November 2006 Gatlinburg

My sister has requested that we update the blog with new pictures so that the "Bacon Strips" i.e. scabs might be moved a little further down the line. My initial response is to say, "Just wait until we get their tonsils taken out." But since those are in good shape right now we'll have to wait on those photos for a while. At anyrate, here you go sis...

This time last year Sophia was still on oxygen and weighed around 6 pounds. So we missed last year but this time we were able to participate in the Rogers' family annual Gatlinburg weekend. We were able to hit a trail thanks to our handy baby hiking backpacks. We did a short 3 mile round trip hike to see Laurel Falls.

Laurel Falls

Vic packs Soph with no trouble at all...

Rena digs her first quality piggy-back ride...

Soph can't take any more of the fresh air. She's out.

And so is Rena who's sleeping standing up!

Girls playing in leaves. Great lures for drawing in Smokey Mountain Bears...

And it works!!

Oh, but really they are safely in the mini-van while dad is foolishly outside taking pictures. I was using a telephoto lense so I was not nearly as close as it might seem. Pretty cool, huh? First time we've ever seen a bear in the wild. We saw him from the road after we got back from our hike.