Today was our last day in Tennessee. We kept it low key, getting a little shopping done and going to play miniature golf. The weather was again beautiful. Mandy, Izzy and Abby enjoyed the jacuzzi tub and we even got some send off fireworks from Dollywood.
Today we went back into the Smoky Mountains to do some exploring. We found a very cool area with large rocks to climb in a stream and the kids spent tons of time there having a blast. We had to take a dirt road into the mountains with narrow bridges but it was just a great afternoon. Another beautiful day. It was good for the soul!
Since 2020 has been a very strange year we decided to to do something a little different for Thanksgiving. We got a condo in Pigeon Forge, TN to get away from the house we have been trapped in all year! Our friends the Greathouses had a cabin nearby so we spent our Thanksgiving Day with them. We started by hiking the Cosby Trail in the Smoky Mountains and then going back to their cabin to have Turkey Day dinner and hang out. It was a fun day. Tomorrow, more hiking and enjoying the beautiful weather!
A little early and not quite there yet, but we have a tree and a tractor with our snowman this year. I think we will outline the snowman with lights and then call it good. Stay tuned!
It is hard to believe but Emma is 18. Like everything else this year, her birthday had to be done differently. We had my mom and brother stop by Saturday for a bit and then Mandy's parents came by Sunday. It's just so strange to have one of my kids be an adult! Happy Birthday, Emma. Love you and we are so proud of you.
With the pandemic kicking back up we have started to have to be separate again from our friends. But tonight we helped out some friends and had Ryan and Gavin over, and for good measure picked up Charlie, too. They were all playing a game in the dining room and it was so loud, with the kids laughing so hard. It was nice to hear that again. Hopefully soon it becomes the normal again, instead of the exception.
For me summer is officially over when the fun cars get put away. This year, we got a great extra few weeks of nice weather. As of today it was still in the 70's! Tomorrow the high is 48 so the 'heat wave' is done. With work being scheduled on both the TBird and Dodge Brothers they are over at my friend Garrett's house. His pole barn has the lift and he has room to store them. Now comes the long wait until spring before these ladies can be on the road again.
We celebrated Alex's birthday today with my family. Since it was so beautiful we just hung out with the family outside. Can't believe he is 14, but time doesn't stop! Happy Birthday Al, looking forward to seeing what you have in store!
Alex's primary soccer team finished their season undefeated today and it was a fun game. They beat Haslett 6-0 during a game filled with high winds, snow and sun! But the boys finished it off and had fun playing in their finale. The two teams I helped coach finished 1st and 2nd in their division. A good fall season for the U15 Mason boys!
