"Happiness is like a butterfly;the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder."-Thoreau

Thursday, December 4, 2008

How time flies!

For Thanksgiving this year, our family traveled to Gatlinburg, TN for a four day stay at the Hemlock Hills Resort. Cindy and I had stayed here last year with our church group and it is a great place for a large group. The cabin was a five bedroom/five bath and we had 14 adults and three kids with us. It was a bit crowded when everone was in the same room, but it was a great time. We visited the Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg, hiked in the Great Smokey Mountains, shopped in Pigeon Forge and had a great time playing at the cabin. Here are some photos from our trip and few photos from other visits with family.

This year, our family came together in Gatinburg for four days of fun and relaxation. Heth's family drove from Alabama and Cindy's family drove from Charlotte and Greenville, SC. In this photo from left to right are great Paw Paw Fleming, Grandma, and Grandpa.


Heth's family included from left to right Pop and Nana Gibson, Brody and Bryleigh Wood, Aunt Erica, Abby, and Heth. Cindy took the photo and Uncle Tommy was trying to get Bryleigh's attention for the photo.


Nana, Bryleigh, Abby, and Uncle Tommy enjoyed playing together and reading books all week. Bryleigh was 18 months old and Abby was 10 months during our trip to the mountains.


At the aquarium, Abby's cousin, Bryleigh, stands along the ledge of one of the tanks and tries to get Erica's attention to show her the fish inside the tank.







Brody, Abby's oldest cousin, is excited to go inside the aquarium in Gatlinburg. Brody had a great time exploring the aquarium and got a toy shark from the gift shop.



Outside of the aquarium there were fall decorations set up. Abby loved the pumpkis and scarecrows while Brody liked climbing on the hay bales.



Cindy has bought Abby a Leap Frog learning table that she loves. She likes to stand along side it and push all of the buttons. She also sways back and forth like she's "dancing" to the alhpabet song.



On Thanksgiving Day, some of our family took a walk in the Great Smokey Mountains Nation Park to a waterfall. It was a 1 1/2 mile trail that is completely paved with asphalt the entire way. I would recommend this walk to anoyone visiting the park and looking for a stroller friendly trail.



On the way to the waterfall, Brody climbed several rock outcroppings that are beside the trail. In this photo, Pop and Brody show us how high they can climb.



Abby really liked her Aunt Erica and everone else in the cabin. Abby loves being around new people, as long as mom and dad are nearby.




Wii madness swept the cabin. We brought our Wii from home and enjoyed playing bowling, tennis and baseball with each other. Brody loved to bowl, box and race cows. He mentioned Santa may bring him a Wii for Christmas this year.



1 comment:

Courtney said...

Nice to see you back here! Looks like you guys have been having fun. Abby is just a doll. She just seems so happy :) Take care and Merry Christmas!