This past weekend Zak, Madyson, and I headed out of town. It is the first time since our honeymoon that we have gone on a vacation as a family. Just the 3 of us.. Zak and I love Gatlinburg Tennessee. 4 years ago, Zak and I went to a Gatlinburg to celebrate our Birthdays. 9 months later.. we had Madyson. :) Since Mady was little, I have wanted to take her there. To see the lights, walk downtown, do all the family stuff there that I have never done. Never had a reason or money to do all the cool stuff. Well, I can now check it off the list of to-dos. We left about 2:00 on Friday and drove. Madyson was so excited to be going to a cabin. She kept saying.. is it like a house? Are we going to live there? Can we play there? Will their be toys? Can we swim in the hot water tub? All I wanted to know was if it was going to be decorated with lights. I love Christmas lights! We arrived in Gatlinburg and YES!! Christmas lights everywhere! OMG I am so excited! Mady was like a little girl at Christmas.. oh wait.. she is a little girl and it kind of was like Christmas.. She would squeal with excitement. MOMMY LOOK. MOMMY LOOK. Pointing at all the lights. Then she would say Look Mommy! RIDES!!! As she saw the go cart tracks, water slides, and the merry-go-rounds. I loved hearing all the JOY!
After getting the keys, looking at all the pictures in the brochures, and grabbing a bite to eat. We walked back to the car and on the way we found a cute little bridge and swing set.
We also came across a HUGE rocking chair. You know who just HAD to sit in it all by herself! She is so cute!!
We made our way to the Cabin
Our cabin was amazing!
The living room above is when you walk in. You can go to the right to the master bedroom, up to the loft for the 2nd bedroom/bathroom, or left into the living room. You go to the kitchen and take a right to go into the master bathroom or downstairs to the game room. There was 2 decks and a hot tub.
She had to go downstairs to play with the adult toys. She LOVED air hockey the best! That is what she wanted to do all the time.
FUNNY STORY:
Mady's slept upstairs in the loft bedroom. She wanted to watch some tv before bed but it was after 10:00. As we are flipping threw the tv she says in such a big girl voice. It is ok if there is not my shows, I can just watch basketball. HA!! So we laid on the bed as she watched some tv. About 5 mins later she says OK GO SO I CAN WATCH BASKET BALL. She actually kicked us out of her bedroom so she could watch the game. After about 20 mins of listening to her on the monitor sing Santa Clause is coming to town and clap every time a goal was made. I decided to go up there and turn it off. She told me to leave it on and she would close her eyes and just listen to the game. Nooo. It is bed time!
Zak and I opened our bottles of wine and went to the game room. Pool was a must! He wont a game, I wont a game. We left it at that. Air hockey was fun too. I loved that there was a little get away for us to play in while lil chica slept.
The next morning, Mady woke up early and wanted to swim in the big tub. So.. we did.. YES, WE did..
Next we enjoyed the morning on the deck and then headed off to Downtown Gatlinburg for some fun!
Below are just some pictures from downtown. We got downtown around 11:00, ate lunch, and stayed downtown till about 8:00
We went to Ripley's Museum and saw some pretty cool stuff.
We also took Madyson put-put for the first time. It was a black light put-put and it was all underwater themed. They played all her favorite songs from Yellow Submarine to Kiss the girl and so on. She did pretty good at put-put. Video a few below!
The picture above is what it looked like. The rest of the Pictures are taken with the flash on.
After we left Downtown, we headed over to Pigon Forge to get some dinner. Of course lil chica had Man and Cheese. Then back to the cabin for bedtime. Zak and I played a little bit downstairs but we too were tired and off the bed we went.
The next morning we got up.. watched a movie and packed. Played outside. Took some pictures. Then said goodbye to the Cabin.
In the car and off we go. A full day of play and shopping ahead. Oh yea, and driving back to Chatt Town.
It was really sad we had to leave the Cabin, knowing we would not be back till next year. :::tear::
We went to the outlets to go shopping and on the way we found a little kids amusement park. So of course we stopped. It was fun!
This was the first time she has ever rode the swings.
Then we went shopping. When we pulled up there was some crazy smoke rolling out of the mountains. I never found out what was on fire but I did take some pretty cool pictures of it!
That was our weekend. A weekend to remember forever! I know Mady will remember it and she keeps saying she wants to go back. This time though she wants to ride on some water rides. We had an amazing time that was very needed! I can not wait till next year to go. I think we will make this an every year birthday event!
