Who knew choking each other would earn us fastpasses?

[KatMark]

That's an awfully cute town. Love the German theme. I also love the pic of Hunter and Lacey hugging...silly or not.

 

[Amy&Dan]

What a cute town! It reminds me of some our little mountain towns here in Colorado. Love the picture of Lacey and Hunter hugging.

 

[jenseib]

What a neat town. There is a town in Michigan that is all German looking. It's calle Frankenmuth. We usually go there once a year and eat the big family style chicken dinner they serve. It's yummy! I posted pictures in my last TR from last Fall. Now I'm hungry thinking about it.
Too bad they don't have the traffic situation taken care of better though. Is it a very touristy place then?

 

[mickeystoontown]

On the way into town, Hunter spotted a magic shop and we promised him we'd take him there. So, off we went to the magic shop. I took pictures as we walked along:

The Chatahoochee River goes right through the middle of town and people are always floating by.

I took this picture just outside the Magic Shop. They had a bubble blowing machine blowing bubbles out into the street. I think everybody and their great grandma was in the magic shop. It was super crowded. Most of the stuff in the shop was just gag gift type items. But, there were some actual illusion/magic items. Hunter found a magic light bulb that he wanted but there were also other things that he wanted.

The people running the shop weren't the most personable people I've ever met and would often overlook people who were interested in something in the counter. I finally got somebody's attention and asked if they would show Hunter how to work/perform something if he bought it. They just nodded and looked away. Had it been just me, I'd have turned around and walked out. I didn't do it though because Hunter really wanted to keep looking.

Finally, Hunter decided to buy the lightbulb. The young lady checking us out didn't even tell Hunter what his total was. She just held out her hand for the $20 he had. I had to ask her what the total was. I tried to find the guy who had said they would show Hunter how the light bulb worked but he was nowhere to be found. Maybe he "magically" disappeared. Oh well, we'd figure it out ourselves.

We walked back out of the claustrophic store and started back towards our hotel. More pictures:

See the windmill in the background of this picture? Apparently, it used to be a hotel/inn. There was a blocked off driveway up to it and a sign that led us to believe that is what it used to be.

We stopped in Betty's General Store to pick up my laundry soap and to let John and Hunter look around before heading back to the hotel. A picture of the front of the Hampton:

Instead of going straight to the room, we walked down to see the river since we hadn't gotten to look very long early because of the rain:

I called Mama and asked if she wanted to come down and sit with us. She asked if it was hot and if there were mosquitos. We told her that it felt good by the water and we hadn't been bitten by any mosquitos yet. She decided she'd come down and sit with us for a while.

**I think I may have reached my picture limit for this post. So, I'll finish up in the next one.

 

[mickeystoontown]

One of John and Hunter sitting on one of the picnic tables:

They walked down a little hill and down to the river. Since there were no longer people floating, they decided to skip some rocks.

We found one Croc and a flip flop just in that little area so there's no telling how many shoes are lost along the river's banks. It was starting to get dark so we headed back to our rooms. We decided that, since the weather had held out so far, we would go to Dollywood the next day. We called Lacey and told her what we had decided. She was up for anything and told us to call her when we got up the next morning.

**Up next: Dollywood!

 

[Believeinfairytales]

Great helen updates! I have enjoyed looking at all of the pictures.

 

[KatMark]

More great updates. I sometimes wonder what people think. The economy is awful and yet you have rude people who have NO customer service skills at all. Did you figure out how to work the light bulb?

 

[mickeystoontown]

I thought I had lost you forever! So glad someone replied on your previous trip report which allowed me to see the link to this one.

So far so good but I've GOT to get back to reading!

Soooo happy to see that you found me! I've been posting a few updates of when we went to see Lacey graduate so maybe you'll have time to caught up on the Disney part soon!

All I can say, like I did with "ROZ", is I just don't know what to say.

