Day two in Gatlinburg, TN began with a big breakfast cooked by... get this... ME! I was actually up pretty early on a Sunday morning! I think gaining an hour by crossing over time zones and then gaining another hour by springing forward just messed me up. But, I was up by 9am and in the kitchen cooking eggs wraps for everyone. They were good and everyone enjoyed them.
The next saying was the way we started everyday... What are we going to do? I didn't know how much I'd come to hate that phrase over the next 6 days but I allowed it to start and couldn't get it back once it left lips of those asking it!
We chose to spend the day in Sevierville. Dad had seen a knife shop on the way up here and I had seen the Beehive shop! So, off we went. We had so much fun. While the men when to the knife shop, I drove mom, Payton and I around to some of the nearby shops. We bought so much stuff that it was embarrassing. BUT, when you find a deal, how can you NOT buy it... right?
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
Our Last in the Burg
These pictures are of our last day in Gatlinburg. You can still see the snow on the ground on the high places. We went to OBERGATLINBURG. The kids got to ice skate and we took a gondola ride up to the top of the moutain. These pictures are from Payton's camera. I'll upload mine a little later.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Have a Hoot N Holler good time!
And that is exactly what we did tonight! We went to the Hoot N Holler show in Pigeon Forge. It was a good meal (not as good as the last show we went to but good nonetheless). It was a comedy show and there were four main characters who sang and danced and one who was the comedian. He even took a liking to mom and called her out in the crowd! The biggest question was "What's in the box???"
AQUARIUM OF THE SMOKIES DAY
Today we went to the Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg. We had so much fun with the kids. Rusty, Payton, Jackson and I went together while Mom and Dad shopped around Pigeon Forge. We got to the Aquarium and immediately went to the Stingray Pool. It was amazing. We toured all around the place and took so many amazing pictures of all the neat animals and fish. Our favorite place was the tunnel where you could walk underneath all the fishes swimming above. It was AWESOME!
Afterward, we walked around Gatlinburg. We also went to Ripley's Believe it or Not, and Ripley's Haunted House. The kids enjoyed both. We were able to get the kids hands dipped in wax and a mold was made of their hands at this age. I cannot wait to put it above the fireplace and remember them at this age forever! While out shopping, we stopped by Claire's and Payton got the hat you see in the picture below! It was a good day. Now we are off to "Hoot N Holler" dinner show! Can't wait!
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Leavin' on a jet plane...... Well, does an SUV count?
Wow... today started a bit early. After staying up half the night making sure we had everything packed, we left at 8am. I knew I had better be ready because my mom and dad were going with us. lol. And, like clockwork, they were at the house at 7:50am! I have discovered with my parents they will come between 30 minutes to 10 minutes ahead of a time so I may need to adjust my time schedule with them.
We loaded everyone in the car, locked up the house and headed toward Gatlinburg, TN. We got less than 5 miles down the road and stopped to get breakfast at Jack's. We ordered drive thru and in less than 15 min were headed toward TN.
Our travel went really smoothly. The funny part was that as we were riding the last twenty or so miles of Alabama, Rusty casually mentions he has to go to the restroom. That was funny in itself because it is usually me or one of the kids who requests first to go. But, he had to go. He said he could wait until we got to GA and go to the rest area. So, we weren't concerned. I got my knitting out and began knitting. Jackson was in the car with us and Payton rode with Mawmaw and Pawpaw. I text Payton telling her to tell them we were pulling over at the GA rest area for a bathroom break.
GA approached and there was no rest area. So, Rusty said he could wait until we got to the TN one which wasn't that far ahead. We continued to drive. We drove for another 30 to 45 min. and approached TN. We got there and the rest area was closed. We started chuckling at that point. I asked Rusty if he wanted to stop at a gas station or something and he said he thought he could make it to the next rest area.
Well, another 30 min. down the road and he was started to see yellow. Jackson and I started just cracking up. This was one of the worst time's I've ever seen Rusty have to go to the bathroom. He quickly found an exit that looked decent and we stopped at a McDonald's. It probably didn't help him any that it was raining and all he looked at was the water sloshing around on the windshield! ha! After we stopped, he was good to go and much relieved!
We continued to travel and I continued knitting. We passed a few bad wrecks which had just happened and it occurred to me that we were being protected because we would have just missed the wrecks. Overall, it was a great ride.
