On The Road Again

We sure had a good ole time in Tennessee. After being up here for a week and hearing all that twang, I can’t help but mock it when I get the chance. We started our drive home four hours ago and we have 400 miles left…ugh. We are going to stop at 300 for the night though. I hope there is a pool where we stop so the kids can get rid of some energy. Although I have been sitting on my ass this whole time, I don’t feel like entertaining tonight.

Our week in paradise went by way to fast. I really enjoyed all the quality family time. Our cabin didn’t have internet so the boys got LOTS of daddy time. Between Marc, Ryan, and my mom I don’t feel like I got to spend very much time with them. I know I will get to make up for it in the Bahamas after Christmas. They only get to spend a few short weeks with my mom each year…I might as well let her enjoy them. On the other hand, I can’t wait to have next semester off…I plan on trying to be very stress free in the afternoons and just enjoying my precious boys.We spent the day up in Gatlinburg yesterday…it is such a quaint little town. I picked up a couple of souvenirs for some peeps and I can’t wait to distribute them. I could have gone nuts on Trish while I was there ;). Marc and I took the kids through the Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum. I think the boys are the perfect age for it but Aspen enjoyed it too. Their favorite part appeared to be an ongoing video of people doing weird things like swallowing light bulbs and putting nails in their nose…I sure hope none of them try it at home.

A different kind of family portrait.
Marc, Grandma, and the boys took off after that. I stayed with Mom and Ryan…we had to stay back for a couple hours to wait for the boys airbrush shirts to be finished. We decided that the best way to kill time would be to drink at a bar…I remembered I had a $50 gift card in my purse…bonding at Fridays over sangria and beer it was. I am actually really glad I got to spend that “quality” time with them. I don’t get to see either of them very much in a situation where I get to be me, Heather, and not Mommy.

Speaking of Mom, my relationship with my mom just gets weirder and weirder. When I say that, I mean with each passing year she seems to be less and less of a mom. Is that the norm? Is it just that way because I’m a mom myself? Is it because she is newly single and aspiring to be part of this “in” crowd? Is it because she has surrounded herself with new friends whom I’ve never met AND whom are younger than me??? I DO love her and honestly that is all I know as a daughter. I DO try to be a totally different mom myself though…I NEVER want my kids to think they aren’t the most important things in my life. And my kids adore her…that is what matters to me the most. I just wish my mom would focus on what’s “really” important in life. 2 ½ hours later – make that 200 miles. I am pissy and ready to get out of this darn car. Sometimes Marc just pushes the limit. He focuses too much on “destination” and not “availability”. For example, earlier in the drive he decided, “I’m going to stop in Lexington for dinner”...BUT we also agreed that Pizza Hut sounded FANTASTIC. Well, we passed at least two (probably within 30 miles) before Lexington BUT they weren’t IN "Lexington" so we didn’t stop :(. Once we got to Lexington there were no signs showing a Pizza Hut was near. We settled for Applebee’s and I did a really great job not being pissy or stating my irritation...“You know, sometimes when you see what you want it makes more since just to STOP”.

But now I am experiencing those feelings of irritation again. I just want to STOP. He called Marriott to see where the nearest one was but it wasn’t the right “destination”. It put us at mile mark 277 NOT 270. Really??? So now I don’t know where we’re heading OR how long we will be heading there. All I know is that by the time we actually stop a pool and in room movie won’t really matter because the pool will probably be closed and we’ll all just go to bed.

Sold Out in Tennessee

Even though I am not the biggest fan of the whole Thanksgiving Feast it sure does taste good on Thanksgiving. It could be the fact that I always skip lunch on this holiday therefore I am starving at 4PM and could probably gobble anything. But I DO love the sweet potatoes. If I had more family around I would probably make the big dinner more often…I LOVE the hot turkey sandwiches you get from the leftovers.

Grandma did a GREAT job this year too…even the white meat was super moist. We keep it pretty simple up in the cabin, meaning I have to do without a few of my favorites…sweet potato casserole and cranberry cream gelatin. Poor Grandma was pooped after all the cooking though…she ended up resting in her room for the rest of the day :(.

Here’s a pathetic story. Marc and I ran down to the store to grab some wine/champagne for me to drink. Pigeon Forge is a dry county but they sell beer so we figured they would also have wine. After looking down a couple of aisles Marc asked a clerk if they sold wine. She said, “No, and it wouldn’t matter anyways because NO alcohol of any kind is sold on Thanksgiving.” Where the hell are we??? What really has me confused is the fact that there are a few wineries on the main road…what do they sell exactly?

We were able to get in a few games of dominos while the pumpkin pie was baking. After dessert we left the cabin to go watch A Christmas Carol. After embarking on an adventure just to find the theatre, we were told EVERYTHING was sold out for the rest of the evening. We’re not in Vegas anymore are we ;). The kids were a little disappointed but their frowns quickly turned upside down once Marc pulled into Magic Quest.

The layout of the facility was awesome. They had the best mirror maze and indoor golf course I have even been too. I went into the maze by myself with the kids. As usual, I let the boys lead the way. They usually do pretty good but after we circled the same area more than five times I started to get a little anxious. We finally heard some other voices and were able to lead ourselves into another part of the maze…it had three different parts.

The indoor golf course was very small (space wise) but they utilized the space very well. The pirate decor was great. I think the course would go GREAT with Pirates Island. The Magic Quest area was cool too (much better layout than Great Wolf Lodge) but I don’t really enjoy the whole quest experience. Marc’s “control freak” comes out and he is always in such a hurry that it seems more like a chore than a “fun” search. My mom and I ended up just going up to things with Aspen and working on her quests, that was fun.

