Memorial Day Camping

For Memorial Day weekend, we went camping at Elkmont with some friends in hopes of seeing the synchronous fireflies at night.

First we stopped at Clingmans Dome.  We didn't hike all the way to the top as to not wear out the kids in the first hour of our overnight.

 He found a rock chair, but it didn't rock. 

 She found it too.

 Isn't it so fun to see personalities come out in photos??

 I'm liking the hole in her mouth.

 Stopping for a quick lunch in the parking lot before hiking to Mingo Falls (North Carolina in Cherokee Indian Reservation).

Mingo Falls. It's 120ft tall and one of the tallest in the southern Appalachians.

Isaac and Brayden had fun finding rocks.

Justin and Syd climbed up the rocks to get closer.  I don't have the picture, but they got real close to the splash of white color on the left side of the waterfall.

So then Allyson and I had to do it too.  It was exhilarating....especially for Allyson who got both feet wet! ;-) 

There was a looonnngg staircase to walk down and Elias wanted to go down each one.

The hour car ride to the campsite.  Isaac's leg is sticking out in the back. They were all out like a light!

The campsite was very cool.  We were beside the river and heard water rushing the whole time.  There was also a dirt area and wading area the kids could play in without getting swooshed down the river.

Hot diggety dog.

The adult meal didn't turn out so well, so hot dogs all around! (Although I did eat it because I like the "burnt" taste!)

Play area.

Olivia really enjoyed having Madisyn to look after.

Washers.

Dig area.

He's so cool!

Smores.

Brayden's birthday was on Memorial Day so we decorated his tent and had cupcakes for breakfast! 

Ahhhh....camping.

What to do when pants keep getting wet...don't wear any of course.

Eggs for breakfast...with no salt.

What a great friend!

More decorations.

Rocks to climb by the bathrooms.

Smile, with personality!

Went to pick up Luci at G&Gs house and did a little fishing and pizza dinner out.

It was a very fun trip and took a few days to recover. Thanks for coming Beckmans!!! Oh, and we did get to see the fireflies! They hadn't peaked yet, so I'm sure it would be way cool when they do. We hiked a short way up a trail at dark...which was really dark when turning off flashlights.  All the fireflies would randomly blink and then all of a sudden they all would turn off.  Then after a bit, they would all start randomly blinking again. Now I can mark that off my TN bucketlist.