I'm sorry you had to drive through all of that awful rain. I hate driving in rain and I hate when I'm in the car with someone who is driving in the rain. And driving through Atlanta is the pits -- no matter the time of day or the amount of traffic.

What terrible weather! I can't wait to see the graduation pics .

Shoot, I live here and I pray like that every time I have to drive on the highway!



You should have seen me driving to the city when I had my ob appts with my youngest. DH worked in the same building as my ob/gyn, so he'd just meet me there, but I had to drive down there myself. I hated it!

I try to avoid the highways around here as much as possible.

Yay! A Lisa and Family Road Trip!

UGH...rain is the worst! That wind was crazy! I'd have been praying too!

LOL...I can't believe you saw a tractor trailer fire! I guess cars on fire on the side of the road are not as uncommon as I thought!

Cracking up laughing at the "John napping and on the phone" comment! LOL!

I could travel with you guys anywhere. Everywhere you go sounds like an adventure. I'm with you on the praying - I pray like that when I'm traveling, too. Traffic scares me. Traffic and rain together - well - that makes me a basket case!

I laughed aloud at your description of the comforters. I'll admit it - they look a little strange. But your view of the pool and the river beyond it (though we can't see it right now) is pretty awesome! I can't wait until the part where you get to see Lacey!

The rain was the absolute worst! I don't see how you guys that live in big cities do it every day. I'd be a nervous wreck!

wow, I am finally caught up with you CHOKING TR, so far....you all look like you're having the BEST time!! I love the ongoing theme of your husband on his phone....maybe you should ban his phone from future vacations??

Glad to hear that you've caught up. Since John's business phone is also his cell phone, I'd hate to ban him from it. Who knows when the next big job is gonna come calling!

Hi Lisa! First of all, I'm so happy you found Lacey's graduation pictures!

I loved all your pics of Laugh Floor! Yay! that Hunter's joke got chosen!

So glad you decided to do a mini-TR for Lacey's graduation! But...boo on the terrible weather. On our way back last week from the lake it was pouring out and the traffic was terrible. I definitely understand how you were feeling... I said a few prayers myself that day.

Can't wait to hear more!

Oh I said some prayers alright!

Hey Lisa. I'm enjoying the trip report(s). I just wanted to recommend Google Maps instead of MapQuest for navigation. I used to use MapQuest a few years ago, but I feel much safer using Google (plus Google hasn't sent me 3 miles past my hotel before like MapQuest did).

I agree about google maps. I think Map quest is off alot of times. In fact it has my house in the wrong spot! LOL!

I didn't even know about Google Maps! I need to try that next time!

 

[mickeystoontown]

We are going Jan. 21st-30th. Touring Plans give that week 1's, 2's and 3's with only one 4 on it's crowd calendar. It's a toss up between CSR and CBR. We stayed at CBR our first trip and didn't know enough to ask to be closer to the main building and we we way way out in the Trinidad South section building 37 such a far walk when your 5 mos. preggers! We've also stayed at CSR and LOVED it. We stayed in the Cabanas building 8B and loved being close to the main building and a bus stop. I would sort of like giving CBR another try but DH loves the Pepper Mart and the new room redos look so great we may end up back at CSR.

I see that you are on the fence too did ya'll make any decisions?

Well, it certainly sounds like that will be a good time to visit according to the crowd calendar. I can see how a walk from Trinidad South would be along way to walk for a 5 months pregnant woman.

I guess we are going to go back to the CBR next trip especially if Mama comes along with us. She really enjoyed the resort and feels comfortable there.

All caught up! Joined in this weekend! Sounds like you all have had some adventures this year! Looking forward to seeing what is next!

Welcome aboard! Once I get the Georgia trip posted, I'll be back to post more on our Disney trip.

I'm loving your Georgia TR!!! That hotel looks great. The setting is so pretty. I can't wait to read more! I finally have internet at home, so I will be able to keep up with my TR subscriptions.

OK---a lot to comment on; hopefully I won't forget what I wanted to say.

