Smoky Mountain Christmas

When you are an "oilfield family" you are never promised holidays together.  One year we might strike it rich and get to celebrate every holiday on its assigned calendar date.  Other years force us to be a little more creative.  When we found out that Cory was scheduled to work Christmas Day, and the week leading up to it,  we decided we wanted to do something memorable to celebrate while he was off.  So...we headed to the mountains!

The kids had never seen real mountains before and they were eager for this wonderful new experience, especially knowing that snow-tubing was involved.  Admittedly, the "grown-ups" were just as excited at the prospect.  We loaded down our swagga wagon and headed North on Sunday.

Our first stop was Birmingham, where Cory and I lived for three years, before we had kids.  We made so many wonderful memories there and formed some of the greatest friendships, many which are still just as strong nearly ten years later.  It was so nice to be able to reunite with some of those friends for lunch at one of our favorite restaurants as we were traveling through.

Next Stop: Chattanooga!  While we lived in Birmingham, we came to love the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee. It was a short drive and we took many day trips there.  It's also at the base of Lookout Mountain, home to Rock City's Enchanted Garden of Lights,  which we thought was a perfect way to kick off our Christmas celebration.  The dazzling display of lights could put even Ebenezer Scrooge in the Christmas Spirit.  To the kids, it was pure MAGIC!

Before we left Chattanooga, to travel into Gatlinburg, there were a few more experiences we wanted to share with the kids.  First: The Incline Railroad.  It is the quickest mode of transportation up to Lookout mountain and is approximately one mile in length.  As you can tell by their faces, the experience is nothing short of amazing!

Second: The Battlefields of Chattanooga.  At the top of lookout Mountain sits a Civil War Battlefield along with a small museum containing pictures and supplies used in the War.  The view from the battlefield is simply breathtaking and it is a perfect place for a history lesson!  We encouraged the kids to imagine what it was like hiding in the cracks and crevices of the mountains and to picture the  Union Soldiers coming up the mountain.

Finally: We had to eat lunch at Cheeburger Cheeburger!  We were first introduced to this little Burger Joint in Chattanooga, and although we later found out they are all over the U.S., it's still our "go to" when we are there.  The burgers are delicious, the shakes are divine, and the 50's diner atmosphere is delightful!

With full bellies, we loaded up once again and made our way to our main destination, Gatlinburg!  Upon arrival the kids quickly checked out every room and staked their claim.  The boys then made a startling discovery which would engulf their attention the entire stay at the cabin...The arcade game. PacMan, Donkey Kong and Old School Mario, Oh my!

After we settled in and relaxed a bit, we drove into town to eat dinner at The Old Mill.  It's is a beautiful restaurant with good down home cookin'.  And let's just say they, don't want anyone going home hungry!  We had quite the feast and then went to Wal-Mart to pick up a few essentials before calling it a night.

The next day, the kids woke up to a wonderful surprise.  Because of Cory's work schedule, we were unsure if and when we would be able to make it to celebrate Christmas with Nana and Poppy.  So, they came along and they did not come empty handed.  They brought some wonderful Christmas gifts for all of us and we appreciate each and every one.  Favorites among the kids included, a microscope, Wii games, and of course the Ninja Turtle PJs!!

After opening presents, we got all bundled up for..... SNOW TUBING!!!!  First, we took the sky lift up the mountain which gave us a beautiful view of the city.  This made Landry a little nervous.  She was relieved when we arrived safely at Ober! Now, it hadn't actually snowed in Gatlinburg yet, so we knew we would not be tubing on actual snow, but that didn't make a lick of difference to us.  Man-made snow (aka: finely shaved ice) worked fine to send us flying down the hill at lighting fast speeds!    Nana and Poppy graciously stayed and watched with Cooper so Cory and I could enjoy this little adventure with the big kids.  It was an hour and a half of pure joy.  Our cheeks hurt from smiling so hard. :)

Afterwards, we rode back down the mountain and fueled up with some delicious Mexican Food before heading back to the cabin for a fun night of popcorn and Christmas movies.  However, we did take a little time to explore around the cabin and snap a few pictures.

We spent the next day hiking at Cade's Cove in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.  There, we were able to tour homes of early settlers and primitive church buildings.  It was like a step back in time and really helped some of our history lessons come alive for the kids.  

We ended out day by collecting sticks and making a fire to roast marshmallows.

The next morning, we packed up once again and began the trek back to Louisiana.  But not without stopping at The Apple Barn for some delicious Apple Dumplings and Cider.  We couldn't believe our eyes when Santa and his sleigh was parked there!

What a magical surprise and the best way to end an amazing Christmas vacation!