We had a FANTASTIC experience at Dollywood yesterday. The park does an amazing job with the Christmas decorations. LED lights are EVERYWHERE...it’s beautiful. My 68 year old grandma amazed us once again my going on the roller coasters with us ;). The boys went on their first “real” roller coaster that loops and twists…they thought it was AWESOME. Aspen was so patient while all the “big kids” went on the big rides but she was sadly disappointed that she had to miss out on some of them :(. Marc raced back to the kiddie rides with her at 8:30 so she could go on a few more before it closed at 9…he adores our little princess.

Waiting in line to ride their first "real" big roller coaster.

Thank goodness they kept the cotton candy down during the loopy loops.

Grandma was looking forward to this ride ALL day :)

Silver Bells

It’s hard not to get into the Christmas spirit while we’re here. I have never seen a town decorated so beautifully for Christmas. Lights are EVERYWHERE…they even do a twelve days of Christmas display along the road. I would love to come up here during warmer weather but I think I would setting myself up for disappointment…there’s just no way the town can out do itself.

We have pretty much done the same itinerary we had two years ago. We went to the Dixie Stampede Monday night. It is a really great show but we kind of went this time just for Aspen. I knew she would really appreciate the horses, snow, and a chance to see Santa. The boys enjoyed it too. We will definitely try something new next time though.

We did our scenic drive through the Smokey Mountains yesterday. We stopped along the way for a quick picnic. Grandma and I agreed that sandwiches taste sooo much better in an environment like that…the kids even eat better too. After our picnic we continued on to our destination…The Polar Express. The kids enjoyed a game of hide and seekGetting there was only half the fun though. Marc was having one of his episodes along the way. I heard a lot of, “What is this...Where the hell are we?” I have to admit that the towns we went through were the worst I have ever seen (even compared to those I have seen outside the USA). Everything was deserted and run down BUT people lived there. Cars were even buried along the side of the river. Marc wanted to turn around and told me, “If the train place looks like this, we ARE turning around.” I just laughed…mostly at all the crazy adventures I drag him on. At least he comes out of his shell and embarks on them with us :). We shared so many giggles on this trip :)
Thankfully, Bryson City WAS a real place. The train was actually really comfortable and Marc was able to relax once we were on board. The Polar Express was a really cute experience. However, once again, I get the mother of the year award…I think my kids were amongst the very FEW that did NOT have their pajamas on. Aspen and Nicholas asked me why all the kids were in their pajamas…I lied and said I didn’t know. I asked Nicholas if he wanted his and he replied, “NO WAY…that’s silly”…my Nicholas NEVER lets me down :).
The kids enjoyed their hot cocoa....
And chocolate treats :)
The workers on the train were FANTASTIC. Not only did they have smiles on their faces during the entire trip BUT they also seemed genuine. The train took us up to the North Pole and the kids got to see Santa’s House…Frosty’s too. Santa hopped on the train and came back to town with us. He gave all the kids their very own silver bells…Blake loved that, he’s my little collector. I love seeing the magic of Christmas in all their eyes.

Look who we picked up at the North Pole...Kids waved good-bye to Santa as he got back on to his sleigh.

We sang Christmas carols on the way back to the station.


We were all starving when we got back to the cabin after 8. Grandma had us covered though…she had put spaghetti in the crock pot before we left. We just had to wait for the noodles. It was AMAZING…I ate too much though. I can’t seem to stay up late out here…I am pooped by 11. I have to overcome it…getting a game of Dominos in is a must.

Pepperoni Bandit (11/23)

Well I thought we were embarking on an adventure but my mom, grandma, and Ryan definitely out did us. They should have arrived on Saturday evening but they didn’t get here until Sunday around 4PM. Ryan ended up having a mild seizure during their flight out on Saturday so the plane had an emergency landing in Indianapolis. He was rushed to the hospital. Thankfully, he’s fine and they let him out late that evening and they were able to catch a 7AM flight.

But that was only half of their adventure. Mom misunderstood my directions and they ended up driving all over the whole state…everywhere BUT here that is. They should have arrived around noon. My mom called around 1 and told us that they were right around the corner. Marc left to go meet them down the mountain. Needless to say…I received a few texts during his 45 minute wait. I finally just told him to come back up and I would meet them when they were actually AT the store. We were all getting antsy waiting for their arrival…I can only imagine what went on in that car. I know Marc and I would have been at each other’s throats.

They finally made it and all was well. After they settled in for a little bit we headed out to Wonder Works. Marc, the kids, and I HAD to get out for a bit. Wonder Works is a cute little place with lots of hands on exhibits…the kids really enjoy it. I have to say, Pigeon Forge is great and all…there is TONS to do, but it is definitely NOT a cheap vacations. EVERYTHING costs money here. Wonder Works cost $150 for all 8 of us (and Aspen was free). The kids are having a great time with Uncle Ryan :)
Aspen ended up having an episode in the gift shop as we were leaving. They had one of those candy store displays (where you self-dispense candy in a bag) and Aspen asked if she could have something. Marc told her no…well she helped herself to a gummy dinosaur anyways. Marc told her she was naughty and that the cops were coming to get her. OMG did she have a breakdown…it was so dramatic you couldn’t help but laugh AND feel sorry for her. I told her that we were just kidding but that didn’t seem to help. I even asked her if it was the most delicious gummy she has ever had but she didn’t respond.

The meltdown carried over to Tony Roma’s. She wasn’t throwing a fit or anything…she was just still VERY upset. I think she was mostly embarrassed. I tried to redirect her and find out what she wanted for dinner. She picked pizza. When I told her that they only had cheese she had another meltdown… “Awwww NO pepperoni?” Her heart was broken. Luckily the episode didn’t last much longer. She settled for mac n cheese and dinner ended up being very pleasant.