Free Babysitting?

I dreamed I had our baby last night. Then I proceeded to check myself out of the hospital and meet Tony and the girls at a hotel for the weekend! When I got there I realized that I’d left something behind. When Tony arrived he told me he and the girls had gone to the hospital to get me and found out I'd left. He spoke with the nurses and told them I was anxious about caring for the baby and needed a couple more days with just him and the girls - one last time. They understood and said it was fine to leave the baby with them until we got back from our little getaway.

But just in case you think I've lost it, I woke up feeling terrible!!!

Have Food, Will Vacation

Because we had a full kitchen in our "cabin", we ate two meals in each day and one meal out. Most of the "out" meals were spent on ridicously expensive food (my only complaint about DollyWood) because it doesn't matter how recently you ate, the smells from all those food stands just makes you hungry! And even more frustrating...when the food looks and smells better than it tastes. Corn dogs and "tater twists" seemed to be the girls favorite there. The fries were quite tasty! My smothered red potatoes - not so much. All of us would highly recommend the ice cream stand at the top of the hill just before heading into Country Fair. The prices seemed very fair for a delicious waffle cone filled with homemade chocolate ice cream. Just be sure not to ask for a cone that the 70-something server can't reach (ask Jody or Travis about that moment :)

But our two most notable meals of the week were at The Old Mill in Pigeon Forge and Gondolier Italian Restaurant and Pizza (discovered by Johnson's on a previous visit). The latter meal consisted of fabulous pizza (and I'm pretty picky about my pizza!) and a huge slice of cake appropriately labeled "Seven Sins" because it was made with seven kinds of chocolate. Sorry, I didn't think to take a picture until AFTER it was gone. I did about have a heart attack though. When asked if anyone wanted dessert, I piped up and no one else did. The waiter showed me the choices in the display case and said that it would serve about 8 people. I didn't know if he meant one piece or the entire cake but didn't figure I needed to clarify since I was the only one ordering. A few minutes later he brough us a handful of forks and set them in the middle of the table. I looked up and there was a gaping hole where the cake had been sitting in the case. I just knew he was going to bring out 8 plates of that cake! I could see my entire monthly clothing allowance paying for this miscommunication! Imagine the big sigh of relief when he brought out one plate occupied by a huge slab of Seven Sins - definitely enough for eight people to sample. I still have money left for the girl's much-needed tennis shoes :)

Other Attractions

During the week, we also enjoyed:

*a show at Smoky Mountain Jubilee, complete with singing, comedy and clogging - a modern version of what I imagine my dad's family's shows were like. Comedian Highpockets was definitely the highlight of the show. His antics had us laughing long after we left the building.

(Karen, this photo is in honor of Jonathan :)

*an afternoon of watching the girls ice skate at Ober Gatlinburg (no pics)

*a short but sweet hike on Sunday enjoying the beauty of God's creation

and the rest of the time just maxing and relaxing in our resort cabin at Westgate.

A Week Away

We have returned from a week in Gatlinburg. Did ya miss me?

We were supposed to take this vacation last summer. But then my mother passed away and my dad's health was iffy. We postponed it being afraid that we would get down there only to get called on an emergency to Michigan. By the time Dad's funeral was over, it was too late to book for fall, so we decided Spring Break would be the best opportunity.

We had a few rainy days and a lot of rainy hours but overall, we had a great time. I have learned that for the time being vacations are mostly for the girls. There will be enough time to enjoy doing my things when they are grown and gone. And it's too stressful to try to fit in the things I want while keeping them fairly happy at the same time.

I'll leave you with one of my favorite photos taken during the week. More photos and details in the days ahead.