Tennessee

It seems as if Gatlinburg/Pidgeon Forge Tennessee was the vacation hotspot this year. I was so excited about this trip, since I was around Kristen's age the last time I was there. There are so many great memories I have of going there: Dolly, riding the trolley and the candy store. All are still there, and much more expensive and a lot more built up. More commercialized than my young brain remembers. I'm sure I was more excited than the kids and really can't wait to go back. 

Our trip started and ended with a visit with my 98 year old grandmother. We are so very blessed to have her to love on for 98 years. Her stories are the best, her smile even better, but her hugs.....I wait all year to get my gran hug. She hugs you with so much love. Although she wasn't feeling well, she was still happy to see us. I cherish my time spent with her.

We spent our first day in Gatlinburg going to some shops. You can't go to Tennessee without going to a boot store. 

I had to post this next picture because of Lauren's expression. Paul told them to look scared and her face cracks me up. She embraced her role as the frightened girl about to get swallowed by a shark. 

This next picture just makes my heart happy. This is my mom and dad, who made this trip possible for all of us. We are so thankful for them and how much they do for us. They love unconditionally and I hope I'm half the parent to my kids that they were/are to me and my sister. Even though my mom was in pain from her back and my dad was tired of all the walking at Dollywood, they still stayed with us when I'm sure they wanted to go back to the cabin to rest. What can I say....they are the best!

Before we headed to Dollywood we went on a mountain rollercoaster. This was the only picture my sister got. It was pretty fun and all the kids liked it. Lauren kept asking to go back. A good rollercoaster introduction for Kristen.

Dollywood was everything I remembered it to be. I really do love that place.

We all had our favorite rides and for many of us there wasn't just one. Dallas liked the little cars. And the carousel.

And the Ferris wheel. 

He loves cars and pretends to drive everywhere, so he really wanted to ride the bumper cars, but wasn't tall enough. I felt so bad for him. But he did like this drop kiddie ride. He rode it several times. The funniest part is Lauren's expression. I was scared for Dallas, figuring he had no idea what he was getting himself into. But then seeing Lauren so scared kinda made me forget all about Dallas. 

You can see panic setting in. She's seriously having second thoughts. And, I might add,  look how small Dallas looks. Surely he is too small for this ride, that's what this momma brain was thinking. Actually it was more like, "He can ride this and not the bumper cars?"

This is her going up trying to look excited for everyone. 

And the descent.

She survived and didn't get back on that ride. And thankful for Uncle Harvey and Aunt Kelly for being so brave to ride this. I can do rollercoasters, but not sudden drops...over and over and over. 

Her favorite was the swings and I tried to get a picture, but they were all blurry. That was the main ride she wanted to ride. She did enjoy the carousel too.

Kristen's favorite ride was the Rampage. It was a water ride and we were all soaked. She did ride her first rollercoaster. An old wooden rollercoaster that was so rough I got an instant headache. She looked terrified and didn't like it much.

We talked her into trying a newer smoother rollercoaster, the Wild Eagle, and I was so proud at how brave she was. She was super nervous, but tried it. I don't think I would after having rode the first one. 

Here are some other random pictures from our time. We had such a great time spent with family. We are so very blessed.