Happy Thanksgiving!

Is it just me or do you put off blogging if you feel it's supposed to be a long post? Same reason I'm not a good scrapbooker. If it's not perfect, it just isn't period. So that's why I haven't blogged since we got home a week ago.

This was our third annual Thanksgiving trip to the mountains. We like to go the weekend before (pulling the boys out of class Mon. & Tues.) & return Wed. so we can have our big meal at home Thursday. This year Gammy stayed behind. She was invited but I think she wanted a break since we've all been living together for the last 1 1/2 years! (Did I yell that? Sorry) Anyway, since Gammy didn't come we didn't have to rent a vehicle but that meant we had to get new tires & the transmission fixed. There is NEVER a good time to pay for stuff like that! On with the festivities.. Ready for way too many pictures?

Saturday we left at 4:30. YES 4:30am! Would you believe we arrived in Maggie Valley at 12:30pm. (Lots of stops in between ofcourse, we did have three young boys & my perfectly healthy but active bladder.) When we arrived, to our delight, this is what we found waiting for us:

After the boys played in the small creek beside the cabin we did some unpacking. After that everyone found their comfortable spots.

Then off we went for lunch! We wanted to try a restaraunt our friends Kevin & Dawn recommended, 'Butts on the Creek' but it was closed. We found ourselves at a Mexican place called Guayabitos. I don't know if it was really yummy or we were just that hungry! The coffee & biscuit from 5:30am had long worn off! After a trip to get groceries in Waynesville, the rest of the day was spent relaxing.

Sunday it was drizzly all day but not enough to keep us down. We wanted to spend the day exploring so we took the boys mining for gems:

Then to Cherokee & The Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

Where we saw elk laying all over the place!

Then we walked some paths & watched some fly-fishermen.

After that we hiked up to Mingo Falls where a stranger took this picture of us. Thank you Mr. Stranger.The boys always drink from the falls & Roman always dunks his head in. We ate dinner at J Arthurs and were not impressed at all. Monday morning we ate at Joey's Pancake House because we promised Monica we would and boy are we glad we did! YUMMY!!!

Then it was off to the Biltmore! We visited the house 11 1/2 years ago on our honeymoon & I've always wanted to return for Christmas! Maybe we'll return in 10 years for the Festival of Flowers.

Roman is becoming quite the picture taker!
Can anyone guess what commercial they're acting out in this picture?

River Bend Farm, on the Biltmore property has plenty for the kiddos to do!

After the Biltmore we ate dinner in Maggie Valley at Garlic Knots, another score! YUMMY!!!

Tuesday we jsut kicked around Cherokee. Eating boiled peanuts, Granny's Buffet, pork rinds that we bought from an indian in the 'market'. They have these bears all over the place, kind of like Jacksonville's Manatees & Jaguars. (Notice Dallon's racoon foot necklace he bought on the reservation.)

Daddy's beloved Marine Corps bear.

We found this cool park!"Don't get wet!"

Why do boys love to do this? I blame this on Daddy.

Dallon was at peace in this park. Then this happened:Then this:
And this:

Wednesday we drove home =(

WE LOVE OUR MOUNTAIN VACATIONS, Thank you Lord!!!

Thursday we enjoyed a relaxing day with a big meal cooked by yours truly. Friday I slept in until 8:30 then went shopping for some deals.

Saturday I took Roman to New Moon. We LOVE the series. Thinking about reading the books.

Sunday back to Worship (not that we weren't worshipping the whole time, how could you not in that beautiful land) & Monday back to the routine.
Thanks for stopping by! In case you didn't get enough pictures, there are hundreds on my Facebook account.