Smoky Mountains 2008

We just came back from a long weekend in Pigeon Forge and the Smoky Mountains. We met Gigi and Papaw there on Friday. We took a drive to the Sugarlands area and took a short trail. Lucas was intrigued by the "mountain sticks". I guess he really hasn't played with a lot of sticks since we don't have many trees. We'll have to get him out in nature more often. On Friday night, Lucas had to go ride rides. He even rode the go-carts with his Daddy. He loved them. He kept going by us and giving us thumbs up. On Saturday, we spent the day in the mountains. We went for a picnic by the stream at Metcalfe Bottoms, then went for a drive thru Cades Cove. We saw a big black bear walk through the woods right beside the truck. Of course, Lucas was asleep through the whole thing. After he woke up, we rode the horse and buggy through the woods. We saw a couple of deer, but no bears. After we ate, Lucas, Brad and Papaw went swimming. On Sunday, we went shopping. When we came back, Nana and Pop Pop were there. Lucas was thrilled to see them. On Monday, we went for a picnic at the Chimneys picnic area. Lucas loved the water. After we ate, we went back to the stream. Lucas took his shoes off, threw lots of rocks, and came back out of the stream soaking wet. He told me "I like this water". It was cold, but he had a lot of fun. He brought home a "mountain stick" and a few mountain rocks for the landscaping. Later Monday evening, we went to the Tool Warehouse and the Smoky Mountain Knife Works. Lucas had quite a ho-down with the critters at Knife Works. We had a really good time. I think that Pop Pop will have to recuperate from his visit with Lucas. Lucas gets pretty wound up around him.