZEL0GklSU886_VjMKSi66BmkKMEi0RMY3Wc9EJ_2x_OCWlhCR8N2g-MUZucnsl_UIuMtHxXmBMEMuhlXTvxIUCFpTcc-ScoFBt9hrcdClxf_MnoLRs/s1600-h/100_4030.jpg"> During our hike, we spotted a huge buck walking very near to us. We followed him a long time and then he went on his way. The kids were thrilled.

We drove a long way to get this photo!!!

A good time was had by all...

Gaines' Play

Christmas at the O.K. Corral

Gaines' 3rd grade play was called "Christmas at the O.K. Corral". It was Western themed and had a cute story-line. Bubble Gum Bart tries to take away Christmas from the town of Snowy Gulch. Gaines did not want a speaking part this year but he enjoyed singing and dressing up as a cowboy. Notice the set design - Jennifer drew out the buildings and cactus on large boards and a team of ladies helped paint.

Check out "Cowboy Gaines" with the red plaid shirt, blue bandana and straw hat (in the middle).

Halloween

Trunk or Treat

The boys dressed as football players and we went up to Christ United Methodist Church for their Trunk or Treat celebration. People decorate their cars and the kids can walk around and are safe. We got tons of candy and got to see several old friends.

Andrew's Birthday

Happy 7th Birthday, Andrew!

We invited a few friends from school and the neighborhood to join us to play and have cupcakes.

Later that evening, Mimi and Papaw, Grammy and Uncle Gene and his crew came over for dinner (pizza) and sang again with a little cake.

Andrew saved his money from doing chores and also asked for "cash" from his grandparents in order to save up for his new Nintendo DS. We are proud of him.

Jennifer's Birthday

We celebrated with dinner and cake at my mom's house. The boys are "helping" me with my cake. 38 years ago today...................

Maiden Voyage

Although I am much of a "land-lubber", we got the boat launched (at our neighborhood boat slip/launch area) thanks to Marc's expertise.

The captain...

Although it's the middle of October, the kids insisted we go tubing. We borrowed our neighbors tube and decided we'd try it. Here is Andrew getting ready to go...

There he goes! The boat has a nice 40hp motor, so it goes faster than you'd think.

Gaines is getting a kick out of watching his brother.

Now it's his turn...

Although the water is still warm, the air was chilly when the kids got out of the water!

A beautful fall day on Rabbit Creek...
A good time was had by all of us.

New Boat

The kids were surprised when we pulled in from school to find a boat in the driveway!!! After much looking and research, Marc located a 13 ft 1989 Boston Whaler to use for fishing in the river as well as skiing/tubing for the kids. It looks great and we will be spending our weekends either out on the water, or re-varnishing the wooden benches.

The Treehouse is Finished!!!

The tree house is finally finished thanks to the hard work and expert craftsmanship of Marc Allen (aka "Dad"). With the dangerous job of putting on the roof (remember the FLOOR of this thing is 8 feet high) and the inclusion of a "trap door", this fort is fit for hide-and-seek, water balloon wars, camping out and any other thing the kids can dream up.

Lake Martin Trip

This is a retro-active post. I will be doing a few of these to "catch up" the blog with all that we have been doing.

We went to Lake Martin with Marc's brother, Greg, and his family as well as our neighbors, the Patterson's. The boys learned to tube, kneeboard and ski. We also fished, swam, played volleyball, made s'mores and went boat riding. It was a small cabin but with large grounds.

Tree House

Marc is building the boys a treehouse. They got the design from the "Dangerous Book of Boys". Here are a few photos of different stages of construction. He did not add the roof for fear that Hurricane Gustov would promptly remove it.

New Orleans Trip

We took a day trip to New Orleans the weekend BEFORE "Gustov" decided to pay a visit. Marc's friend, Mitch, from Florida came with us. Eating at Cafe Du Monde, shopping the French Market, buying muffalettas at Central Grocery and perusing the art at the square made the trip a wonderfully typical New Orleans experience. We ended the day with a GrayLine "Katrina" tour which was very interesting. I am glad there is still a city to go back to for other trips and that the levees held.