Sharks, Slopes, and Movie Stars- Day 4

We started our day at the Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies. There are two things that the Wilson family L-O-V-E-S...aquariums and wax museums. Lucky for us, Gatlinburg had both of them! We loved riding the tunnel beneath the sharks, while watching the underwater life on all sides. Mary Conlee and Cole were given shark teeth by a diver who had gone in to do his routine check of the sharks. Mary Conlee pet the horseshoe crabs while her brother looked on...he's not touching one of those dirty things!

 
Cole posing with an iguana...at an aquarium?

 
Glad we weren't the ones who had to dive for these shark teeth!

 
Careful, Mae Mae. You don't want to be their dinner!

 
Going for the pearl...the girl knows what she wants!

 
Not in the least bit intimidated by the Japanese spider crabs

We thought Gatlinburg would be a great place for first time skiing for Cole and Mary Conlee. That way, we don't fly them to Colorado to discover they don't like it! Mary Conlee was the only one that agreed to try...that's my girl! We left Cole with Bubbe and Pop to go exploring near the chalet while we went to Ober. We had MC fitted for skis and got her enrolled in ski school. It was great because she was one of only 3 students in the class. Her instructor was a 64 year old gentleman who had been coming to Gatlinburg on the weekends for over 30 years as a ski instructor. She got the concept a little quicker than her adult counterparts!


Getting fitted for skis


Learning from the pro


Loving ski school

After her lesson, she practiced a few times with Daddy and then was ready to retire. At least she had a positive first experience on the slopes and looks forward to going again one day. As for Cole, we have some work ahead of us!

 
Ready to go!

 
Girls just wanna have fun!

 
Getting help from daddy on the lift


Way to go, MC!!!

 
Our newest skier!

 
Mom's turn on the slopes

 
Made it down safely!

 
The Wilson Family skiers

We made our tired, aching bodies back to the chalet to pick up Cole. He had missed the skiing activity and we know he wanted to go to town. We celebrated our last night in Gatlinburg at the Hollywood Wax Museum. Not to be a wax museum snob, but this was nothing like Madame Tussaud's...considered the best in the industry! However, we still enjoyed getting close to the rich and famous. Mary Conlee even took home an Oscar award for the category of best sister!

 
One last trip to see the taffy

 
MC and Angelina strutting their stuff on the red carpet

 
"Life is like a box of chocolates"

 
All I have to do is blink my eyes and disappear!

 
Daddy and Willie both say I'm "an angel flying too close to the ground"

 
Shhhh...don't tell them where I am!

 
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me!

 
Couldn't Charlie use just one more angel?

 
After being gone for so long, we all agreed "There's no place like home!"

 
And the academy award for the "Best Sister" category goes to...Mary Conlee Wilson!