We had such a good time. Sue, Janine, Katie, David, Elizabeth and their children were comfortably set up in five cabins. I had my own bedroom and bathroom in Janine's cabin. The bathtub had a resident spider and all of the sides of the very large tub were covered with his web. I didn't feel like fooling with that so I used the upstairs shower. The corkscrew road that went up at a 90 degree angle was scary the first time we tried it since our elevation in New Orleans is only FLAT and our cars don't recognize that never-before used "LOW" gear. The little people ran helter-skelter between cabins and were loosely supervised or sometimes not at all. No, I shouldn't say that. I think they were all accounted for at all times. The only mishap among the children was a wasp sting for Shelby on her chin. Not bad considering how many there were. Each cabin featured hot tubs that were almost constantly occupied. Adults and children alike thought they were wonderful. One cabin had a mouse that was very selective in his eating habits -- some things he liked more than others, Elizabeth said. Katie and her group left Monday morning, but before they did, they made one more pass at Cade's Cove and got to see a bear. She said he was spotted at the edge of the woods, trying to decide whether or not to cross the road, and then finally he made a dash to the other side. There were cars all up and down both sides of the road, people taking pictures, all trying to get a good shot. We only saw a few deer when we went, but I'm not crazy about the idea of bears in the wild so I wasn't sorry we didn't encounter any. David and Matthew also left Monday, but Shelby rode home with us on Tuesday. Sue, Scott, and Patrick were the last to leave on Tuesday because they only had a four-hour trip back to Lawrenceville. David, Brianne and her boyfriend Greg, and her girlfriend Laura, all had left on Sunday.
As usual, it was good to get home. And in a few months, maybe we'll start talking about where we'll go next year.
Mom, how could you forgot your baby? I too was there with my family. Angela didn't get to come because at the last minute she went into the hospital with pre-term labor. She is now at home on bedrest with a Brethine drip in her leg, which Joey has to insert every five days.
Forgive me. I consciously did not include Angela because I wasn't sure if she wanted to talk about her problems. But I didn't mean to NOT list you and your family. I can't imagine how that happened, nor why it didn't occur to me as I read it over. I am very sorry. I am sure that no one will read anything ominous in this error. Plus, think how it will read in your tell-all book about your life!!
I noticed that the list seemed short too and knew immediately that Christina wasn't included.
That's so cool that Katie and company saw a bear.
Where exactly were you camping/hiking etc. Sounds like fun. Our family wil meet at Mom & Dad's on Aug 5th for a 1 day picnic. It's hard to get everyone there, work and misc schedules interfere.
Nancy -- we were in the Smoky Mountains at a cabin court right near the entrance to the national park. The cabins were very fine, very beautiful. The hot tubs were on the long front porch. Our evening meals were communal, with the fixings brought from home. For me, that was the most fun, sitting around, everyone eating and talking and laughing and joking. I didn't do the hiking trips, nor the souvenir trips, nor the go carts, nor the horseback riding. But I did go to Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede with Christina's family and it was a great show and meal. Christina and I cracked up over her asking twice for silverware and the waitress finally asking her, "Didn't anyone tell you that the meal is eaten with your fingers?" No, nobody had told us that, but we dug in to a vegetable soup (sipped from the cup), rotisserie chicken, barbecued pork, corn on the cob, potato skin, biscuit, and apple pie with our FINGERS. And it was delicious. There was a hot towel delivered to us as they cleared the table. The wild west show was excellent. Eight trained buffalo, cowboys, Indians, Southern belles and their men, ostrich races (?), pig races, chicken herding, and many horseback races and tricks, all set to music.
It was just a wonderful vacation that we'll be talking and laughing about for a long time.
Anytime you guys get together, it sounds like there is endless fun! I'm glad you had a great time even if you didn't see a bear :). Carol
Activities to me were not much to report on. Nature walks, etc. However I have told many people the last two days that it was one of my favorite vacations. Not every family (mine included) could survive together like that. My favorite part of it was dinner the first night. I heard Cleveland was suggested for the next one, Rock-n-Roll Museum, Football Hall of Fame (Canton), Jacob's Field. Christina can't wait!
No, you did not!