After our drive up the mountains and to Pigeon Forge, we fought the traffic and came back to our condo. We ordered pizza and finished a competitive game of Trivial Pursuit. After the game, it was about 11:30. We decided to walk downtown so we could watch the fireworks and hear all the festivities/music. It was so much fun to ring in the new year in the mountains!

The family at midnight

The girls - Special thanks to Ya Ya Hope for our fun party hats!

The boys found some Smoky Mountain cigars for the occassion. YUCK! No one would even stand by them!

Me and Russ

Mama and Daddy

New Year's kiss back at the condo

Kristin was unsuspecting!

Dustin felt left out!

Happy New Year!

Up the Mountains and Christmasing In Pigeon Forge

On New Year's Eve, we decided to take a drive up the mountains and get some pictures. It was FREEZING! Gatlinburg was under a wind advisory AND it was a mere 29 degrees! So, you can imagine how hard it was to get everyone out of the car at our stops. Not to mention the fact that Mama and I couldn't even walk due to our hike up the mountain the day before! It was beautiful! It is amazing to actually stop and take notice of God's creation.

Dustin and Lee took a little walk out in the middle of the river.

Russ and I freezing our tails off!

After a morning in the mountains, we were ready for lunch. Again - FOOD! :) Kristin still had some places she wanted to see in Pigeon Forge...and I wanted to go back to the Apple Barn. So, we drove back into Pigeon Forge. We ate and shopped around a little. One of our stops was to the Christmas Place. It's great! Daddy used to always buy Mama one of her Christmas collection pieces here when he came (Dickens Village, Clothtique Santas, etc.). Christmas is my favorite time of year, so I wasn't ready to get rid of it any time soon. I LOVE Christmas stores! Oh! And of course we had to stop for a group photo as soon as we arrived!

The Christmas Place

Our family

...now it's Lee's turn to be a part! Russ took this picture.

The GIANT Mountain and More Eating!

Our second day in Gatlinburg, Dustin and Russ decided they wanted to do some hiking. I wanted to take some pictures but wasn't too excited about going all the way up. So, Mama agreed to join me for a short walk. Then we would wait for the guys in the car. That was the plan. Rainbow Falls was the location. First, let me say that it was not at all a "little walk up the mountain." In fact, I wouldn't even call it a trail! I mean we HIKED over boulders, rocks, logs, trees, and dirt. I guess the dirt part was the trail. Whatever! Dustin and Russ were GONE very early in the journey. Mama and I were left to heave and hurt all alone. About 45 minutes into the trip, we decided it was time to head back to the car. Trauma hit! No keys! They were in Russ's pocket! By the time we caught up to the guys (and only because they kept stopping to take pictures) Mama had convinced me, "We've gone this far. We might as well finish it." OMG! 5.2 miles of hiking up and down a mountain! But, I did it!

Pretty early in our walk, we stopped to breathe. At this point, there was still a bit of a trail. But, it was UPhill!

Dustin picked up a walking stick at the beginning. Maybe that's why he was able to walk so fast!

Mama and I were walking along and realized we could no longer hear Russ's bear bell. Yes, he bought a bear bell because I was scared to death we would die at the mercy of the gigantic beast! :) All of a sudden, we heard a voice. Looking straight up, this was our view! Dustin was ALL OVER the mountain the entire day. We never knew where he would show up!

Dustin and Russ

Oh cute! A bridge over the river! Did I mention I am scared of heights!?

Me and Dustin at one of the many views of the river

Mama and me taking another breather! Notice the Diet Coke sitting on the rock. Is it obvious that we are NOT hikers?

When Mama and I FINALLY made it to the falls, we saw this blue dot under the waterfall. OMG! It was Dustin! And we still don't know HOW he got there!

Yay! I made it!

Russ, me, and Dustin at Rainbow Falls

This hike took us a little over 3 hours from beginning to end! After our strenuous hike, we decided to head back downtown for lunch and a ride on the sky lift. We ate at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Forest Gump is Dustin's favorite movie. So, he was particularly excited!

Dustin in Forest's shoes and me. Ha!