We finally got to Sevierville, TN. I was shocked at how crowded the road was. There were cars from everywhere. We drove through and everyone got hungry around the same time. We stopped at Mr Gatti's for lunch but when we got out and got into line, the people standing around us told us it was an hour long wait. So, we said forget this and got back into the car as did about 30 other people behind us. We drove and came across a family style restaurant that mom and dad had wanted to go to when they came up with the senior adult class from church but didn't because it was too packed. We thought it must be good then so we stopped.
The food at this place wasn't terrible but it wasn't the best food in town for sure. We were so disappointed. I almost wish we had stopped at Mcdonald's or somewhere else because they would have been better. It cost Rusty and I $74 to eat at that place and it was the worst $74 we spent the entire trip. But, we paid the bill, got some peach jam and left. We drove up to the rental place to get the keys, etc.
The keys ended up just being an entry code and alarm system code. But, we paid the bill, got the check in/out information and set the Telenav for the cabin. We were all excited by this time.
Wow... the road getting to the cabin was steep.... did i mention it was STEEP? I thought my heart was going to drop a few times. But, we made it. The cabin from the outside was adorable and that didn't change as we went inside. It was so cute. We walked all around checking it out. I knew immediately that the kids were going to enjoy staying there because of the pool table, air hockey and wide screen down in the play room. This was where they were sleeping.
We were going to take the upstairs but the bed on the main level was so high, mom couldn't get up into the bed. So, unfortunately, we had to switch with them. I hated that too because, with mom's knee, they were going to have to walk up and down the stairs. I didn't want them to have to do that. But, there were no other options.
We settled in. Unpacked our clothes, then we realized that we had no closets. This really nice cabin had nowhere to hang up clothes! What a nightmare that was at first. We really couldn't unpack because there were no dressers or things to put clothes into. We were shocked really.
We did what we could then headed to Wal Mart to get groceries for the week and find something to hang clothes on. Dad ended up finding these plastic over the door hooks that we used all week. In our room, there ended up being a small storage armoire...if you could call it that... and we emptied out the extra pillows and blankets and was able to use that. Mom and Dad had to suffer through putting their clothes on the hooks.
All was well that ended well though. We came home, unloaded groceries, and set up house basically. To end the night, the kids and Rusty and I got into our bathing suits and sat in the hot tub for an hour or so. It felt great. It was 39° or so and we were comfortable! Afterwards, we took hot showers, got dressed for bed and ended our first day. Man! What a first day!
We loaded everyone in the car, locked up the house and headed toward Gatlinburg, TN. We got less than 5 miles down the road and stopped to get breakfast at Jack's. We ordered drive thru and in less than 15 min were headed toward TN.
Our travel went really smoothly. The funny part was that as we were riding the last twenty or so miles of Alabama, Rusty casually mentions he has to go to the restroom. That was funny in itself because it is usually me or one of the kids who requests first to go. But, he had to go. He said he could wait until we got to GA and go to the rest area. So, we weren't concerned. I got my knitting out and began knitting. Jackson was in the car with us and Payton rode with Mawmaw and Pawpaw. I text Payton telling her to tell them we were pulling over at the GA rest area for a bathroom break.
GA approached and there was no rest area. So, Rusty said he could wait until we got to the TN one which wasn't that far ahead. We continued to drive. We drove for another 30 to 45 min. and approached TN. We got there and the rest area was closed. We started chuckling at that point. I asked Rusty if he wanted to stop at a gas station or something and he said he thought he could make it to the next rest area.
Well, another 30 min. down the road and he was started to see yellow. Jackson and I started just cracking up. This was one of the worst time's I've ever seen Rusty have to go to the bathroom. He quickly found an exit that looked decent and we stopped at a McDonald's. It probably didn't help him any that it was raining and all he looked at was the water sloshing around on the windshield! ha! After we stopped, he was good to go and much relieved!
We continued to travel and I continued knitting. We passed a few bad wrecks which had just happened and it occurred to me that we were being protected because we would have just missed the wrecks. Overall, it was a great ride.
We finally got to Sevierville, TN. I was shocked at how crowded the road was. There were cars from everywhere. We drove through and everyone got hungry around the same time. We stopped at Mr Gatti's for lunch but when we got out and got into line, the people standing around us told us it was an hour long wait. So, we said forget this and got back into the car as did about 30 other people behind us. We drove and came across a family style restaurant that mom and dad had wanted to go to when they came up with the senior adult class from church but didn't because it was too packed. We thought it must be good then so we stopped.
