Wilderness of the Smokies

I had been wanting to take a trip with some of our Multiples friends for a while and we came across a resort in Ohio that has an indoor water park and if we could get 10 families we could get a discounted rate. Later on we came across another resort, this one in Pigeon Forge with an indoor water park also. This resort was just opening and it was offering special rates. Unfortunately, it didn't look like we were going to get 10 families to go to the one in Ohio so we decided to go to The Wilderness Lodge in Pigeon Forge.

I was very excited, I couldn't wait...the night before we were to leave a big snowstorm came through our area (well big for Tennessee). Luckily we were still able to go and whats even better was I didn't have to take a day off, because school got canceled for the day!

Altogether there were five families going: The Bowers, The Nelsons, The Nolans, The Corleys, and The Hazels. We had a great time, we spent time at the water park, we went out to eat, I got to do a little shopping, we experienced a mirror maze, and we even got to play putt-putt for Thomas.

During the days the majority of the families did what they wanted, whether it was together or separated. On Saturday morning we went to the Apple Barn with The Nelsons and The Corleys and squeezed our 3 families of 5 into a table for 10...those were some good apple fritters! That night The Nelsons went with us to the Old Mill, one of my favorite restaurants in Pigeon Forge. There we enjoyed each others company, watched a duck in its nest in a tree, and feed the ducks with our leftover bread.

Sunday morning, I was debating on staying another day, but decided it was time to get ready to come home. Before coming home we tried to find a putt-putt place for Thomas, he loves to go putt-putting. It had been a very rainy weekend and was still rainy, so we had to find someplace indoors. This place we found was an indoor adventure center that had an indoor putt putt, a mirror maze and a laser maze. Thomas won at putt-putt and we skipped the laser maze.

The nights were a lot of fun also, we would gather in one room and play games. Friday night it was our room, the kids gathered on the bed and the adults gathered around the itty bitty table to play games. We were having a great time until about 12:30 when security knocked on the door saying we needed to quiet down. So on Saturday night we changed rooms and went next door to Joys room just in case we got another visitor!

The kids really enjoyed the water park. Tyler and Tapanga liked the toddler area the most. I was so proud of Tyler, I was sitting and talking with Melissa and Candi when I looked over and Tyler was going down the slide! This is a big deal for us because about a year ago Tyler got pushed into the pool in which he landed upside down and was held down by his float, since that day he has been afraid to do anything but get into the water. Finally, he seems to be getting more adventurous, it just takes time. Tapanga liked the slide also, but had trouble getting over to it!

Unlike Tyler, Tanner preferred the big kid area where he could go down the big slide play in the streams of water shooting down and even stand under the big bucket! We will have to keep an eye on him, he is not scared of anything!

All the kids really enjoyed the wave pool. The boys loved to go out in the waves with daddy and Tapanga and I would sit on the edge and let the waves splash on us.

What a great time we had, it was such a wonderful weekend. The hotel was nice, the water park was great, being indoors and close by, and our company of friends made it fun! The only question is...where are we going for our second annual multiples trip?