Dollywood

 This weekend we decided to take a spontaneous trip to Dollywood.  We decided to buy passes for the next year despite the COVID restrictions.  We also invited the McPheters boys to come along since they are friends with our boys.  We didn't "technically" have enough room for everyone but we made it!

We spent Friday at Dollywood enjoying the lights, a show, and thankfully lines that weren't too long.  We didn't even eat dinner until 10:00 that evening, but those boys were starving and the pizza got eaten up before settling down at the hotel.

They've had to make a lot of changes such as no Santa to visit or the parade.  Two things they have had every year at Dollywood for as long as we have been going.  Anything that brings a crowd together in a small spot is out.  They didn't even do the Christmas tree show either.  The shows were only about 1/3 filled because of all the seats they mark off to allow social distancing.  It is amazing all the adaptions they've made.

Saturday we were unable to go back to Dollywood because you have to make reservations and Saturday was already full to the new capacity they will allow.  We instead went to the heart of Pigeon Forge and decided to do some go-kart driving, hit the arcade, laser tag, and some mini-golf.  It's never a Smartt family vacation without hitting the arcade and mini golf.  

We bought the "hopper" passes at one of the tracks that gave us 5 options between the carts, arcade, and golf, receiving a $5 credit arcade card.  I feared that this would only entertain us for an hour two and the boys would want to do something else.  I was wrong and ended up being a great afternoon.  Even better, our $5 credit arcade cards ended up having $25 credit on each card!  We had a blast at the arcade with all our total tickets together was around 6000 tickets.  The prizes are still awful, but it's still fun.  I managed to beat Jarom in every round of skeeball while the boys played laser tag.

The prophet also posted a live video to the world on finding peace during these difficult times, showing gratitude.  It was a great, heartfelt video that you know President Nelson is a prophet of God and speaks the truth.   So, I am grateful for these fun little spontaneous trips that we get to do as a family.  I'm also grateful for my family.  

With Thanksgiving break coming up and COVID numbers rising again, there is also a toilet paper shortage again!  I am still grateful that despite a few of our little sicknesses it's not been COVID and we have overall remained healthy.  Apparently, in other parts of the US, it has been really bad and I know many families have lost loved ones.