Mountain Trip 2008

Well...we have finally gotten settled in at the new house (with the exception of moving the barn and cows) and I thought I would catch everyone up on the month of February over the next few days with some new posts.

We left on February 1 headed to Gatlingburg, TN for what has become our annual family mountain trip. The goal every year has been to go in hopes of snow and skiing, especially for the four oldest kids - Matthew, Caleb, Riley Grace, and Rachel. This year we even scheduled the trip for February because it is always very WARM when we go the week after Christmas. Well...this year was no different.

The first full day there was Saturday and the temps were in the 50s and the kids along with Russell, Kristen Michelle, and Jamey skied for the majority of the afternoon. Even little Maggie Ruth went down the slopes between her mother's legs a few times!!! Good thing the weather cooperated that day, because the rest of the time was rainy, warm, or rainy AND warm.

The Reeves Family - yes, Caroline does have on ski bibs and boots. However, when Jamey took her out on the snow she was not as fond of skiing as her cousin Maggie Ruth.

Sunday we went to Cades Cove. That is always a fun trip because the kids like to just romp and run free and all of the adults seem to enjoy it pretty good too - especially Jamey who, along with the help of the kids in our vehicle, counted 84 deer!!!

Monday was spent shopping since it was the "rainy" day. No, our men DO NOT enjoy shopping, but since we went to Bass Pro and Knife World they were willing to hang in there with us a little longer than usual!!! You will never guess what Jamey got...ANOTHER flashlight. For all of you who do not know, flashlights are his obsession.

On Tuesday the temps were up near 70 and that does not make for a pretty day at the slopes, so... Brian had the idea to go for a hike to Laurel Falls. After a pit stop at "Cooter's Garage", we made our way up the mountain for a picnic and then hiking. First of all, we hiked to a old schoolhouse. We thought the kids should see how school was done way back when. Then we made our way to Laurel Falls. Mind you, this is 1.3 mile, 300' elevaion hike with seven kids in tow - Jacob on Heather's shoulders all the way up AND all the way down. There were signs all along the way reading "DANGER: Deaths have occurred from falls. Please keep children under control." After about the second one of these, Mother could hardly stand to look over the sides and turned around to go back. Boy did she miss it...the falls were beautiful!!!

Caleb, Riley Grace, Rachel and Matthew in front of the General at "Cotter's Garage" - they all love the Dukes!!!

Here are all of us (with the exception of Daddy, Kristen Sue, and Josh) at the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains. Daddy had to leave a day early for a meeting in Birmingham and Kristen Sue and Josh were not able to make it this year - we missed you!!!

Here are the "babies" and their modes of transportation up and down the mountain when we hiked to the falls.

Caroline and her daddy playing in Laurel Falls.

The Kids - what an accomplishment to get a photo with all seven of them looking at the camera.

PLEASE EXCUSE THE FORMATTING - I have worked on this ONE post every night for a week now and can't get it to "line up" the way I want it - I will try to make the next one a little easier to read!!!