Simply Pearcy: Family Reunion in Gatlinburg!!

This past weekend was our first family vacation to Gatlinburg. This was the longest roadtrip we've taken with Leona and she did FANATASTIC (all caps is the most enthusiastic way I can describe it)!!!! We caravaned with Joe's family on the way down, which made for a long drive but, it was still fun! Once we arrived we checked in and made our way up the mountain to the beautful 8 bedroom cabin Joe's grandmother reserved for all of us. By all of us I mean 22 people in total!!! It sounds like a lot of people, but the cabin was so huge, there was literally a floor for everything. Pool table and big screen in the basement, living room, hot tub, and kitchen on the main floor, and fusball and air hockey table on the third floor. The first night we stayed in and got aquainted with the idea of living with 22 people for 4 nights. Leona came down with a cold a few days before we got there, and on top of being in a strange place she didn't sleep very well for the first few nights.

Ready for the roadtrip to Gatlinburg in her new carseat

Front of the cabin

You would never know by looking at her morning face that she slept like crap the night before

She gets her morning side from daddy

The first day there I was all about going white water rafting and ziplining. So a group of us spent the day rafting a five mile stretch of the upper Pigeon Forge River followed by 6 ziplines. While on our rafting trip, there was a small part of the river where we could get out and swim for a bit. Getting out of the raft is the easy part; getting back in...easier said than done. Joe's cousin Ashleigh had such a time getting back in the raft that she briefly lost the bottoms to her swimsuit. Once everyone was accounted for, we finished our trip with on last Class IV rapid. After the day was spent, I would have to say that my most favorite part was the ziplining. We started out with a few practice trips. The tower was 54ft tall and the zipline was probably equally as long. However, the greatest feat was climbing nearly 270 steps throughout the entire adventure. The last zipline was 1200 feet long and ran 125 feet above the Pigeon Forge River. Although you would never know that when you launch off the platform because it starts in the middle of a mountain. Top speed on this zipline was 30 mph!! They called it the glove melter because your breaking glove gets so hot from riding the cable so long. No damage done, thank goodness!!!

Waiting for our daylong adventure

We decided to kill some time playing volleyball

The next day we celebrated the arrival of Joe's newest family with a baby shower. And, I should mention that this is the first baby shower I've been to that the father attented and participated in the festivities.

David participating on his own baby shower!!

Later that afternoon we went Hillbilly Golfing. I would just like to clarify that the name of the place was "Hillbilly Golf." We did not turn it hillbilly! I came in second, just 8 over par!!

Getting ready to ride up the mountain to the golf course. It was the first time I've every putt putted down the side of a mountain.

Family Photos

We celebrated Joe's grandma's birthday at the Old Mill Restaurant. YUMMY!!!

The last time Joe and I had our picture taken in front of this sign I had just found out I was pregnant. This picture brings back so many memories of our first trip (the 3 of us).

We decided to spend an extra day in Gatlingburg and made our way to the aquarium.

Starting out strong!

Shark tank

We found Nemo!!!

Making our way through the shark tank tunnel. There was a moving sidewalk that guided you through this underwater tunnel. I was so cool to see all the fish in there "natural" habitat.