Tonight was dinner with the cowboys. It was all of the things you might expect. There was a hayride
We arrived at a Western City
There was a camp fire and we cooked hotdogs
Then we ate them
We played games
The Cowboys played Games
We made smore's
Addison found a new friend
Olivia found a new friend too, when both of them hid here after a shootout in front of the Hotel.
Then the cow folk sent us off with a great rendition of Happy Trails
There were no fireworks - No big production - Just good times together
It was something like authentic community, a watch word among our friends and neighbors. You never know where it is going to lead but you know that you will be better for it. We met people and we talked with them. We grew as a family. All in all - not bad, not bad at all.
Addison just walked by while I sit here at this table and said, "I really do believe this was the best day ever." You can't beat that!
Today we awoke with horses on our mind. Our girls love horses. They take lessons every other week. We felt this was a good chance for all of us to get to experience this together. We rode into the back country for a few miles to this place:
We went to check in and we found a store (surprising for Pigeon Forge). Emily found this hat. To me it makes her cute.
We stood to wait for the rules to and instructions - and the traditional passionate "please don't try to sue us" plea.
This is Woody. I would learn a lot about him over the next hour or two. He liked to stop and eat grass and the trial guide didn't like it. Actually, it didn't bother me very much - I had all day.
This is Olivia being introduced to Prince. Prince had to be put at the end because he just liked to go at his own pace. A perfect match to Olivia.
Megan and Emily would ride together. This is Megan and Emily and Addison waiting to be introduced to their horses.
This is Addison aboard Juliet. She had enough of an attitude that the trail guide had to get off of her horse once to get her back on the trail. Eventually she was moved to the number two position, within swatting distance of the trail guide. Addison loved her all the same.
This is Megan and Emily Grace aboard Cinnamon. Cinnamon did not cause much trouble but there was a four-year-old fighting constantly for her reigns and insisting that next time we ride horses she will want to ride by herself.
This was my view for the day scenic view it was.
Rear-view mirror view
We were concerned that, because this was a horse ranch that allowed four-year-olds, we would only be ridding in open and flat fields. To our surprise we rode quite a bit through woods and mountains. It was breath-taking.
Trying to keep tabs on Olivia and Prince who were, once again, in their own world. The trail guide did not even try to reel them in.
This is what happens when Woody stops to eat grass - you get behind and the lady at the front don't like it.
Eventually we caught up.
This is our crew. Left to right: Addison, Juliet, Megan, Emily Grace, Cinnamon, Joe, Woody, Olivia, and Prince. Quite a crew for a great ride.
It looked for just a moment like Woody was about to overtake Cinnamon.
But we ended up back here.
We got a good look at Addison's position at "The Turn"
Olivia disembarks and says goodbye!
Emily Grace watched the ducks. They had chased her away earlier.
We went for it in Pigeon Forge, right out of the gate. We polled the children last night to make sure they were as ambitious as Megan and I were. We gave them the choice, tubing in the river or zip-lining. Zip-lining one out unanimously. Even Emily Grace voted, not having any idea what zip-lining is.
This could've gone either way. It is one thing to say it and another thing to climb to the highest heights and put yourself out there. We had no idea what to expect and we're fully ready to roll with whatever punches came.
The first problem is that we could only find two zip-line companies who would take a four-year-old. One seem to be a little better suited for children than the other, not knowing anything we made a selection.
We suited up like brave soldiers:
We were all suited up, then we made the climb. First we climbed in a truck, then we climbed up a pole. Then the pole began to sway. We were all a little apprehensive at this point. We hid it pretty good but Emily Grace doesn't know you're supposed to:
She was expressing what everyone was feeling. Not just our family but the entire party.
Then we just went for it. One by one our kids went. They seemed fine but we wouldn't know for sure until we reach the next platform along with them. Emily Grace had to wait until everyone else went so that she could ride the first leg with a guide (that is just a rule to make sure mom and dad have the hang of it before she is allowed to ride with one of us). It just added a little more tension into the situation for her.
Megan and I got over to the Second landing to find a joyful and happy and laughing Olivia and Addison. I turned to watch coming in for landing behind me, an equally happy and laughing Emily Grace. They all loved it!
I wish I could've caught all of this on camera but cameras were not allowed. They want you to have both of your hands available to do the work of zip-lining. However, if you know me very well, you know I'm not much for rules. I am free in Jesus and I am saved by grace; other than that I challenge things a little.
So, you will see that the phone came out and I managed a few videos and photos.
This is Addison taking off on the third line. This line went through a forest canopy and over a lake. Easily hundreds of feet high. These are my brave girls.
Emily Grace and Megan launch on the same line,
Emily Grace took a water break between the third and fourth line. It is a hot day.
Addison comes in for a landing on the Fifth line.
This Olivia coming out of the forest canopy into the landing on the Fifth line as well.
This is a picture of Olivia coming into a landing on the sixth line. She is going in tandem with a lady that was in our group. Everyone ran this line in tandem because it was a race line and more weight meant more speed. I ran with Addison on this line.
The seventh line was really a line to get you down closer to ground level. It was a slow line and everyone knew each other by now - that is why you will see the guides shaking the lines and playing with the girls. This is Addison coming in for a final landing.
Olivia, as usual, was a little more vocal with the guide than Addison was.
This being the last line, and the fact that it was an easy one, had the guides determined that Emily Grace would ride this line alone. She was all for it, mom not so much, but here it is below. I found it a little touching - listen to the other members of our group as they saw what was happening.
Megan came into the last landing with additional encouragement for Emily Grace.
I have to give this lady a lot of credit. She pushes us to "go for it." We are always better for it and in this case everyone had a blast! It could have gone the other way in a hurry but it did not. You know the old saying, "No guts - No glory." Thanks Megan, our family had a great time and we are all better and closer for it. We will share this experience with many others for years to come.
So we ate lunch at a country restaurant on the way back to the vacation house. We took a little rest time and then the girls went to the pool. The pool water was very hot so they only lasted about an hour.
Back at the house we had a lazy evening. This is vacation, after all.
How great it is to be on vacation with my favorite people - I love my family!
