When I was in highschool my parents purchased a log cabin up by Park City, Utah. We spent every Christmas there. I loved going up with the family and staying there, usually snowed in, for a few days, playing games, playing in the snow, etc... My parents sold the cabin a couple of years after Mike and I got married, so my kids never got to experience a Christmas there. I've told Mike, I'm sure way too many times, how I'd love to go and stay in a cabin, where there is snow, for Christmas, so the kids can experience it. This year he wanted to surprise me with just that. However, Christmas in the mountains, is apparently very popular down here and places to stay were hard to find. We didn't want to go too far, just far enough for there to be snow. He found a place in the Tennessee, Smokey mountains, called Gatlinburg. The area had a ski resort, so there had to be snow, right? A place to actually stay was hard to come by. He was able to get a condo, right by Dollywood. Ok, not quite a cabin, but there would be snow, the kids could learn to ski and we could sled and play in the snow. I was excited. As it got closer to Christmas, about a week away, I decided to see if I could find some pictures of the place we were staying, to get an idea of decorations to bring. Why I didn't do this sooner, I don't know. I found some on the website and let's just say it was pretty much nothing like I was expecting. The place was pretty old, which was fine, but it was tight quarters and there was no way for Santa to come without getting caught by the kids. There was no fireplace and really no place to put a Christmas tree. Now, I don't see myself as very princessy, when it comes to things like this. You can't be when you come from a family of 8, but you know when you have an image of something in your head and when it turns out to be NOTHING like you'd hoped it's just disappointing. I expressed my concerns to Mike, probably not in the best way, but I just couldn't see it working out. After a long conversation, I concluded that I would just try to make the best out of what we had, not wanting to cancel our plans, especially since my mother-in-law had gone to such lengths to get us this place. Well, my sweet husband, not wanting me to be unhappy, spent the evening trying to find other arrangements, without my knowing. The next day he surprised me with a cabin that he had found. Thanks to him and Cheryl, I got the "cabin Christmas" I've always talked about. Unfortunately, this year had been unseasonabley warm, so the ski resort was closed, but we found other things to keep ourselves busy. It was a lot of fun, and a Christmas I won't soon forget!
The fireplace!!
We went and ate breakfast at the "Log Cabin". They are known for the best french toast. It was pretty darn good. Hailey and Logan on the tram going up to do some ice skating
Well, this was a snowy as it got up there.
This cabin had 3 hot tubs...overkill! But everyone enjoyed sitting in them at night and relaxing.
In our new pj's Christmas eve night.
Logan going through his stocking Christmas morning.
Cheryl looking at her gift from the kids.
Playing games
Lovin the box
like father, like son....
it was quite painful to watch Logan up presents....I thought he'd tear into it...nope, he pulled a little piece off at a time.
another hot tub
There was a pool table there too, a favorite with the kids.
going ice skating at "Ober-gatlinburg"
Iceskating! I thought Hailey would love it, but she absolutely HATED it! She get's embarassed when she can't do something well. After going around the rink about 10 times it started to get easier and she loved it. Braxton was a weapon out there..he'd skate like a crazy person until he either fell or found a spot on the wall to grab onto.
Indoor skydiving.
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