Cade's Cove

On our last day in Gatlinburg we decided we should hop in the car and go see some of the surrounding area. We didn't really know where we were going...just started driving.  We ended up in Cade's Cove.  This is where Jayke went over the summer with his dad.  They went horseback riding while there.  We did not.  We didn't have time since we got there close to dusk and the park closes at dusk.  

We made it in before it closed and got lucky.  Dusk is a really good time to go for wild life viewing.  

Waterfall on the way to Cade's Cove

This little grey fox ran right up to our car.  We saw a bunch of deer playing and wild turkeys too.  No bears though.  We ended up being stuck in the woods in the park for a long time.  The traffic was not moving and it got dark while we were there.  Kind of creepy and it didn't help that Bobby wanted to discuss zombies, vampires, and werewolves while we were stuck in there.  The wind picked up and rain was moving in as well.  We finally made it out and narrowly missed having a very large dead tree branch crash down on the car while driving back.  Seemed like we had been in there forever and we were all starving by the time we got out.  That little jaunt probably should have been better planned but we enjoyed it regardless.

My budding photographers

Us

Our first picture together.  

More of our Trip

The final Ripley's exhibit we went to was the Mirror Maze which just happened to be inside the Ripley's Candy Store.  How convenient.  While in the maze there was a really little boy who kept running through the halls filled with mirrors.  His parent were following him but not keeping up.  I knew what was about to happen.  Sure enough, pretty soon we heard a VERY loud thonck!  That kid hit that mirror wall with his head so hard I thought for sure he would be unconscious.  There was a lot of screaming to follow.  Then a few minutes later...he did it again!  I'm sure there has to be a couple of huge knots on his head.  My kid was warned and managed NOT to knock himself silly in that thing.

  TO

And here is the ONE thing he wanted to do that we did not.  First of all, too expensive.  Second, chance of rain and I was not about to get stuck on that thing in a downpour half-way up the mountain.  And last but not least, my over whelming fear of heights...which has apparently gotten a lot worse with age.  Our hotel balcony terrified me.  If I got close to the rail my legs would start to ache, from the height.  It was ridiculous.

Below is one of my favorite pics from the trip...Bobby (and Jayke) at the Penguin Playhouse.  I love how Bobby is posing and Jayke is like WTH back there in the little cave.  I'm sure he was irritated with us about something that wasn't going his way.  

He did agree to stand next to the penguin so I could take his picture having a GREAT time too!  lol

I Have a Horror Fan on My Hands

Jayke's favorite thing on our trip was the haunted adventure we went on.  Basically a haunted house is all it was but they had a couple of tricks I hadn't seen before.  This is the haunted house that was next to our hotel.  He begged to go through this one but we ran out of time.  

I was shocked he made it through the one we did go through.  It was pretty scary!  Bobby led the way for our group.  Jayke went right behind him, grasping his shirt tail as tight as he could and I went behind Jayke.  I held onto both Jayke AND Bobby.  It was pitch black in there and even though I knew it was fake, still scary at times.  That is why I say I'm surprised Jayke made it through.  It was his very first haunted house. There was a moment in a section that had a live actor who was supposed to be in an insane asylum that he got a little uncertain.  He grasped my hand tighter, said Mommy softly, then trudged on.  When we got out he asked if we could do it again!

Instead of doing the haunted house again we went to Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum.  

Note:  Those crazy double jointed arms LOOK like they belong in Ripley's Believe it or Not!

Another fun little museum but after all of those attractions we were exhausted!  Jayke got to go back to his big comfy bed he was so fond of!

The view from our balcony of the observation tower you could go up in.  

Guinness...Not the Beer

After the aquarium we headed to the Guinness World Record Museum.  I was kind of surprised Jayke was interested in this but he certainly was!  All he had talked about since we told him we were going was getting a Guinness Book of World Records.  Look at his face in front of that giant ball of rubber bands!  He actually LOOKS excited.  I was just excited to get out of the sweltering heat.

