A Trip to the Mountains

Going to the mountains is always an adventure. We try to go every year to see Granny and Papaw. This year was the longest trip yet as far as driving. We always leave from Virginia. We left from Florida and although GPS said 12 hours it was more like 16. Phew-- it was nuts. Cayenne wasn't too happy with that long car ride and she made it known with lots of tears and screams. Needless to say when we stepped foot into our cabin a cold beer and the hot tub was on the brain. My brain, at least. The kids just were excited for the hot tub (that we cooled down for their little young bodies). We definitely didn't need anyone passing out after that hellish drive.

For the past 3 years we've gone and stayed at the Pioneer Cabins and Guest Farm. It is wonderful. It's exactly what these 3 kiddos need to be around. They see where our food comes from, only steps away from our cabin. We pick vegetables and use it in our lunch and dinner and go down to the chicken coop to get eggs for breakfast. They feed goats, chickens and get to run around on a big farm. The cabin is rustic but nice and has everything we need.

Eating one of the last strawberries of the season!

Walking the donkey and the ponies down to the pasture

Then we head to my Dad and step-mom's place: lovingly titled the Morgan Family Farm. It is also a GREAT experience for our kiddos. They get to feed the chickens, get some brown delicious eggs, pick vegetables, shoot BB guns and just have a good time with Papaw and Granny. This year we even got to see Granny's mom, Mamaw, so it was a treat! They recently got a car port and when we arrived this time they had a dart board, bubbles, ice cream maker and corn hole set up and ready for us to play with. We played, laughed and ate lettuce from the garden on our burgers and had homemade ice cream and blackberry cobbler (yes the blackberries were from the garden). 

Homemade ice cream- the before

Homemade ice cream- the after

Corn hole with Mamaw and Granny

Mamaw getting in on the corn hole action!

Everyone getting sleepy

We left Papaw and Granny's pretty late the first night but we ended up stopping by Full Service BBQ. It smelled awesome on our drive in to the cabins but we were NOT stopping again. We had some quick yummy TN BBQ just to say we did and headed back to the cabin but not without seeing some beautiful scenery along the way.

The Smoky Mountains

The BBQ place that was once a gas station. 

We passed some fresh water coming out of the mountain on our drive there. Pretty awesome!

We loved our time with Papaw, Granny and Mamaw on the Morgan Family Farm. It was way too short as we travelled for 2 days and had 2 days to spend there. The 2nd day Cayenne got a fever (most likely from teething) but we had to cut our visit a bit short. Booooo. We walked around the Pioneer Farm, made s'mores on the deck of the cabin and the kids went into the hot tub in between the rain. It was a great trip and only wish it could've lasted just a bit longer. 

S'mores

Cayenne's first S'more. She just wanted the marshmallow- silly girl

Little sticky fingers

Every time we cross the TN line I start talking a little funny. I gotta talk with a little kuntry accent like thisss. Imagine that last line with some twang and a long drag at the end. I love taking our kids to a place that I have so many fond memories of. A bit after my parents got divorced my Dad moved to Townsend, Tennessee. My Uncle Don and Kristen had cabins there. I would go every summer. When I was old enough to drive Livia (Lisa even came once, too!) my sister from another mister would come, too. I would always remember tubing in the crick (actual name Little River but say it with the accent), driving around Gatlinburg, catching our own fish at the Trout Farm, eating watermelon on the back porch and just laughing A TON with each other.  I get teary-eyed thinking those times are gone but am so grateful I can make new memories with the hubs and our kiddos.

Side Note: Cayenne is sitting on my lap while I'm writing this and screaming over and over PLEASE GO CABIN, PLEASE GO CABIN. I think she had fun. 

Until next year! We'll miss you Papaw and Granny (& Mamaw, too)!