The food at this place wasn't terrible but it wasn't the best food in town for sure. We were so disappointed. I almost wish we had stopped at Mcdonald's or somewhere else because they would have been better. It cost Rusty and I $74 to eat at that place and it was the worst $74 we spent the entire trip. But, we paid the bill, got some peach jam and left. We drove up to the rental place to get the keys, etc.
The keys ended up just being an entry code and alarm system code. But, we paid the bill, got the check in/out information and set the Telenav for the cabin. We were all excited by this time.
Wow... the road getting to the cabin was steep.... did i mention it was STEEP? I thought my heart was going to drop a few times. But, we made it. The cabin from the outside was adorable and that didn't change as we went inside. It was so cute. We walked all around checking it out. I knew immediately that the kids were going to enjoy staying there because of the pool table, air hockey and wide screen down in the play room. This was where they were sleeping.
We were going to take the upstairs but the bed on the main level was so high, mom couldn't get up into the bed. So, unfortunately, we had to switch with them. I hated that too because, with mom's knee, they were going to have to walk up and down the stairs. I didn't want them to have to do that. But, there were no other options.
We settled in. Unpacked our clothes, then we realized that we had no closets. This really nice cabin had nowhere to hang up clothes! What a nightmare that was at first. We really couldn't unpack because there were no dressers or things to put clothes into. We were shocked really.
We did what we could then headed to Wal Mart to get groceries for the week and find something to hang clothes on. Dad ended up finding these plastic over the door hooks that we used all week. In our room, there ended up being a small storage armoire...if you could call it that... and we emptied out the extra pillows and blankets and was able to use that. Mom and Dad had to suffer through putting their clothes on the hooks.
All was well that ended well though. We came home, unloaded groceries, and set up house basically. To end the night, the kids and Rusty and I got into our bathing suits and sat in the hot tub for an hour or so. It felt great. It was 39° or so and we were comfortable! Afterwards, we took hot showers, got dressed for bed and ended our first day. Man! What a first day!
Friday, March 12, 2010
So, here it is 1235am and I'm still up. I AM excited about going on our little trip but I've been up cleaning all night....well, not all night. I sat with Payton for about 2 hours as she broke up with her first boyfriend. It was sad actually. He really likes her but didn't realize how he was making her feel...... and that's another blog. lol.
I've packed most of our stuff. I'm sure I'm going to forget something. It is inevitable. I just think if I do forget something, I'll just replace it with something new! :) I am WANTING to go to bed but sleep is eluding me at this moment. I wish I was more like Rusty. He came into Payton's room during the drama, gave me a kiss, laid down in our bed and fell asleep. Here I sit.
We will leave at 8am in the morning... or probably more like 730 because my mom and dad are ALWAYS early. I love them but when it's 8am.. it's 8am! NOT 730! I'm ready to get away and just chill for a bit. I actually want to get to Gatlinburg tomorrow and just sit out on the front porch in a chair and just relax. More updating tomorrow... hopefully there is WIFI! :)
I've packed most of our stuff. I'm sure I'm going to forget something. It is inevitable. I just think if I do forget something, I'll just replace it with something new! :) I am WANTING to go to bed but sleep is eluding me at this moment. I wish I was more like Rusty. He came into Payton's room during the drama, gave me a kiss, laid down in our bed and fell asleep. Here I sit.
We will leave at 8am in the morning... or probably more like 730 because my mom and dad are ALWAYS early. I love them but when it's 8am.. it's 8am! NOT 730! I'm ready to get away and just chill for a bit. I actually want to get to Gatlinburg tomorrow and just sit out on the front porch in a chair and just relax. More updating tomorrow... hopefully there is WIFI! :)
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Spring Break 2010
Well, it's that time of year again.... SPRING BREAK! We are two days away from our trip this year. It will be very different. We are going to Gatlinburg, TN with my parents. We have rented a neat little cabin between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. It will be the first time we have gone on vacation with my parents...this should be interesting. The cabin is as cute as a button (I'll post pictures later when we arrive.) We do not have a lot planned but we will be spending some time with our good friends the Harrison's. Mike, AnnJay, Micheal and Lloyd are going to be spending time in Gatlinburg as well. This should be fun!
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