Versitile as a Mountain Girl

Today we began slowly. Megan and I took a little time with Emily Grace at the playground near our vacation house. She was "owed" some personal time because she was not allowed to participate in the second leg of the tubing expedition because of age restrictions.  She and I were going to have special time but she fell asleep in the car. So this was her time with mom and dad.

 We hung out at the vacation house until we went to the outlet mall to get school shoes for each of the girls.  Megan took them one at the time and I stayed with the others at the Ripley's Arcade.

After shoe shopping we went to the Pet Show at the Comedy Barn. The girls played with all of the outdoor props.

 

The show began. All of the kids got to go on stage

Olivia was selected to be on stage to help with one of the skits

 

 

 

They had to feed this rat to a "snake" in the basket





Next, we went to the vacation house and made dinner. Everyone had something that they really wanted to do in the mountains.  For Emily Grace, she wanted to climb a mountain. So, after some research as to where to go, we set out to climb a mountain.

This is the rules committee getting updated on all of the regulations

 

Emily was a trooper.  She did not have to be carried much at all on the hike in.  This is no small accomplishment for a four-year-old.  It was a 2.6 mile hike with an elevation gain of just under 600 feet to a final elevation of 3,777 feet.

 

These girls did so good on the hike. They love these mountains.

 

 

We arrived at Grotto Falls.  The only falls in the Great Smokey Mountains Park that you can actually walk behind. Their beauty is indescribable and the pictures will not do them justice.  We were in awe.

 

 

There is so much beauty in this picture that words fail me.

This is the upper section of Grotto Falls

You can't really tell from Emily Grace below but it was dark by the time we finished the trail.  We were a little concerned but we made it - safe and sound



 

 

We were glad we went on this hike for so many reasons.  We didn't know roads went through the National Park like this.  We were so glad to share this hike and this wonder with our girls and even in the oncoming darkness the ride down was breath-taking (the word here does not describe).

 

I love my girls because they watched a pet show in Pigeon Forge (as commercial as you can get) and they loved it.  Later in the same day they hiked a mountain to a waterfall (as natural as you can get) and they loved it too. That makes Megan and myself happy.

 

Tomorrow will be a change of venue and yet more fun.  I can't wait!