I woke up and gave my mother her gift because it was her 60th birthday. We bought her a necklace that says Nonna in the center and has a ring around it that says Jackson and Addison, and their birthstones hang from the chain as well. She said she loved it. Score!
This day was all about what Mom wanted to do for her big day. We started at the Outdoor Gravity Park, which we previously knew as Zorb five years ago. Five of us changed into bathing suits and took the van up to the top of the hill. TK and I hopped in the first ball, so we could get down first and I could start taking pictures. We took a video inside the ball and I laughed the entire time, and swallowed a little water. When we got to the bottom, we were soaked and I grabbed my camera to take photos of my parents as they made their way down. When they got out, the smile on my mom's face was priceless. She had a blast. Uncle George was the next to come down and he made his way down zigzag course. He had a great time too.
After our great trip down the hill, we went back to the room so my dad could change. He only decided to participate last minute. We headed over to downtown Gatlinburg so we could stroll around. Our first stop was the Sugarlands Distillery so we could pick up the moonshine my cousin requested. We ended up sampling some and this time, I was smart and skipped all the ones that would burn my esophagus. After some miniature cups of , we went to get lunch at Dick's Last Resort and had a ton of laughs because the wait staff made fun of us the whole time. I thought they would be rude and I would get annoyed, but they were pretty funny.
We walked off our lunch afterward and headed over to Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine to purchase the moonshine and t-shirts we had seen earlier in the week. I got a red shirt and made sure we bought Shine Nog, which I am saving it until Christmas because it will be a good replacement for my beloved egg nog. There was a bluegrass band playing in the courtyard, so we sat and listened to them for a little while. My dad even bought their CDs. They were very good and my kids love bluegrass.
Of course, our walk in downtown Gatlinburg led to The Donut Friar. Five years ago, we were introduced to the fresh and delicious donuts that they craft in their ovens. We each ate a donut of our choice and then made sure to take some back to the hotel. The Village Shops, where the Donut Friar is located, are adorable and sell some pretty great things, like neck pads with cherry pits in them, educational toys, German beer and hot sauce.
With delicious donuts in tow, we headed back to the hotel and got ready for dinner. We were having a celebratory dinner for my mother's birthday at Paula Deen's Family Kitchen at The Island. The food was family-style, so we all shared in the southern goodness of Fried Chicken, Chicken Pot Pie, Macaroni and Cheese and Butter Cake, among others. When we headed out of the restaurant, the fountain was dancing again, and so was Jackson. We did a little laughing and then headed back to the hotel.
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| Mom and Dad inside the OGO |
After our great trip down the hill, we went back to the room so my dad could change. He only decided to participate last minute. We headed over to downtown Gatlinburg so we could stroll around. Our first stop was the Sugarlands Distillery so we could pick up the moonshine my cousin requested. We ended up sampling some and this time, I was smart and skipped all the ones that would burn my esophagus. After some miniature cups of , we went to get lunch at Dick's Last Resort and had a ton of laughs because the wait staff made fun of us the whole time. I thought they would be rude and I would get annoyed, but they were pretty funny.
We walked off our lunch afterward and headed over to Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine to purchase the moonshine and t-shirts we had seen earlier in the week. I got a red shirt and made sure we bought Shine Nog, which I am saving it until Christmas because it will be a good replacement for my beloved egg nog. There was a bluegrass band playing in the courtyard, so we sat and listened to them for a little while. My dad even bought their CDs. They were very good and my kids love bluegrass.Of course, our walk in downtown Gatlinburg led to The Donut Friar. Five years ago, we were introduced to the fresh and delicious donuts that they craft in their ovens. We each ate a donut of our choice and then made sure to take some back to the hotel. The Village Shops, where the Donut Friar is located, are adorable and sell some pretty great things, like neck pads with cherry pits in them, educational toys, German beer and hot sauce.
With delicious donuts in tow, we headed back to the hotel and got ready for dinner. We were having a celebratory dinner for my mother's birthday at Paula Deen's Family Kitchen at The Island. The food was family-style, so we all shared in the southern goodness of Fried Chicken, Chicken Pot Pie, Macaroni and Cheese and Butter Cake, among others. When we headed out of the restaurant, the fountain was dancing again, and so was Jackson. We did a little laughing and then headed back to the hotel.
