Fall Break fun in the Smoky Mountains

Our school system takes a week Fall Break every October. After starting a full time job at a new school and the boys adjusting to a new school and new schedule, we were all ready for a break. Mike I had been talking about taking the kids away for a trip, and as we talked we realized that this would be our first trip as a family of five by ourselves. We usually either stay with family or go with family when we go out of town, so this was a big deal for us.

Ready to head out for our first day in Pigeon Forge!

He looks so much older than 7 here. This kiddo had so much fun and conquered some fears by going down some pretty big water slides!

This girl loved the water park!

Loving the water park at the hotel. He loved the wave pool!

We decided to take a short trip up to Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg, TN. The kids had never been and we needed somewhere that was close and had lots of fun stuff to do. So, after booking a room at the Wilderness Lodge we set off for a few days of fun.

Will in ready position to head down the slide!

And, we did have fun. We had a blast actually and are already to go back. Will ran a fever the first night we were there and struggled with a sinus infection the entire time and Luke and Wynn were fussy here and there due to staying up late, swimming a lot and no naps, but we were together and in the end it was good.

Will and I on the ski lift up to the apline slide.

Luke and Daddy going down the slide.

Proof that these two do love each other!

My favorite memory was heading up to Ober Gatlinburg and racing down the alpine slide with Will and Luke. Even Wynn went down the slide. We rode the chairlift, completed a maze together and watched the ice skaters skate around the ice skating rink as we sampled fudge. We got back to the hotel in time to swim for a couple of hours before ordering a pizza in the room while watching Disney Channel Halloween shows.

Wynn's turn down the slide.

Our last day we went to Dollywood and met up with my sister, parents and nephew Tate. It was our first time there and we LOVED it. It was every bit as nice as Disney and the food was much better!

Yep, that's my kind of fun. My kids had smiles on their faces and Mike and I enjoy just soaked up watching them enjoy themselves. I know I won't forget this trip for quite awhile.