The rope swing

 In all the years we've gone to TN we never discovered the rope swing.  This year it was discovered and was the biggest hit of the trip.  If you ask the kids what their favorite part of the trip was they would all say the rope swing.  Go figure.  It was countless hours of free entertainment.  That is the beauty of TN (for us anyway).  We go and pay for a nice cabin, purchase gas for our vehicle and buy groceries and go out to eat rarely.  Most of our "entertainment" is free which is just the way the kids like it; being one with nature.  Ha.  Rope swinging, hiking and clingman's dome cost us nothing. 

 Both Nick and Jay mastered the back flip off the rope swing.  Mike Ausili affectionately started calling Nick "Baby Bull."  Nick is one tough dude which probably comes from having an older brother.  Even Jay's friends comment that they never see Nick cry unless Jay makes him flaming mad, then he just turns bright ride.  After watching Nick glide off the rope swing effortless Jay started calling Nick, "Blond Eagle."  Ha.  As I'm blogging Nick is over my shoulder saying, "Man, I want to go off that rope swing again." 

 Although Nick is climbing the tree with his feet he often would wrap his legs around the tree and "shimmy" up the tree like a monkey.  He did discover after doing this several times that it left "battle wounds" all up his legs which normally Nick is proud of but turns out they were kind of painful.  ha.

 Even Mike A did a jump or two.  I'm told my husband did a jump too and got teased about his farmers tan.  I did not have the pleasure of seeing my 41 year old husband, farmers tan and all, jump off the rope swing but the boys did and they are still talking about it.

                                                                    Sweet Nick

 Check out Curtis........This picture makes me laugh.  Clearly Jay's rear end is a little close for Curtis' liking.