We packed up our wet campsite this morning and headed off to hike to Laurel Falls. The hike was a little over a mile up hill. Brian carried Lucas (mostly because he kept running to close to the edge of the mountain for my comfort) and Isaac walked with me. About 5 minutes into the hike, his legs got tired, so for the next 30 minutes of the walk he did his best Aunta impression which consists of whining that you can’t go any further, sitting down on every rock, and hanging on every tree. (His Aunta, my sister, did this on every hike that I can remember as a kid! He and Aunta just might need to be hiking buddies!!) But he good news is that he made it…he walked all the way to the top all by himself and I didn’t get frustrated and toss him off the mountain!
Laurel Falls was worth the walk too.
Happier boys on the way back down the trail…
Lucas took his nap on the way back down…
After hiking, we went into Gatlinburg and checked in to our Groupon Hotel, The Glenstone Lodge. It’s pretty decent and the boys are loving the pool that is right outside our room!
Isaac has turned into a fish since swim lessons and today is really the first time he’s gotten to show off his new skills to his daddy. His dive needs a little work, but his belly flop is awesome!
We finally convinced Isaac to get out of the pool by promising we’d visit the Space Needle in downtown Gatlinburg.
Brian and Isaac checking out the view.
Me and the boys…
Isaac enjoyed the free telecopes. I asked him to look at me so I could take his picture and this is what I got…
Lucas being a sweetheart…
All of us looking relatively normal!!
So let me just say this about the Space Needle. I’ve been to THE Space Needle in Seattle. I’ve been to the CN Tower in Toronto, the Sears Tower, and The Empire State Building. So to impress me, this Gatlinburg Space Needle was going to have to come up with something pretty good. Believe it or not, it gave all those aforementioned places a run for their money.
Side 1…amazing sunset over the mountain tops…
Side 2…a full moon rising over another set of mountains…
And by far the coolest…side 3…a thunderstorm rolling in over another set of mountains. And somehow I managed to capture this shot! Yes, that is lightning!!
The elevator could not return to get us fast enough after I snapped this picture. Pretty yes, but at the top of a giant lightning rod during a thunderstorm…no thanks, that one’s not on my bucket list!!
What started as a questionable day with that 4am thunderstorm in the tent turned out to be a pretty great day!
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