We just got back from a quick little trip to Gatlinburg. It was a much needed time a way. We needed to push the reset button to help us get through the rest of this winter. While the girls were at school on Wednesday I packed their suitcases. Thursday morning they were surprised to see Daddy home, but they didn't questions it. We told them we were going to go to breakfast before getting to the school work for the day. After breakfast, however, we hit the road. It took them a good 30 minutes to start questioning what was going on. Even when I had pulled out some work for them to do in the car no one really said anything. I guess they are used to working on the go. After another stop the questions started to increase and then it dawned on them. One quick peek in the trunk answered their questions. We were headed somewhere for the night.
We drove into Gatlinburg and wandered around the city for a little bit. We let the girls pick one thing to do and of course they picked the mirror maze. They remembered it from a couple of years ago.
After dinner at the Apple Barn (we can't go to Gatlinburg without eating there) we checked into the hotel. After a quick change the girls were ready for the water park!
The wave pool was the favorite of course. Macy wore herself out in there! The water was too cold for this Florida gal so I enjoyed watching them from the edge.
Since we came in on a Thursday the lines for the rides weren't too long. Marc took the girls down one slide several times while we were there. Brooke is still a too little so I stayed with her. That whole cold water thing again...
These two enjoyed watching the large bucket fill up with water, but then they realized that when it's full it dumps. They hurried themselves out of the way really fast!
Kayla and Macy were so sweet to take care of their little sister, but somehow Macy eluded the camera a lot this weekend. She's not a big fan of having her picture taken and she is starting to master the technique of being out of the picture. Either that or she was so busy playing I had a hard time getting a picture that was in focus. ha!
We took the girls to Rainforest Adventures Friday afternoon. They have a lot of exotic animals and some local ones too. Kayla was fascinated with these cats. I can't remember what they are, but she enjoyed watching them. We also enjoyed talking to the birds. A few of them would talk back with "hello", "I love you", and "row, row, row, row your boat."
We also saw rats. I really don't care for looking at rats but I was pretty amazed at this litter of brand new babies. They had these newborns, another litter that was about a week old, another that was a couple weeks old, and another about a month old. It was neat to look at how they change...even if they are rats.
The girls fed the goats. It was pretty funny when these little ones saw us coming they climbed out of the fence for food. Another perk to coming during the week of the off-season is that there were only about three other families there. We had these goats all to ourselves.
Wouldn't want to be on the same side of the fence as this guy!
And this sweet little thing was born 24 hours before we got there. The worker was kind enough to bring him out for the girls to pet. He wanted his mama though so it was a quick little visit.
Brooke wanted nothing to do with feeding the goats, but she did put her hand under mine and we fed one together.
Sweet Macy enjoying her afternoon in the sun.
Marc let the girls pick out something from the souvenir shop on our way out. Macy chose a dolphin, Brooke and elephant, and Kayla a dog. None of which were even animals we saw. Figures.
I am thankful for this time away with my family. It was much needed and much enjoyed. Unfortunately Marc was only home for an hour and a half before he headed to the airport. He is off to England for business and I'm running the washing machine. Such is life. And I'm thankful for mine.
