A special request from our kiddos

 "Can we go to the Aquarium?  We did that with Grandma and Aunt Sara and we really liked it.  We'd like to go again now that we are older."

 "I thought this place was so much bigger." said Teddy.  Uh...when you are four years old...everything seems big!

 Still cool!  Still mesmerizing!

 Sharing kisses on National Kissing Day...in the aquarium.  He deserves lots of kisses for all that he does for us!

 We walked the Parkway...with hundreds of other vacationers...sweating with each step.  "It was cooler when we were here before."  Yes...it was in October!  The leaves were beginning to change.  Funny kids.

 A stop for Teddy!

 A t-shirt and a new bone for Velle.

Game night...hilarious!  The word was "nail clippers" but Teddy had trouble getting it..."nail shortener"?  What?  The junior high brain works a little differently these days and leaves us laughing or speechless some days.

Quiet morning in the woods...

 nothing like a thunderstorm moving through the mountains!  We enjoyed a slow, quiet morning after our late night.

 We watched a variety of channels, drank coffee, slept, colored, and lounged at the Fox's Den Chalet. We highly recommend this place!  You can find it on VRBO.

 It is hard to color or read when she picks this spot to snuggle!

 All rested up for our evening at the Dixie Stampede!

 The pre-show had some fun blue grass music...featuring some of Dolly Parton's songs.  The one about her Daddy being an ole' time preacher made me tear up thinking of my Daddy!

 The kiddos were surprised by the "Christian songs" that were played.  We got to explain the "Bible belt" in the South.  I was struck by the country, God, and family message that was strongly relayed while we were here...and thousands of people pay to watch and hear about it!!!

 I also learned that they can take just about any song and make it bluegrass...hmmm.

 Then we moved into the arena for the main event...

 They were excited to eat!  We went to the 8:30pm show.

 You get to eat with your hands!  No silverware!  Roasted chicken, pork loin, 1/2 potato, 1/2 corn on the cob, biscuit, soup, drink, and a warm apple turnover for dessert.  Ashlynn is not a huge fan of chicken on the bone...so she brought most of hers home in a doggie bag. (The girls ended up making a pot of homemade chicken noodle soup one day for lunch...YUM!  So proud of them and their learning to use leftovers to make yummy things...with no help from Mom!  Ted and I were in the hot tub...and came in to lunch and a cleaned up kitchen!  Now that is vacation!!!)

 Our server, Blake, did a great job!  We all loved this show!

 You can't help but be thankful for our country when you see the flags and hear the beautiful music!

"Thanks, Dad!  It was great!"

Our fun Fourth of July

 Sleeping in and Dad making brunch!

 Velle liked laying under this table on the rug.  She had trouble slipping and sliding on the hardwood floors downstairs.

 Patriotic pancakes!

 Crazy kiddos!

 Yes...this photo makes me laugh now!  We walked to the trolley stop that was a 10 minute walk from our cabin.  "Use the trolley system," they said.  We waited over 45 minutes in the heat, boarded, only for the driver to tell us, "You know, my last stop here will be at 5pm tonight."  Great!  That isn't gonna work!  Off we came...losing a whole $2.50 in fare...and walked back to the cabin to take our own vehicle!  Oi!

 We found parking with no problem and headed to Ober Gatlinburg to ride the tram up the mountain...along with thousands of other vacationers!

 Waiting and waiting for our turn...

 to be packed into the tram with two windows and no air and people who were afraid of heights.  "When we go past the tower we will swing and bounce..."  Yep...it did!

 The view was spectacular!

 Teddy and Ashlynn rode the coaster...after waiting 1 hour and 45 minutes...we baked in the sun.

 Then we headed over to the chair lift...Dad waited for us on solid ground.

 Halfway up...Ashlynn and I each lost our chair partner as they hopped off to ride the Alpine Sleds back down...we continued up and up!

 It was so quiet! And cooler!

 "Did you see someone lost their flip-flop?  And their hat?  And all that garbage...what is wrong with people?"

 We made it!  So pretty!

 "Do you think Dad would like this?"  Umm, yes...the view he would enjoy!  We will take pictures.  The ride in the little ole chair...not so much!"

 After a frozen lemonade...we headed back to the line to go back down the mountain...hot and tired...ready for a late supper (it was going on 8pm).

 I felt like we were a herd of cattle...cram as many as you can on that tram for the trip down!

 Riding down and looking at all the cabins on the mountainsides...

 watching the tram operator just sit after he pushed the button to go down.  Rough job?!

 Noticing the pole next to him...why?  And the 6 foot aluminum ladder over our head...why?  "At this height...there is nothing you can do if something happens!"  Ted was full of good humor...and a couple people got wide-eyed as we voiced these things out loud.  It made me giggle...if you over think it...you can make yourself a panicky mess!

 We walked back to the lot that was now getting empty...everyone headed out to eat and get ready for fireworks?!  And...Ted noticed...our flat tire.  Oi!  They couldn't get the spare loose from under the vehicle...rusted tight.  We haven't had it down since we bought the Yukon.  As he kicked to jar it loose, he noticed the spare was as flat as our tire...so we called roadside assistance for a tow.  Tow trucks...are not equipped to transport 5 people.  Hmmm...busy place...there has to be a taxi or uber or something.  NOT...on a busy July 4th evening!  I emailed the people who owned the cabin for ideas.  Ted walked into a restaurant.  The kiddos walked to a store for water.

Thank goodness for the answered prayer of "Lord, we need help to figure this out!  We don't know what to do!"  Ted got a card for "Hitch-a-Ride" from the owner of the restaurant and told Ted to tell her where he got the card, "She'll take good care of you."  She showed up within 10 minutes and took us to the cabin, "I'll only charge you $25 instead of $40 because you aren't up the mountain!"
The whole day was a test in patience and trust that God had a plan in all of it...we don't know what He protected us from or why the Yukon got a nail in the tire at that point...but God provided and we were all safe.  Maybe...our kiddos just needed to experience that!?!  And maybe we needed to be reminded to relax a little bit about how planned up we needed to be.  I learned to carry my phone charger with me and a purse...at all times.  When things like this happen...you need to have the ability to reach out...I had 20% charge left on my phone...thankfully, Ted had his and we were together.
Catch what you can meal, hot showers, and comfy beds...and a dog who made it for 9 hours in her cage just fine!  Thank you, Lord!