Communing with Mother Nature

Emma and I tried to commune with Mother Nature.
Together with Emma's Ninang Mina,
we spent a few days in Gatlinburg, TN.

Gatlinburg is adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountains
National Park. The resort that we stayed in was actually
in the foothills of the same mountains. So you see,
we were really surrounded by nature.

Of course, as soon as we arrived at the resort,
my throat, and head and nose were stuffed up.
If you've ever had a cold and flown or drove where
the elevation drastically change, you most likely
know and can feel my pain.

The little head cold did not stop me from doing
our planned activities. We had dinner at Pigeon Forge,
rode the Emma-friendly rides in Dollywood, shopped at
Tanger Outlet Mall, and drove the 11-mile scenic loop of Cades Cove.

I don't know if it was my stuffy head or the ringing ears,
or even just being around a 3 year old, but every activity
that we did just exhausted me to the max!

I used to be able to stay inside a theme park from
opening until closing AND ride everything that I can
possibly ride. At Dollywood - after 9 Emma-friendly rides,
I was begging to go home. That's only after 5 lame hours.

Tanger Outlet - my friend Jojo will be very disappointed
with this one, less than 3 hours, 6 stores, and that's including lunch.
Out of the 6 stores, 4 were mostly for Emma-store.

What did I learn from this trip?

1) I am now very Emma-centric.
I've known this since her conception, but it did not
really hit me hard until after I rode the flying elephant
and the VeggieTales rollercoaster with her. Also
that little shopping I did - none for me...all for her.

2) Too much nature is not for me.
It's not for Emma either. Getting sick upon
arrival was not just a coincidence!

3) I'm O-L-D.
Still in denial about this one. I'm sticking with
#2 as the primary reason for my exhaustion.

Will post pictures soon.
Most of our pictures were in Ninang Mina's camera.