April 5, 2021

After another short night, we had another early morning. We had a light breakfast at the cabin, said goodbye to Adam, and headed down into Gatlinburg.

The girls wanted to go horseback riding, so we went to the Sugarland Stables at the edge of the Smoky Mountain National Park. We three girls rode and Michael stayed behind to take pictures and people watch.

We lunched in Pigeon Forge at a Mexican place called Cielito Linda. It wasn’t too bad. It just wasn’t our regular place in Fort Wayne.

Back at the cabin, I did some homework for a while. The girls waded in the hot tub one last time, went for a hike with Michael, and then played down in the game room.

My parents stopped by briefly and sat a spell on the front porch. We chatted about what we had each done for the day, and we made plans for the rest of vacation.

At 7:00, we had tickets for the Titanic museum. The girls wandered on their own while Michael and I stayed with my parents. I think everyone enjoyed it.

It’s our last night in the cabin, and I’m sad. I always hate when vacations end.

April 4, 2021

Easter Sunday. It felt weird to not be in church.

We all went to the Apple Barn for breakfast. The ride there was fun because Adam was with us, and he just makes everything fun.

After breakfast we hung out at the cabin for a few hours. We have a game room downstairs, so the girls have plenty to do in addition to the hot tub and their devices.

While Adam napped, we decided to go to a place called Goats on the Roof. It’s pretty much what it sounds like. They have conveyor belts hook up to stationary bicycles, and you can peddle food up to goats that are…well, on the roof. They also have a mountain coaster that everyone wanted to ride, as well as ice cream that everyone wanted to eat.

Back at the cabin, we took apart the back of the SUV and finally rescued Emma’s lost Air Pod. She was happy, and Michael was relieved that it didn’t involve removing a seat.

My parents came over for dinner. Michael grilled burgers. We sat and talked, which was nice.

After dinner I had to do homework. Adam, Michael, and Sofia played a couple of rounds of Dutch Blitz before deciding that they needed a Taco Bell run. We later played one last game of Trivial Pursuit. It was a nail biter, but Michael eventually won.

April 3, 2021

I didn’t sleep last night. I can’t tell why I didn’t sleep. I can tell you that everyone in my cabin got up to go to the bathroom in the night, and I can tell you that our cabin is not soundproof. I can also tell you that the road in front of our cabin was super busy at 4:00 this morning.

My parents came over this morning and brought donuts and coffee filters. Both were greatly appreciated.

After Michael and the girls played at the resort playground, we went down into Sevierville to the outlet mall with seemingly everyone else in Tennessee. We spent more money than we meant to, but we had a good time.

Back at the cabin, we relaxed in the hot tub and played games. My parents came over for dinner and to watch basketball.

Michael and I stayed up late playing back-to-back games of Trivial Pursuit with Adam. I won the first, but Michael crushed us in the second.

April 2, 2021

Today was a travel day, which is never the most exciting.

Emma lost an Air Pod in the car between the seats, 30 minutes into the trip. That was fun.

We were stopped in traffic both in Cincinnati and in southern Kentucky for an hour each time. That was fun too. That extended our trip from 7 hours to 9.

It was legitimately fun in some ways too, though. The girls watched “Anne of Green Gables”, and their commentary was hilarious.

We stopped at Red Robin for lunch, and Sofia found a new mac and cheese that she is in love with.

We have a great cabin close to my parents’ great cabin.

We had a good dinner with my parents and brother.

It may not have gone according to plan, but it was a good day. I’m looking forward to what tomorrow brings.