Water Slides and Snow Storms

March 1st- 7th: Mountain Getaway

As Alyssa was getting ready to complete her maternity leave and I was getting ready to start my new job, GG thought it might be fun to surprise us with an impromptu getaway with the kids. We thought we were going for a quick 3 day trip, but mother nature had other plans in store for us! Two snow storms later, our 3 day jaunt turned into a 7 day mega-vacation!! We had an absolute blast, and there is no group of people I would rather be snowed in with!! Love y'all!! (minus the puking :-/ )

Miraculously, we managed to get 3 adults and 4 children (age 0, 1, 2, 3) and ALL of our stuff in one car!! Praise the Lord for the washer and dryer!!

We stayed at the Great Wilderness Lodge... which is pretty similar to Great Wolf Lodge. It had an amazing indoor waterpark, which was perfect for these kids who had been trapped indoor all winter long!

"Banks my best friend, mama!"

When we went to Disney last fall, Blakely had been the BIG water slide queen! This time around it was Banks who was water slide OBSESSED!! He absolutely loved it!

Even little Walker got to enjoy some pool side lounging!

We were just outside Gatlinburg, so (per Alyssa) we HAD to go to the Apple Barn!!

These kids thought they had died and gone to heaven! As soon as you sit down they give everyone apple fritters (basically apple donuts) and an apple julep. They ate so well the 2 times we went!

KK (my big eater) was in heaven!

"More Snow in Store for TN!!" This is when the emergency decision was made to EXTEND our vacation and stay off the iced over mountain roads!

All 4 grandkids at the Apple Barn.

 

....and snow it did!!!

We got to enjoy this beautiful view from our room by the fire!

Winter Wonderland: The best part was our room was in a separate building from the Waterpark, so we had to run 50 yards in our wet bathing suits through the snow! It was hysterical. Unfortunately, our little Snow Bunny (ie GG) wouldn't let me post those pictures! ;)

Big kids making snow cream with GG.

 

 

These two LOVE their GG!

 

Walker-man's first snow.

These two goof-balls in Jammies, water shoes and coats! Such a confusing vacation as far as wardrobe/packing went! Ha!

 

This was just the best little getaway for all of us! We had so much fun together (apart from all the puking).... lets make this an annual vacation together!!! Thank you thank you thank you GG for taking our crazy crew with you!! It was amazing.