So, we got home from Colorado the night of April 13th. April 14th was the SWA party and K's birthday. On Sunday, April 15th, we left for Tennessee for a vacation we'd had planned for a month with Mom and Pops (aka Grandma and Grandpops). It was crazy traveling time!
But somehow, we manage to find some fun! We found these tiled concrete airplanes just outside the Nashville terminal on our way to pick up the rental car. Of course, the kids had to ride them (since you know, they hadn't been on a plane all morning!).
We got to the condo Sunday afternoon, so we went shopping to stock up on supplies for the week (I never knew how much I took my spices and sprays for granted! They didn't even have salt and pepper!). So, while we were there, we got a fun-fetti cake and a candle for Kayleigh. She picked it out, I promise! I made it Sunday night, and Monday we had a little family party for her. She loves being the center of attention, so it worked out well!
We packed a big suitcase, so we filled part of it with some of her presents from the Callicott Clan, and Gram and Bapa. Gram and Bapa gave her a handful of necklace/bracelet sets - which she had to put on - all at one time (with tags still on!).
Grandma and Grandpops also brought a few presents for Kayleigh (and one for Logan). A Melissa and Doug birthday cake! How fun!
Grandpops and Logan enjoyed just hanging out (and watching the golfers out our window).
Proof that I really did go on this trip!
April 17th (Tuesday - we took it easy on Monday), we went to Cumberland Caverns, a privately owned and operated that is the largest "show cave" in Tennessee. It was about a 45 minute drive through hilly Tennessee from our condo.
Look at all the verdant green. It was so beautiful - made me miss Cincinnati - all the different shades of green! And the rolling hills (we were in the Appalachian foothills)!
Grandma and Daddy walk down into the caverns. The trees seem to stand guard over the entrance of the cave.
The gang at the underground pool. No swimming allowed (Kayleigh, I'm talking to you!).
A small brown bat - who is sleeping. According to our guide, it doesn't matter if the bats can't see the sunlight, their circadian rhythm lets them know when to wake up. I'd always thought it was a light sensitivity, but I guess that the circadian rhythm makes more sense, as there is really no light that gets down into this cave (except the flashlights and cameras and planted lights that the guide turned on and off for us).
The chandelier in the Volcano Room. This room had great acoustics, and apparently the Bluegrass Underground uses this location for some concerts (included a Vince Gill one). They also host weddings, banquets, and corporate events. Pretty neat place, especially since the chandelier does a little light dance...
One of the trolls that blocks the way up to the highest part of the cavern (on your way to the lowest part of the cavern).
This is one of the "living" stones - as you can tell, when a flashlight is put on top of it, it almost looks like a candle. Unfortunately, the oils from people's skin has killed some of the stalactites and stalagmites, so they don't glow anymore. A nice allegory for our Christian walk, huh?
Little Man enjoys blazing the trail back to the parking lot and gift shop.
Little Crazy enjoyed being carried.
The view from the parking lot of Cumberland Caverns. Fabulous!
The following day, we took a trip to Fall Creek Falls State Park. Fall Creek Falls, at 256 ft, is the highest waterfall in the eastern United States. Because it's a low volume waterfall, it has created a large amphitheatre at the bottom. This park has "gulfs" and has beautiful trees and forests.
Grandma and Grandpops enjoy the view from the lookout before we start our descent down.
Logan and Daddy start going down. Logan wanted a matching Daddy-and-Logan shirt - so at Cumberland Caverns they both got "I Got Battitude" glow-in-the-dark shirts. Aren't they the cutest?!
My three favorite people.
Kayleigh was a trooper - she hiked all the way to the bottom of Fall Creek Falls - over rocks, down slick trails. She did amazing!
Logan, of course, was our trail blazer. He would yell back, "Come on!" then get to the top of the trail, or to a bend and see that it continued then yell, "WHAT?! REALLY?! Are you KIDDING ME?!" Then he'd truck on! And heaven forbid you get in front of him. He made me wait for him, then pushed me behind! HE had to be the leader!
The trail leading down...
Daddy held Kayleigh's hand some of the way.
Little Man posed for a picture while he and I waited for everyone to catch up. Well, at least Daddy and Kayleigh. Grandma stepped on a rock wrong and turned her bad ankle. Ouch! But she muscled through it and met us at the bottom (with Grandpops' help, of course).
On the way in, there was a playground with SWINGS! So we got on those monstrous swings - and the kids swung into the trees! They thought it was great to head-butt a limb! City slickers...
But down from that playground was Cane Creek, Cane Creek Falls, and Cane Creek Cascade. We waded in the shallow water about 100 meters from the falls, and just about 20 meters from the cascade. It was cold and refreshing, and the kids loved it (that would be Shane, Karen, Logan, and Kayleigh). Of course, by this time, my camera had died, so I took this pic from Pops. Here you can see Daddy, Logan, and Kayleigh by the Cane Creek Cascade. It was chilly wading in that water!
The water on the way to the falls. We didn't get that close, since it would have been a LONG way down. But it was fun to wade in the water - and Grandma soaked her ankle - like in an ice bath.
The bridge over Cane Creek - just above the cascade. We loved this State Park so much, we came back the next day and hiked from Cane Creek to the Fall Creek Falls overlook. It was a good 2 mile or so hike. And both kids did the whole thing! We had such a great time there - I'm ready to go back!
On Friday, April 20 we went home from Crossville. We all had a really good time - not just in the places we went, but hanging out with Grandma and Grandpops. I'm ready to move to Tennessee. It's beautiful, and not quite as hot as Houston. Too bad the maintenance base there is pretty small... Guess we'll just have to come back and visit!
