Tasha's Chat'N'Chew: it doesn't seem fair ...

We had the most incredible (and much needed) fall vacation this past long weekend! It doesn't seem fair that people get to live in such beauty all-year-round. It doesn't seem fair, because I am so jealous! The Great Smokey Mountains are absolute gorgeousness ... and in the peak of the fall color season, they are breathtaking! The weather was perfection ... in the 50s and 60s. I was in my dream land!

Last spring, Billy thought it would be fun to go to see the fall colors in the coming autumn season, so he booked a cabin with our friends, the Adams. I have been looking forward to this trip for months, and it did not disappoint!

We left for our trip last Friday, and we headed, first, to North Carolina. Our good friends, the Murrills, live in Fletcher (just outside of Asheville), and we were excited to see their new home (they moved in July). Their house is adorable! It is a perfect mid-west house nestled among tall, maples and oaks on the side of a mountain. It is impeccably decorated ... as my friend, Steph, has such a talent and eye for home decor. She really should be an interior designer! I would love her to take on my house.

Their adorable home!

Mark and Stephanie's backyard! Gorgeous tree!

What a view!

Aren't the trees lovely?

A view right off of their back porch!

Khloe found this horse in their garage. She liked it a lot!

I loved this tree! It was so bright yellow!

Caught a little sun through the trees.

Another great sun shot!

The light through this tree was incredible!

I took a lot of pictures of this one tree.

We had a super fun time with Mark and Steph and their girls ... as we always do! There are some friends who feel like family, and for us, that family is the Murrills. We had a good day taking a tour of Fletcher and Asheville ... we saw a lot of beautiful fall colors ... we saw a lot of Biltmore related things (that Vanderbilt family ... they know how to do it big) ... we had some Christmas Starbucks ... and we finally ate at a super tasty restaurant Tupelo Honey Cafe. It was delicious! We definitely didn't visit with them for long enough, as we had to be in Gatlinburg, TN by 6 p.m. to get our cabin. I was sad about that! We really need to go back to visit them for a longer vacation! (Even that probably wouldn't be enough.)

Before we left, we had a mini-photo shoot. Steph took some great pictures of our family and my kids. I got some, too. I will label the ones she took, as she is taking a photography class, and definitely think it's paying off ... hers look great!

The kids just hanging out in the leaves.

Play time!

photo by sjmurrill

Our family.

So cute!

Those two!

photo by sjmurrill

And another on the way ...

photo by sjmurrill

My dear friend ...

They are just too cute!

photo by sjmurrill

They are all so cute!

photo by sjmurrill

Kisses!

Both ways!

Cuties ... Cole and Rosie!

photo by sjmurrill

Once we finally said good bye to our friends, we headed down to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, TN. Our cabin was located right between the two towns. It's like a mini Branson there! Our cabin was perfect! It was all lodgy and woody, and the huge windows let us look out to the fall leaves all day long. I hope we go back every year! That trip satisfied my intense need for the fall season.

The view as soon as we arrived! Gorgeous!

Right from our balcony!

Love it!

The view of the cabin as we walked in.

Our cabin from the deck looking into the house.

The fireplace.

Those windows!

The kitchen.

Another view.

Dining room.

Our bedroom.

The kids liked the pool table! It was a big hit all vacation.

Colton and Khloe immediately found a bear!

A view outside from the loft in our cabin.

The next day, we headed out on a hike to Roaring Fork Trail. We wanted to climb up to a water fall. So, on the way, we found this cute homestead, and we stopped to take a look. It was so cute! The people who settled the area had a lot of gumption! It's so rocky here and not a lot of flat places to plant or farm, but they did it! This house has a lot of charm.

This is a cabin that we visited that belonged to one of the early settlers of the Gatlinburg area.

It's incredible how it was all put together so thoughtfully!

The chimney that separated both rooms but served them both, as well. So no one would be cold.

One of the two fireplaces.

Handmade water trough.

My two cuties!

A view of the main house from the barn.

Me and Koki.

Daddy with Colton.

The fall leaves are so colorful even on the ground.

Koki picked up a leaf to play with.

Once we left the Ogle Farmstead, we headed back on the road to find the start of our waterfall hike. The trees all along the drive were gorgeous! The colors were so vibrant and crisp. What a blessing to be able to see and experience fall this year.

This overlook was amazing! The colors of the trees were incredible and brilliant. It made me want to build my house right here!

