Have a Good Smok(ey Mountain Vacation)

Greetings and good tidings from Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Heather and I are at the end of our 3 day, 3 night Smokey Mountain visit...and soon we will load up the truck and head back to my parents for the remainder of the Christmas holiday.

Yesterday we went to a park of the National Park called Cade's Cove. We had heard about it from Henry and Heather...and have been anxious to see it ever since. You enter on a one way loop and drive at your own pace...we saw turkeys, deers, and elephants.

Okay...so not elephants. But other wildlife. I was trying to call black bears out of the forest, but it turns out they must not respond to "here kitty kitty".

Very very pretty. And we had a great time driving around for hours, taking pictures, laughing...aw....

I forgot I never gave you and update on the First Annual Gainey-Workman (mostly Workman) Holiday Shindig! It went pretty darn good! We had about 13 people there, which is a good limit for our little house. I made too much food (of course), and we played Just Dance 2 for the Wii. Have you guys played this? I played it one time a couple of weeks ago, and was dying to battle again. You just hold the remote in your hand and mimic the dancing figure on tv, so theoretically, all you have to move is that one hand...but you quickly forget that and if you are like me, focus a lot on your ass and facial movements.

The first dance I was really going at it. Big facial movements, hips shaking, dropping it like it's hot. Well, then I added some strong arm movements...and hit myself in the mouth with the controller. There was a little blood. A little swelling. But this is a sacrifice of a trained dancer. Me and Natalie Portman. We are committed.

Only a few more days until Christmas! Whatever you have planned and wherever you are, I hope you find yourself happy, content, and safe.