1 year, 10 months and 16 days from today - A May 2016 PTR FINAL UPDATE 5/6/16

[mickeystoontown]

I'm playing catch-up today. Congrats to Elizabeth on writing a book! What a wonderful accomplishment for a person her age. Heck, for a person of any age.

The plans sounds like they are shaping up well. I like the fact that you are factoring in a lot of family time.

 

[ddstratton]

Great plans. I love that your daughter wants to go to CB because Mr. Reed ate there (I won't eat at CB for any reason ).

Andy (my oldest) did the Country Music Hall of Fame when he went to Nashville to see Garth Brooks. He really enjoyed himself.

I would love to go to the Grand Ole Opry some time.

We generally like Cracker Barrel, so it's not a hardship for us to stop there. It's also very convenient to our hotel.

We've done the Country Music Hall of Fame once before, by my Mom's never been. We loved it, and are looking forward to returning.

We loved our visit to the Opry, and can't wait to go back.

I'm playing catch-up today. Congrats to Elizabeth on writing a book! What a wonderful accomplishment for a person her age. Heck, for a person of any age.

The plans sounds like they are shaping up well. I like the fact that you are factoring in a lot of family time.

I am very proud of her, for completing her book and publishing it. She has far more ambition than I did at her age.

We love our family time on vacation! This year's trip (in May) has lots of family time, and we will be having family time during the 2016 trip as well -- we'll get to that update shortly

 

[Steppesister]

Bump

 

[ddstratton]

Day 13

We leave Nashville today. But not before a little more touring around. It may be a bit morbid, but DD wants to visit a couple of cemeteries in Nashville. Some very famous people are buried in Nashville, including her idol Jerry Reed. I think there are a total of three cemeteries she wants to visit. Appears to be a common thing – this visiting of celebrity graves. At least one of the cemeteries hands out maps to the graves.

Once we’ve done that, we’re heading to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge today! Yay! We love this area of the country.

Not sure where we’re staying just yet. There are TONS of options – hotels, condos, cabins… We’ve stayed in three different cabins in the area, and have loved each of them.

Bella Vista cabin

Shadow Wood cabin

Lovesick Blues cabin

No real plans for this day/night, as I’m not sure how long we’ll be touring the cemeteries and what time we’ll get to Gatlinburg. We will likely grab a few groceries and have supper in the cabin – if we end up going with a cabin/condo. By this time, we may be a little sick of eating out all the time, and a home-cooked meal will be very welcome.

 

[pkondz]

Hey no judgments here. Cemeteries can be interesting places.
But did you have to post a picture with Snow on it????
(So sick of winter)
Sounds to me like you're leaning towards a cabin again.
Don't blame you one bit.

 

[KatMark]

I think the fad started with Elvis and visiting the gravesites/cemeteries.

I LOVE Gatlinburg. I'd love to stop there again sometime but now that we fly, don't see it happening (well, unless we stop on our way down when we move to Florida next year).

 

[Steppesister]

I actually like to visit cemetaries as well, but mainly for taking photos. They make some awesome pictures, especially around Halloween time. THat and they are just plain fun to try to piece together lives and stories by.

Only been to Pigeon Forge once when we went to Dollywood, and that was quite some years ago. Fun area to just explore! The cabins look like a great option to enjoy- especially for that home-cooked meal!

 

[ddstratton]

Hey no judgments here. Cemeteries can be interesting places.
But did you have to post a picture with Snow on it????
(So sick of winter)
Sounds to me like you're leaning towards a cabin again.
Don't blame you one bit.

Definitely leaning towards a cabin in Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge. For what you get, compared with a hotel room.... You usually can't beat the price comparison.

I think the fad started with Elvis and visiting the gravesites/cemeteries.

I LOVE Gatlinburg. I'd love to stop there again sometime but now that we fly, don't see it happening (well, unless we stop on our way down when we move to Florida next year).

We absolutely LOVE the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area of Tennessee. I'd move there in a minute, if I could...

I actually like to visit cemetaries as well, but mainly for taking photos. They make some awesome pictures, especially around Halloween time. THat and they are just plain fun to try to piece together lives and stories by.

Only been to Pigeon Forge once when we went to Dollywood, and that was quite some years ago. Fun area to just explore! The cabins look like a great option to enjoy- especially for that home-cooked meal!

All the times we've been to Pigeon Forge -- we've never been to Dollywood! There is just SO MUCH to see in that area, that Dollywood never seems to happen for us...

 

[ddstratton]

Life Update!

Well, DD is officially 16 years old! Her birthday was Wednesday. She had a friend spend the night before her birthday – they are both home-schooled, so we didn’t have to worry that it was a school night.

On Tuesday, we had her birthday dinner along with cake and ice cream. We did this a day early, as she has youth group on Wednesday nights (her actual birthday), and they leave at 6:00 to go to that.

Here are a couple of pictures of her with her cake…

On her birthday, we took her to the DMV to get her learner’s permit. She was very proud of this.

On the way home, I stopped the car and let her drive the last two miles home. She was a bit nervous. I don’t think she made it over 35 mph the entire way, but she arrived home safely.

 

[pkondz]

Hey! Congrats on the learners permit and Happy Birthday!!
Now this is when the parents can start biting their nails.

Cool cake BTW, love the graphic on the side.

 

[princessbelle2015]

Happy birthday Elizabeth
Congrats on the learners permit.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Happy belated birthday Elizabeth! Very cool birthday cake! Did you make it, Darla?

 

[RunnerMommyof4]

Happy birthday! Oh Gaitlinburg/Pigeon Forge...super jealous! We grew up going to Branson and I've always wanted to visit Dollywood there. I even tried to sell the kids on it, as you can see WDW won

 

[MEK]

Happy Bday to Elizabeth! Teaching new drivers is always fun.

I love her cake!

Love your continued plans. I see nothing morbid about visiting celebrity graves. It's kind if cool! Those cabins are so cute!

 

[ddstratton]

test

 

[pkondz]

test

What????? But I didn't study!!!!

 

[ddstratton]

What????? But I didn't study!!!!

Test for me! I was testing picture limits in a post. I will have an update soon, though. And there will not be a test at the end.

 

[GeminiAngel]

LOL! I'm sure I'll get an A

 

[pkondz]

Test for me! I was testing picture limits in a post. I will have an update soon, though. And there will not be a test at the end.

25 right? (Including smilies.)

 

[Steppesister]

Yay for a birthday! And for a successful drive. As a Momma that is not an easy thing to be ready for; they grow up so fast. Love that cake- such a fun one.