The "Wild Wilderness"

March 18, 2009
I planned our spring break get away with much excitement. Couldn't wait to spend time with Scott, Abby, and Alivia. I love it when we don't have work or school to think about. We asked my niece, Aubri, to go with us and I'm glad she said yes. She added much fun! We left on Friday afternoon FINALLY after waiting for a prescription, getting gas, and lunch. Alivia did great until about 4 hours into the trip and then she had had enough and let us know it. We pulled over at a Cracker Barrel so I could feed her. That's where we discovered she LOVES biscuits! We arrived at the Wilderness hotel and checked in only to find out that our room was about 2 miles from the front desk! We switched immediately and got a little closer. After being packed in the room like sardines and riding the dreaded "shuttle" bus we decided to switch from the hotel to the lodge. Oh my....much better...let's just say the old saying "You get what you pay for is so true!" (FYI...when you have facilities that house over a thousand people, you might want more than one shuttle bus that seats 12)...
We visited:
* the Apple Barn- great apple pies, good food, fast service
*Flapjack Pancake House- WOW! I've never seen so many pancake restaurants in my life. Awesome breakfast and I fed Alivia small bites of biscuits, pancakes, grits. She was literally jumping up and down in her high chair loving every minute of it. It was so funny.
*Visited Ober Gatlinburg- I am terrified of mountain roads...almost had a panic attack...once we were up there everyone had a great time snow tubing and ice skating
*ate lunch at Bubba Gumps because any time we visit a city that has a Bubba Gumps we must eat there!
*the water park was super fun! The storm chaser was thrilling and scary. The hot tub pool was great (want one in my back yard). Alivia loved the baby swings in the little kid section. She was so cute in her little swimsuit. Abby's favorite part was the wave pool and storm chaser.
*we ate lunch at this little 50's diner. Alivia knawed on my pickle spear. She made the funniest faces and sucked all the juice. She is definitely teething...everyone in the restaurant was laughing at her
*Aubri had to pose and have her picture made with "Elvis"...her favorite!
*we went to see "Race to Witch Mountain"....(which I missed MOST of because of the little screamer)
*we had a few "set backs" like the heathen children above us who decided to wrestle, move furniture, and totally destroy their room all for the sake of making noise to disturb us...then Alivia fell off the bed between the headboard and mattress..how? we don't know. she was completely surrounded by pillows and then we heard a thud. Scott found her crying. How she didnt' get stuck is still a mystery...and who could forget the night Alivia screamed herself to sleep- Abby woke up at 2 am vomiting...and the fire alarm goes off at 3 am...we evacuate for about 45 minutes...CRZY night- but memories as Scott calls them
*we ate every dessert you can think of...fudge, Baskin Robbins, Krispy Kreme, apple pies...YUMMY!
*on the way home we detoured in Chattanooga so I could feed Alivia and Abby got to see the Choo choo!
*We finally get home (with tons of dirty laundry) and I had not been feeling well at all. I had a fever of 101.5 and developed mastitis (a nasty little infection that makes you feel like you have the flu)....so now I'm on antibiotics and tylenol...but
overall it was a fabulous and memorable trip. I'm so thankful we got to go and spend time together. God as been so good to us and we are grateful for His blessings!
Gotta go fold the last load of laundry...bye!