Looking Back and Moving Forward

 This summer has been but a blink.  It has been good, but much busier than I had mapped it out to be back in the spring as I filled out the calendar squares.  I have captured only a few of the memories here,  even though my days are filled with prep for the upcoming school year, I am determined to toss some of our sweet summer memories into this treasure box!  

For now we'll look back at our amazing time in the mountains.  As I tagged pictures to highlight our trip I was actually shocked at all the great experiences we packed into just a few days.

 Tuesday we absolutely stuffed every inch of space we had in the van and set out toward Bryson City, NC.  We did a quick drive through of the sweet little town and set out to find our cabin.  

 Monday before our trip began, Mark and Sophie mapped out some available activities around the area.  On the schedule for Tuesday evening they had sketched a plan to go to Great Smoky Mountains National Park's Elk Reintroduction Program, However, what we didn't realize was that the Cataloochee Valley where this took place would be another hour and a half drive to get there.  Three more hours of car time brought a vote pointing to plan B...

Plan B was dinner in Bryson City and then heading on to Cherokee to see the outdoor drama of Unto These Hills. The story of the Cherokee Indians in the Smokies and the Trail of Tears. 

It was a great drama (which brought Haleigh to tears over the treatment of the Cherokee.)  And it only sprinkled on us until Mark bought a round of ponchos for everyone.

Wednesday morning we took a trail ride on horseback.  The path in the Smoky Mountain National Park was breathtaking!     

 (Also breath taking was watching my oldest girl's horse being a bit unruly as we crossed the river!  It was all ok, by the time we crossed back through the river Sophie had shown the horse who was in charge ;-)

 After taking some time to practice the quail dance we learned at the drama the night before...

 we headed back to the cabin for a sweet evening of grilling, s'mores and the hot tub.

Thursday the weather man said it was likely to storm most of the day so we pushed the pause button on plan A, to go tubing. and headed into Bryson to catch the train!! 

 The scavenger hunt in the train museum was almost enough fun for us all.  It really was quite amazing. 

 After our picnic lunch we boarded the train. 

 There were many beautiful views to soak in, and a tunnel that had no view at all because it was so dark you could not see your hand right in front of your face for about  20 seconds.

 Then guess what...

 back to the cabin for more grilling and more s'mores!!

By Friday we had learned not to trust the weather man at all! We revisited plan A from Thursday, time to go tubing!!

It was great fun for everyone!  

(Except for that part when after crossing some rough river to help Sophie out of a pinch and out of the river,  Mark thought Haleigh got swept down the river and sprinted down the riverside and road trying to see if he catch up to her.  All the while all three girls and I were snacking on popcorn waiting for him to meet up with us so we could enjoy our picnic lunch by the river and take another ride down the river.  Well,  lets just say everyone was glad everyone was safe and sound once we finally met up with Mark down the road after waiting so long I was just sure something dreadful had happened to him... We did have lunch and a root beer as the girls played at the riverbank, then we took another tube ride down the river.  This time Mark's tube was connected to Sophie's and Haleigh's tubes and Mackenzie and I ended up going in the same tube.  Our exit strategy was much better the second time!)

 Once back to the cabin neighborhood we let the girls take a dip in the lake before heading in for showers and dinner before the evening event.

 In truest Mark form, he had searched the "tripadvisor" for top "things to do in the area."  There were rave reviews about Pincu Pottery, so... an appointment was made.  It was such a neat experience and in about 3 weeks we expect our pottery to arrive and that night we will have an ice cream party and eat ice cream...

  from our bowls we each made on the potters wheel!!

 We got to make many things along with our bowls:  Mark, Sophie and I made mugs, Mackenzie made a large six sided bowl, and Haleigh made the first ever snail made at Pincu Pottery.  (You see she found a huge snail in the creek that ran alongside the cabin.  So she wanted her pottery to be a snail to remind her always of our trip to the cabin.)

( I'll be sure to post once we received our pieces!)

Saturday sweet day.  Mark and I had a plan B that we suggested to the girls but they had been waiting for the Cherokee festival since before the start of our adventurous trip.  So we went with the plan that had been sketched out before the first mile was underway.  I am glad we did.  What happened was something the girls will remember forever.  We were seated in a large pavilion learning about the Cherokee history, their dress, their weapons, their ways when they began to liven things up as they spoke of their dance.  Not only did they speak of their dance they asked for volunteers.  You know Sophie about jumped out of her skin at the chance to be on stage, not to mention the fact there were real Cherokee Natives on the stage.  She did get to go up and  she had a BLAST!

 (Sophie is in the bright pink shorts just left of center, doing the bear dance.)

BUT she left after the first dance.  

 (Haleigh is in the peach shirt performing the quail dance.)

Once they realized they were short a few volunteers they asked for a few more volunteers to come to the stage.  Haleigh made a bee line to the stage where she got to take part in the ant dance, the quail dance, the buffalo dance.. she was having the time of her life.

(Sophie is in the pink shorts about centered in the pic and Mackenzie is holding her right hand.)

No need to think Mackenzie was left out.  For the last dance they asked all the kids who wanted to to come on the stage for the friendship dance.  Oh the smiles and stories that came from all three being on that stage dancing with the Cherokee!!!

 Once our bellies were full the girls played in this little wading pool they had been eying all week.  

next we waded in the river and then

 we were amazed by this unbelievable bamboo forest.  

Pretty worn out we headed back to our cabin (with a brief stop at a farmers market that was literally 50 yards from the fields the produce was being grown in) for and evening of....

 more grilling, hot tubbing and s'mores!!

Sunday morning we woke up to a bit of sadness that the trip was coming to an end.  We packed up the van, sat on the porch swing with one more cup of coffee and mopped up the girls' tears over saying good bye to the cabin and the week.  But never fear there was still a bit of adventure up Mark's sleeve...

Our goal was Clingmans Dome, the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  However, the weather was so dreary we knew we wouldn't be able to see a thing from to overlook and the half mile hike in would leave us soggy at best for the trip home.  But again, Mr. Plan B was prepared.  One of the top rated "things to do" just across the Smoky Mountains was a driving trail called Roaring Fork Creek Trail.  Hello plan B. 

Oh yeah, there was also a plan c that Mark just couldn't resist even though plan b worked out beautifully.  Our final adventure was Ripley's Aquarium.

 They had an amazing tunnel through the shark tank

and another tunnel that led right into the penguin habitat!

Needless to say Mackenzie slept the entire three hours it took to get home and still had no trouble drifting off to sleep merely a few hours later.  

It was a great trip packed with so many memories and sweet family time together!!