It looks like a wonderful graduation ceremony. I know you are so proud of Lacey!

I did know that about the cabbage patch babies---and ---did you know that you can take a tour of the factory?

We love the laugh floor at Disney. Once when we were there, we got seated, the show started and the first joke was said. As it was, this bright light above me went on, and I started praying, "No, please, dear God, do not let me look up at that screen and see myself!" I managed to look up there, and it was Kevin-my husband! HA

Glad to see you back from your beach trip. I am, indeed, very proud of Lacey and her fellow graduates. They are a dedicated bunch of young adults.

The Cabbage Patch Kid "hospital" was moved about a year or so ago from Downtown Cleveland, Georgia to a little further out of town. I'm always asking Lacey if she's gone to the hospital yet.

Too funny that you were praying it wouldn't be you chosen at Laugh Floor but Kevin was!

Hi Lisa, I'm still here reading along.

Wow, that wasn't just a rain storm, that was a monsoon. I'm glad that you were able to wait it out at the gas station. I hate driving in rain too, it does frazzle the nerves.

My husband has the same whiteish Disney hat that John is wearing. I had to laugh when I saw the sticker on John's hat because my husband gets the stickers too and usually puts them on his shirt or luggage. Yes, my husband is in his 40's and travels to big business meetings with Mickey Mouse stickers on his luggage! I have another sticker story for you. One time DH and I were having lunch at Cosmic Rays and a teenage Cast Member who was passing out Sonny Eclipse stickers to everyone came up to us to ask if we wanted a sticker. I could tell that he was embarrassed to ask us (we don't have kids) and he was shocked when we both very excitedly said, "YES! We want a sticker!!" We immediately put the stickers on our shirts. I could tell that he thought we were maybe a bit "off" in the heads.

You always make your family trips sound like so much fun. Can't wait to read more.

Rhonda

It was definitely raining. You can see in the video that the rain was coming straight underneath and through the covering. It was blowing like crazy!

John gets stickers from everybody at Disney so tell your hubby not to be embarassed. Last trip, John and Hunter walked around with "Prince for the day" stickers.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I'm loving your Georgia TR!!! That hotel looks great. The setting is so pretty. I can't wait to read more! I finally have internet at home, so I will be able to keep up with my TR subscriptions.

The town is very pretty and I look forward to returning there one day. It's perfect for a long weekend trip.

Oh, I forgot to say that I have 2 Vera Bradley backpacks like yours. One is bright pink with paisley and the other is brown and green. I use them for Disney trips. They are just the perfect size.

I thought the hipster was a great size purse to carry on trips. It's big enough to hold my "junk" yet small enough to not get in the way.

Lisa, I am loving your report! I love the way you put the links up, it makes so easy (although then I miss all the chatter and banter lol).

Love the way your family loves being together and so enjoyed Lacey's graduation tr too!

I love your mama! I lost mine two and half years ago, and seeing you all travel together at WDW and at Lacey's graduation, really brought back some happy memories for me. Hunter and your mama are just like my son and his "grammy" were.

Gosh, Hunter has gotten huge!

Hey! You know me and my chatter. I'm a talker that's for sure.

I love my Mama too and, believe me, I appreciate each and every day we spend with her. Lacey is always laughing and telling Mama that she and Hunter are her favorites.

Hunter is growing like a weed! He's taller than Mama and Lacey and is just about the same height as me. Maybe even a little taller.

You are growing your hair out. It looks great! I like it longer. That was cute that Lacie went barefoot through her graduation. I have a cousin that got married barefoot.

Thanks for the compliment on my hair. I grew it out because I got a really bad haircut that had layers all over the place. That would have been okay if they were even on both sides. So, until it grows out some more, I'll keep pinning it back or wearing ponytails.

Lacey is a no shoes kind of girl. She hates wearing them. John and I were laughing about that while sitting on the back porch. Then, we had to stop and laugh at ourselves because we were both barefoot.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I love the pictures! What a cute town! I had no idea something like that was in Georgia!

