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.