Smoky Mountain Christmas

Now that Dad is home and taking time off until NEXT YEAR, the Holidays are officially on! We decided to hit Dollywood. And at nighttime no less! Wow, we were livin'. Especially since we don't get out much at night. It was definitely a big deal. Coop got to stay up late, skipped his evening bath and had his very first hot chocolate. Now if that isn't livin', I don't know what is. Dollywood really does it up right for the Holidays. The park truly is amazing. Mark and I really had no interest in ever checking it out, but we're soooo happy we did this past fall. So much so that we bought a season's pass and have really put it to good use. It's a low-key, family friendly place full of Tennessee traditions and hillbilly happiness. I'm not so sure we'd dig it as much without having a little man to enjoy it with, but we are definitely DW converts.

We took a ride on The Dollywood Express ChooChoooooooo which was incredible. It's a real steam engine that made Cooper go bananas because he really digs trains these days. The train ride took us through the park and the surrounding hills while playing Christmas music. It felt like we were taking a ride on the Polar Express.

After the train ride we walked around the park to check out all the lights, fed the ducks and then Coop drove the mini cars which is his favorite ride. We ended the evening with DW's parade of lights. It was truly a fun night. I think I must have told Mark twenty times on the way home how much fun I had. Either we need to get out more, or it truly was a fun filled evening. Perhaps a combination of both, but a fun evening no matter how you slice it.

Here are some pics to prove it. Camera phone + nighttime + lots of movement = not the greatest pics in the world.........................

Parade of Lights

(Coop's not ashamed to wear Mom's pink scarf)

Dad and Coop

Is that who I think it is?????

Why yes. It is indeed..