Dollywood

On Wednesday we decided to take a quick overnight trip to Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg and use our Dollywood season passes one more time before they closed for the season. While we were on our way there and two of the five of us got sick (me and Elsie) before we even made it to Bristol, one might think we might reconsider the trip and turn around, but we kept going. After searching for a while for a hotel at a reasonable price that actually had vacancy, we found one that ended up being great (Shular Inn). We were carrying our bags into the room when I looked at Jackson and just knew he was sick. (You can read Jackson whenever he isn't feeling well- all you have to do is look at his eyes and you know if he has a fever or not!) I take out the thermometer and sure enough he is sick with a fever of 101.6.  We asked if he felt like going to Dollywood that night to see the lights and he said he did, so we went for just a little while to see the lights, watch an ice skating show, and let Jackson ride his favorite ride, the cars.  By the time we went to supper and got back to the room, all 3 of them seemed to be feeling fine, so despite it being 9:45 we decided to go to the pool. We were going to make the most of this one night trip! :)

Who doesn't love a little pool time at 10:00pm with 3 kids!

We let them swim and play until about 11:00, when we made them go back, take a quick shower, and go to bed so we could spend the next day at Dollywood. Then, that is when it was evidently Ansley's turn to get sick. She cried off and on all. night. long! The next day we asked if she felt like going to Dollywood and she said yes, but all she did that day except ride one ride, was sleep in the stroller while being all bundled up. She never complained once though, and even gave me this sweet smile!

Even though it was a quick trip full of off and on sickness, we had a great time just getting away for a night and spending some quality time as a family.

          Jackson loved all of the Christmas decorations!                                          Me & my baby girl driving the cars

            The kids with daddy                                                                                    Elsie enjoying the carousel!

BUT... I would highly suggest to NEVER go to Dollywood/Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg the week after Christmas. I have never seen those places so crowded- it was crazy! :)