Isn't Helen cute! I had no idea there was anything like that in Georgia either until I was looking for a hotel to stay in when we went to Lacey's 1st year graduation.

That's an awfully cute town. Love the German theme. I also love the pic of Hunter and Lacey hugging...silly or not.

My two silly kids! What can I say?

What a cute town! It reminds me of some our little mountain towns here in Colorado. Love the picture of Lacey and Hunter hugging.

My sister used to live in Durango, Colorado and we'd travel by train to Silverton.

What a neat town. There is a town in Michigan that is all German looking. It's calle Frankenmuth. We usually go there once a year and eat the big family style chicken dinner they serve. It's yummy! I posted pictures in my last TR from last Fall. Now I'm hungry thinking about it.
Too bad they don't have the traffic situation taken care of better though. Is it a very touristy place then?

A chicken dinner sounds pretty darn good right now. I think I remember you posting those pictures before.

The town is nothing but tourist and it's down in a mountain valley. The street is just two way so that's why traffic backs up.

Great helen updates! I have enjoyed looking at all of the pictures.

Thanks. The pictures don't do the little town justice.

More great updates. I sometimes wonder what people think. The economy is awful and yet you have rude people who have NO customer service skills at all. Did you figure out how to work the light bulb?

Yes, he figured out how to work the lightbulb and has already been wowing my Mama's sister and cousin with it.

 

[MK2010]

I just found the DISboards a year ago, but I've read most of your TRs. I just can't believe Lacey has graduated. I remember last year when that was the BIG milestone you were looking forward to- her having that third year done.

 

[claryche]

That is a really cute town. I love you taking a picture of that building that looks like Spaceship Earth. It's so nice to know that there are other people out there that are as obsessed with Disney as I am.

Congrats to Lacey. It is so wonderful what she is doing with her life, too many times we hear about people from her generation being so self-centered and having no ambition. So it's nice to know that there are young adults out there that are doing such great things for others.

Looking forward to seeing the Dollywood part of the trip. The last time we were there was 1996, I think. My husband and I actually got married in Gatlinburg, TN and Honeymooned there too in 1997.

 

[rndmr2]

Great Mini TR, I love that little town, it's really cute! I love places with little shops like that. I believe you about the best way to get around that town is to walk, you can see how crazy the traffic was in a couple of your pics.

That was some crazy rain in the beginning of your trip, I hate driving in the rain, especially on the highway.

Looking forward to hearing about Dollywood and more WDW updates too.

 

[Bethislucy]

I've made it to page 31, but I must go to bed. Hunter looks like hes grown a ton since the last trip pictures.

 

[belle8306]

What a touching graduation! The town was very cute. It looks like it would be fun to explore. My DH bought the same Star Wars shirt that Hunter is wearing.

 

[onescgirl]

Love your TR! We will be staying at CBR for the 1st time in Sept, so I really like seeing your pics.
Glad you were able to take your mom, I would LOVE to take my mom to WDW.
Congrats on Lacey graduating, I know you are very proud of her. It makes me so sad to think about the day when my kids will be grown!

I was just in Helen, GA this past Friday tubing down the river!!!

 

[jusero]

Loving the TR. And congrats to Lacey! She is doing her generation proud.

Chapter Nine of my TR is up and ready.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2474844

 

[Amy&Dan]

Lisa, I haven't done the train to Silverton since I was about 11. Dan and I always say we will take the kids but never do. Our kids have lived in Colorao their whole lives but have never done that train or gone skiing. But they've been to Disney 20 times!

That magic shop guy would never last as a Disney cm.

 

[bouncycat]

Lisa, looks like ya'll had a lot of fun, and that town looks really quant!! I can't wait to see Dollywood pictures!! Hunter reminds me SOOO much of Tyler, especially with the Star Wars shirt on!!! Those boys will probably get along pretty good!! When are you going to DW in May? Just wondering if we'll overlap, or if I can pop over for a day....