Big Smokies

That's right we headed back to the Smokies for vacation this year.  This time to meet up with my family.  This time we camped on the North Carolina side.  We had an amazing group site with very few neighbors and our own river tubing route.  On our way out there we made a pit stop in Metropolis, IL.  I got a few pictures of my supermen.

The first day we were there we stopped and swam at the sinks, did Cades Cove loop (we did this last year as well), and then hiked Laurel Falls.

The Sinks

Pace even took a dip

High Jump

Upper part of Laurel Falls

The next day it rained in the morning, so we really got "smoked in".  We still decided to hike out to Jump off Point.  Sheer cliffs combined with the fog made it feel like we were floating in the sky.  A kid in another hiking group actually made the comment,  "Okay we made it, who is going to jump off?" lol. Then we headed up to Clingman's Dome (also fogged in).  We were sad to miss the views, but the fog made for the authentic Smokey Mountain experience.

Wonderland Mushroom :)

Jump Off Point

Jump off Point

A Shrew

On Clingman's Dome

A bull Elk near our campground

We also went river tubing at Deep Creek.  This was so much fun.  We even took the two little guys on the tubes.  Pace and Jake flipped, so I did get out before a few of the falls with Grant.  I just didn't want to risk it.  I did go back and go down a few more times without Grant so I could go over all the falls.  Them Jake, my mom, and I go lost in a web of trails around there and ended up walking 5 miles to a ver high family cemetary.  Not what we had planned, but at least the hike went somewhere : p

The next day we took it easy.  We went down to the visitor center and then went mini golfing and go-karting in Cherokee.  Then we took the boys on part of Blue Ridge Parkway so they could get a nap and we could enjoy the views.  That night we celebrated Beth's birthday with homemade ice cream and dutch oven cake (thanks to my very talented mom).

Along Blue Ridge Parkway

Friday we drove home with another stop off at Clingman's Dome and on through the Dragon.  The Dragon is the curviest bit of highway I've ever driven and tons of fun to drive.  Unfortunately we found out Pace gets a little motion sickness (Jake didn't feel so well either).  Then we drove by numerous Dams, all part of the Tennessee Valley Authority.

A very large beast that we found on our tent (and then managed to climb on Mike's back).

On Clingman's Dome

After the Dragon.

Besides the trip, we have been doing well.  We have started Grant eating solid foods.  So far he seems to be a much less picky guy than Pace.  While we haven't got him to appreciate peas yet, he does enjoy squash, green beans, and bananna.  We also have been noticing the boys interact a lot more.  They love to giggle together in the car.  And Pace is great at entertaining Grant.

Happy

Pace playing with his world puzzle

Daddy loves the puzzles as much as Pace

Feeding Grant

We had some monster blackberries this year that this guy just loved