After a pretty rough start, we had a really great trip to Gatlinburg this year. When we made it to the cabin we were anxious to start a fire and shake off the chill of the snow and cold chalet (a few inches up there). We collected wood, started the fire, opened the flue damper and then promptly the whole house was engulfed in smoke! After we got on the phone with the owners of the chalet (which Katie kept calling a shadow), managed to get the smoke alarms turned off, and tried everything imaginable to get the smoke out of all of the rooms in the A frame, all while keeping the kids outside on the snow covered deck (the smoke inside was unbearable and not good for Tyler's asthma) we finally figured out that that the flue was stuck and the only fix was a good yank. The rest of the weekend Lance got to be the pyro that he loves to be and make warm, cozy fires and grill in the snow. That was enough fun for us since it combines two of our favorite things, but it got even better with a couple of great breakfasts (Pancake Pantry and Applewood), rainbow trout at Park grill, a visit to the aquarium, a day spent at Cades Cove, a drive through the National park, and one of the highlights for the kids "swimming" in the hot tub. We are already planning to make a trip back to go to the indoor waterpark and Ober Gatlinburg which we neither had time for, or the patience since it was really crowded pretty much everywhere and impossible to even park after 9:00am at Ober Gatlinburg (first real snow of the season). The kids kept asking if we were going back to the "cool" house whenever we were out and about and I think they enjoyed sleeping in bunk beds and playing in a new environment almost as much as seeing the much talked about sharks!
Ever since our beach trip they have been fascinated with jellyfish!
Touching the crab, playing with penguins, and watching the sharks swim overhead were big hits too!
Cades Cove was awesome, even though deer were the only animals out and about. The kids had some pent up energy after the drive there and were pretty silly, but enjoyed running around and even learned a little about mills from dad!
Our visitors who "trapped" us in the house the last evening there - obviously they have been fed a lot because they were bound and determined to get in the house and couldn't be spooked!
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