Days 4 and 5

Day4 we did the Arts and Crafts loop around Gatlinburg. Found everything to be expensive, but what do you expect in a tourist town?

Thought this was an interesting piece - it is made of currogated metal.

Took in 2 shows - a different one at the Smith Family theater and one at the Comedy Barn.

Day 5 we went on a drive in the Smokies to Cades Cove. There was another hike to a waterfall that was 2.5 miles, and theysai to allow 3-4 hours, so we passed.

We did get to see a real live wild bear out in the meadow. At another stop, I saw people pointing almost straight up into a tree. Heard there was a mamma bear and 3 cubs in the tree. Way too close for me! Remember to never tick off Mamma Bear!

From a Baptist church.

Part of a working mill.

Day 3

Day 3 in Gatlinburg. Decided to take the Newfound Gap drive across the Smokies. Stopped about halfway across to see Clingman's Dome. Advertised as a .5 mile hike, but very steep. They weren't kidding. But I made it and once again the way down was so easy, why can't the way up be so easy? To top it off, the top was enveloped in some serious fog, so we really couldn't see anything. Stopped at a pioneer village at the welcome center in NC, then on to the casino in Cherokee. Came back via I40. Went to the Smith Family dinner theater - great show! Here are somepics of the day....

This was all wecould see from the highest point in the Smokies!

The sign shows which way to go on the Appalachian Trail. ProofI was ON it!,

My green beans don't look anything like these!

Taking a hike - Day 2

We made it to Gatlinburg before noon. Since the cabin wasn't going to be ready till 4 pm, we took a short drive into the Smoky Mountains. Decided to hike the Grotto Trail to the waterfall. I made it, don't need a stress test this year. It was 1.4 miles each way. Getting there was mostly uphill, comingback was easy!

Just some photos of our day.

Reds game

Day 1 of vacation. We decided to go to Cincinnati for a Reds game. Our seats were right behind the plate, way up in the upper deck. And was it ever hot today!

The gigantic scoreboard.

Looking down thefirst base line.

Down the thirdbase line.

Looking into the Reds dugout.

A speedboat passing by...

One out to go in the top of the 9th.

Reds win!

Big Boy Carter

He is officially a big boy now! Teeth are coming in, finally, so he could get all those curls cut off!

Ice Cream!!

 Alex blowing bubbles.   It appears that he has finally caved in on the potty training - he has only a few accidents and will tell you when he has to go!

Supper at the kids' table.   Is anybody actually eating?

 Sitting around talking.

 Uhmm, aren't you two supposed to be at the Dad and Lad cub scout campout?

 Ben, Kim and Tim Schumm

 Ethan chowing down on the ice cream.

 Sharelle Fritz and Grandma Stevenson

 Tim and Kevin, the two dads that busted the kids out of camp, with Nacho.   Guess it pays to have adults along who were hungry for ice cream and had a little free time.

Hannah, and Alex, enjoy a cone.

Carter, the little dirt magnet, enjoys his cone too.

July 4th weekend

Our little dirt magnet.    Whatever dirt didn't fall off, stuck.

 Eating a fudge bar didn't help any. :)

 Highlight of the weekend was a trip down the Maumee River from the Bend to the campground.   2 canoes, 4 adults and 2 older kids got to make the journey.   Ethan and Miguel wait near the river.

 Preparing the boats for launch.

 Mindy, Ethan and Kevin take off.

 Nacho, Mark and Miguel figure out how to leave shore backwards.

 Hmm, are you both going the same direction?

 Getting it turned around.

 Off they go!!

 Made it in good time to the campground.   We got down to the river just after they got there.

 Gotta throw some stones in.

 Carter did it all the easy way.

 Had to haul the canoes up from the water.

 Here comes the second one.

 Nacho worked as the hinge inbetween the two canoes.

This picture doesn't do the hill justice.   They had to haul them to the top, then brought the truck and trailer to that location to pick them up.