Russ and me on the sky lift

Mama sat this one out. So, Dustin rode solo making me a nervous wreck switching into unsafe positions the entire ride. Have I told you about my fear of heights!?

After all the events of the day, Mama, Russ, Dustin, and I went back to the condo for rest and a movie. Kristin, Lee, and Daddy went to Pigeon Forge to shop for the day. After a couple of hours of rest, we got ready for our evening out for SUPPER! I told you we like to eat! We met the rest of the group in Pigeon Forge at Apple Barn. DELICIOUS! Seriously yummy food and in great amounts!

A freshened up Russ and me at the Apple Barn

Pancake Pantry and Dixie Stampede

Anyone who vacations with the Smiths knows that we love to eat! We have been known to plan an entire vacation around where we will eat each meal. We have our "traditional" restaurants that we must eat at and, sometimes, we stick in a new restaurant or two. Our first day in Gatlinburg was filled with tradition! You cannot visit Gatlinburg without eating at the Pancake Pantry!

Me and Russ outside Pancake Pantry

Will call this bear with antlers a...dear! I know, cheesy!

After Pancake Pantry, the group split and shopped around downtown Gatlinburg for the rest of the day. It's always a little scary when Dustin and Daddy pair up on trips. You will see why in a sec. After piddling downtown, it was time for our next stop for food - Dixie Stampede! I have never been to Gatlinburg without eating at the Dixie Stampede. It is awesome! It is a dinner theater-type thing. You have a preshow where you receive a complimentary "boot mug" with your drink of choice. After that great entertainment, everyone heads into the arena. While watching horses and riders do fantastic tricks and great productions, we are eating "Southern Style!" The menu includes an awesome vegetable soup, cheese biscuits, a whole chicken!, corn on the cob, a slice of pork, and roasted potato. Did I mention there are NO UTENSILS! So much fun! Since your hands are a little busy chowing down...to applaud after performances, everyone uses their feet. Hence, the name - Dixie STAMPEDE! So much fun! The North and South compete throughout the show, and it ends with audience participation. Everyone had to pass the giant candy cane and shout, "Happy New Year!" before passing it to the next person. The first side (north or south) to have all candy canes at the end wins. Yes, the South won! That was us. :)

This is what I was referring to when I said it's scary to let Daddy and Dustin pair up and shop! Daddy wore these ALL NIGHT!

Me, Russ, Kristin, and Lee waiting for the doors to open

Preshow entertainment

Mama and Daddy with their souvenier mugs during the preshow

Dustin, Kristin, Russ, Lee, and me with our mugs

Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to take pictures during the show. But, trust me - you must go to the Dixie Stampede next time you are in Gatlinburg!

New Year's Getaway

This holiday season has been a crazy one for Russ and I. Between my school stress and Russ's interviewing and traveling, we've hardly had ANY time to relax. I know...many of you are sitting there saying, "Welcome to the real world." But, seriously, from October on I never felt like I could catch up! So, I had an idea! My dad had told us he was planning to visit a friend who recently moved to Maryville, TN after Christmas. Enter my thought! Maryville is near Gatlinburg! My family used to go to Gatlinburg every Spring Break for cheerleading competitions and vacations. We haven't been in forever. So, my dad's friendly visit turned into a Smith family vacation to Gatlinburg. Our mission: to RELAX!

We began our vacation on the 27th after a wedding that my dad officiated in Memphis. Since he was in Memphis, we just decided to meet him in Nashville and spend a night there. We stayed across the street from the Opryland Hotel. Our hotel was very nice and within walking distance of the Opryland Hotel. We spent the evening walking through the hotel and eating dinner there. It was a fun night. I always love the Opryland Hotel during the holidays.

The family inside the Opryland Hotel - thanks to Lee for taking the picture!

The kids outside the hotel

Enough Said...

Yes...the Smith family is on vacation again! We are in Gatlinburg TRYING to enjoy some relaxation and beautiful sights. I will begin blogging about this as soon as I can. The internet connection is terrible!

However, I will leave you with a view of what it's like to vacation with the Smiths.

Daddy flipped the recliner landing against the fireplace with computer in his lap! I definitely had my priorities in line - MY CAMERA!

Enough said!