Tuesday, everyone and everything was packed and loaded in the car before 5:30 (our goal was to leave then). We pulled out of the garage at 5:20 (it was just 10 minutes but that is HUGE in our household). It was the first year Chris has not been bothered or tired after the drive; the trip seemed longer than normal for Lisa (Chris did take us the long way to avoid going thru Servile, TN so there may had been a reason for it). After all our stops, approximately six hours later we arrived at our vacation chalet. Deedee was there to greet us and played with the girls while daddy brought in the bags and mommy got everything settled. Deedee and Grandpa took the upstairs sweet while mommy and daddy took the downstairs quarters. The two rooms on the main level did not have king size beds so the girls got those. Leia pick the room with the double bed which was just fine since Ivy’s pack and play fit perfectly between the twin beds in the other room. That evening the girls got to meet some of their cousins from Florida at Aunt Diane and Uncle Rick’s chalet. Ivy was her friendly little self but wanted to keep mommy or daddy in eyesight and celebrated with her hands in the air when she saw Grandpa and Deedee (it reminded me of my first year when I knew no one except Uncle John and I how happy I was to see him). Leia was not as outgoing as normal. She did not want to play with the other kids unless she had a member of comfort clan with her. It was sweet watching Cousins Josie and Isla welcome Leia and try to convince her to play. Leia enjoyed Aunt Diane’s fun activity, making noodle necklaces; Ivy just wanted to eat the noodles which mean mom would not allow since they had been soaked in alcohol to dye them pretty colors. We ended up leaving right after enjoying dinner since Leia was crying she wanted to go back home. It had been a long day traveling, seeing new places and people; we did not want to overwhelm our girls to much the first day.

In route to Gatlinburg. Ivy got to sit in her big girl seat for the first time

   

Ivy conked out

Gigi, Aunt Terri, Dan, Nancy, and Riana came by to visit not long after we arrived

Cracked me up how the little ones all flocked to the pantry

Dinner at Aunt Diane and Uncle Rick’s

  

Craft time

A good nights rest was what we needed for our first full day in Gatlinburg. We planned on meeting several people on the top of the mountain at 10 o’clock. Leia unfortunately informed mommy that she only wanted to go if Cousin Adrian would be there (he had not left his house in Newnan when mommy first told Leia to head to the car). After a few protest we made it to the top of the mountain but Leia refused to go tubing in the snow, down the big slide, or ice-skating. She was not impressed there were no princesses on the ice since there were princesses as Disney on Ice, maybe we shouldn’t had explained ice skating using the princesses as an example. Mommy and daddy were unsuccessful at convincing her to do any of these fun activities but Leia had fun on the carousal with Ivy. The girls also enjoyed the fudge Deedee bought and watching ‘grandpa’ (everyone) tube for a few minutes. The girls got to ride the carousal with cousins Raina, Kellan, and Isla before we headed to down town Gatlinburg for lunch with aunt Joy, uncle John, Dan, Nancy, Raina, aunt Terri, uncle Winnie, and Taylor. We didn’t walk around downtown much, the only walking around we did was to get our neighbors salt water taffy before rest time which was across the street from the restaurant. Deedee and Terri were hosting dinner at Terri’s chalet that evening. Leia and Ivy were excited to see cousins Adrian and Alicia come in shortly after we arrived. Leia enjoyed doing crafts with aunt Diane and dressing up with her cousins. Ivy played hunt and find with grandpa and Deedee. Dan’s deer filet appetizers were delicious and the spagethi dinner and carrot cake were yummy. Leia, Ivy, and their cousins got to dance witht the Batson sisters to get some extra energy out before our girls got to go night night. The monitor reached from their room to Terri’s chalet so Chris and Lisa got to visit with everyone after the girls went down too. It was a fabulous night!

Carousel Fun

  

Leia watching snow tubing

Snow Tubing

     

 Leia took up with TeeTee

Back to the carousel

         

 Family Picture

Evening Festivities

         

Chris along with a few others woke up with a stomach bug on Thanksgiving so he was not able to go on the Thanksgiving morning hike. Lisa, Deedee, and Grandpa took the girls with Kelly, Diego, Adrian, Alicia, Bill, Nora, Ricky, Dawn, Isla, and Kellan. We did not make it up to the cemetary but did make it to a great spot in the river for the kids to throw rocks. Lisa was thankful for the Ergo carrier! Ivy rode in it all the way up while Leia walked most of it except when her legs got tired; mommy held Leia while sister rode then (wish I had gotten a picture). Ricky and Kelly had their strollers and got an arm workout maneuvering them through the paths for their little ones to have a break. On the way back Deedee took Ivy so Leia could get on mommy’s back. She rode about half way before wanting down then walked a little bit before getting tired again. Rest time was enjoyed by all in our chalet that afternoon! There was a smaller crowd at Thanksgiving dinner than normal. Chris felt better and got to come share in the festivities a little while. We were all blessed to hear two sweet girls, Isla and Leia say blessings with uncle John. It is a special time sharing our family traditions with our girls.

Morning hike

  

 

 

  

     

Aunt Kelly, Adrian, Alicia, and Gigi came to visit after hiking before rest time

   

Thanksgiving dinner (kids dropped the camera so… luckily my talented hubby fixed it)

  

Friday we headed home to decorate our tree and make sure our house was festive for the Christmas season like Mimi has done since before Lisa can remember; the day after Thanksgiving starts the Christmas season.