Jayke with the world's tallest man replica.

World's largest shark

Michael Jordan memorabilia

World's oldest man...we think they may be related...

I don't even know what this was... 

He enjoyed the museum and was ready for more!  I was ready for bed.

Just a Picture Post...of the Acquarium in Gatlinburg

Some shots from our trip to Ripley's Acquarium of the Smokey's.  I planned this trip on my lunch break(with the help of Bobby, of course) the day before we went.  I must say we did a darn good job...it turned out to be a great little Labor Day trip!  I don't think we could have fit much more in.  This is only one of the many things we did.  The acquarium was really nice.  I still really like the acquarium in Atlanta but this one may have beat it for their underwater tunnel that gave you a really unique view of the sharks.

The Jelly fish were probably my favorite!

Doesn't he looked thrilled to be in there?  I made him go, of course.

This was taken in the tunnel looking up at the sharks swimming overhead.

We did the acquarium, the Guiness World record museum, the Ripley's Believe it or not museum, the Ripley's Haunted Adventure, and the Ripley's Mirror maze all for $150.00 for 3 people!  That is a really good price and we were thrilled with all of the attractions.  Jayke loved it!  The only time he was unhappy is when we took a break to let the old people rest.  That, and the fact I didn't let him ride the ski lift up the mountain.  Other than that, he was thrilled!  I can't wait to go on another trip.  I am planning one already!

Coming Soon...

....a blog entry on our Labor Day trip to Gatlinburg, Tennessee.  This is a shot of Jayke in his "thug" pose in the backseat on the way down.  

When I first told Jayke that we were going to Gatlinburg for the weekend, he immediately started mentally packing.  His first questions was if he could take his pillows with us.  I said yes and asked him why.  His response, "I don't use hotel pillows."  I just looked at him and then asked..."Since when do you stay at hotels?"  Apparently he was traumatized by the state of the hotel room he stayed in with his dad in Pigeon Forge.  I wouldn't find out just how much until we actually heard repeatedly about how awful it was.  

When we got to the hotel and he was told to take a shower his response...once again..."I don't take showers in hotels."  I had to assure him THIS hotel was nothing like the one he stayed in before and Bobby had to coax him into the shower.  Once in there he was quite impressed.  He even commented on how much he was enjoying his shower in THIS hotel.  

I have no idea what that hotel he stayed in with his dad was like but it must have been pretty close to a shanty with an outhouse the way he was acting.  I think he found our hotel to be satisfactory.  He asked if we could take the bed with us he liked sleeping in it so much.  Now I am thinking we need to do away with the bunk bed and just get him a full size bed.  He is in agreement.  I'm just glad he is over his hotel phobia!

Here he is enjoying the hot tub!

Enjoying the bed in the hotel.

More hot-tubbing...

Hanging out under the waterfall in the indoor/outdoor pool...

....and finally, riding the luggage cart through the parking garage.

We stayed at The Edgewater.  We liked it because of it's central location, which was also right next to the aquarium.  Jayke was so impressed he says he is going to write a review and post it on one of the travel sites.  

More Pimping of the Dog

Winter is coming...so Zoey needed a hoodie.  She also got a pink striped sweater, which I didn't get a picture of yet.  Putting this thing on her is just like dressing a child.  She was very cooperative though.  I think she has worn clothes before!  This is a little snug so I hope it doesn't shrink!  I've already taken it back and exchanged it once.  Crazy that I'm now having to exchange dog clothes now too.  SMH.  (that's shaking my head for those...mom...that don't know text speak)

Macro Shots

I'm not really sure I'm doing this right.  Seems like they should be sharper.  I think the problem is my shaky hand.  I may get a tripod to see if I can get better shots.  This was a dead cicada on my dad's back deck.  The only way I can get a good picture of a bug with the macro is if it is DEAD!

Page Boy Jayke

My Two Children

Playing in the rain.  Guess whose idea it was...

3rd Grade

First Day of third grade!  He was up early and ready to go!