Gorgeous!

Even from my phone, it's a great view!

Our friends who we spent our trip with, the Adams: Brian, Gwendy, Mason & Carson.

The Heinrich Family

Don't forget little Coconut Heinrich!

Enjoying the day with each other's company.

We finally found Grotto Falls trail! We hiked 1.4 miles up to the falls, and then 1.4 miles back down to the car. Koki started to get really cold ... then she started having a meltdown that she just couldn't recover from. It was tough on her ... even though Daddy carried her most of the way up and down. We should've had her wear a warmer coat and gloves knowing she wouldn't be doing much moving on her own to get her body heat going. But Colton did a GREAT job! He hiked like a champ! It was a beautiful hike.

We hiked to Grotto Falls ... 1.4 miles one way. Up to the falls ... and back down to the car 2.8 miles.

I think we needed to set the pack a little higher on Daddy's back, but she did okay ... until she got cold.

Hiking to the waterfall. Daddy with Koki on his back and Colton right behind!

Such a great little hiker!

Love

Hiking with Colton.

The Adams at the waterfall!

That evening, we went on a gondola ride up the mountain side. It was a gorgeous view, and the kids loved looking out over the trees. We even got to see a bear in someone's yard! It was pretty awesome! At the top, we went into an animal sanctuary, and we saw some animals ... bears, otters, eagles, owls, etc.

Later that day, we rode the gondola up the mountain.

The view from our gondola ride up the mountainside.

Pretty view!

The kids enjoyed it!

Oh, the colors!

Even saw a bear in someone's yard!

Saw a bear at the top of the mountain, too!

We had a long day! Wore those kids out!

Then we headed back down the mountain for some treats at Kilwin's! Their caramel apples are amazing! We got some fudge, too. Definitely a place to revisit sometime.

When we got back down the mountain, we had a nice treat at Kilwin's! Delicious caramel apples!

But, we had to start a fire in our cabin, too! So, we roasted some marshmallows when we got home. This monster of a marshmallow is the biggest one I have ever seen! The guys had a hard time getting our wood to catch fire, but in the end, we had a nice fire and good coals to roast over.

And that night ... we roasted these ... not a giant toilet paper roll! This is a HUGE marshmallow!

Daddy is the expert on making perfectly roasted marshmallows!

Roasting them with Colton!

Colton roasted his first marshmallow by himself ... it caught on fire. He learned a valuable lesson--do not stick the marshmallow into the flame.

The next morning, we had this gorgeous sunrise! We had a day planned that started with some tasty pancakes at a famous pancake house ... Pancake Pantry! The sweet potato pancakes were incredible! But Billy's raspberry crepes were what brought us back the next day. Delish! The kids loved their bear pancakes. It really is a place worth waiting in line for! After breakfast, our family got an old time picture! I'm such a sucker for those. My family used to do them at SDC, so I just feel the pull whenever I see a place that does them. They are so fun! Later that day, Gwendy and I went shopping at the outlets, and the guys took the kids to a bird show/sanctuary. They got to feed the birds, and they really liked that. Some of them talked to the kids ... Colton always likes that, too! That night, we went to the Smokey Mountain Opry. It was a very good Christmas show, and even the kids loved it! Khloe watched the whole thing and clapped the entire way through the it. She kept saying, "I love the music!" "That's so pretty!"

Sunrise at the cabin.

The clouds are gorgeous!

What a view from the balcony outside of our room ... so gorgeous!

Love the mist in the valley!

The tastiest place in town!

See the line waiting to get into the Pancake Pantry!?! Crazy! But it's worth it.

Waiting in line for pancakes!

Cole and Koki got these cuties!

I'm a sucker for an old time picture!

Photo-op on the Gatlinburg strip!

BEARS!!!! When the garbage can doesn't get locked properly ... you get black bears. We had a Mommy and a cub tear our garbage a part. They were about 20 feet from me when I took these photos ... from the doorway of our cabin.

You can see the cub trying to climb this tree. His little head is peeking over the bush.

A fun night! What a good show!

On our last day, the kids got into the hot tub with Billy before we packed up and headed out to the Pancake Pantry for one last tasty treat. Afterwards, Billy and I got a couple of minor souvenirs ... a magnet and a Christmas tree ornament. Then we headed home to Tampa! We had a really great time with our friends on this fall vacation, and we hope to do it again next year! What fun to be had in the Smokey Mountains!