Ready, Set, GO!!!!

The holidays always seemed to be crammed packed with

lots of events and fun things to do as a family!

This year our festivities are going to have a wrench thrown into them

because Scott is suppose to be leaving town on the 30th

and not return

until December 23! 

YIKES!!!

He trip is still swinging in the balance,

because they are unsure when

the proposal will actually hit, but we are waiting...

impatiently...but waiting.

Today we decided to take the boys and head north for the day.

We headed to Nashville to see the

Opryland Hotel after being closed

for the last 6 months due to a Flood in May.

To see the horrible photos from the days after the flood

and then see the hotel today is just remarkable!

It's like it never happened!

The gardens are just beautiful and the hotel is still magnificent!

We started off the day at the ICE exhibit...it was 70 degrees outside,

and NINE degrees inside...burrr...it was COLD!!!

This year's theme was Santa Clause is Comin' to Town.

Jackson would not look at the camera to save his life...

too much to see.

Poor Austin has had  a camera in his face for the last 11 years,

I think he is a little tired of it!

Oh, and he's freezing to death!!

He did think the ice slide was pretty cool

and made a couple of runs down before he decided that

warmth was more important than fun

and we headed out.

One last stop to let Santa and Mrs. Clause know

we'd have our letters in the mail soon with

wishes from two sweet little boys!

We finally got this little one to hold still long enough

to get his picture made in front of a GIANT tree

in the Opryland Hotel.

Here is an overview of the Delta area in the hotel.

It's amazing how much work they were able to get done

in such a short amount of time.

But the hotel is back and better than ever!

So beautiful and grand.

I love coming here, especially at Christmas!

This was Austin's favorite spot in the hotel!

We jumped in for a few minutes to throw away about $5

and let the boys play a little and then we headed over to

Bass Pro Shop...

the only store that has reopened at Opry Mills.

Quick family picture in front of the fire at Bass Pro Shops.

Jackson was just about DONE by this point.

No nap and so much to see and do.

But he was a trooper and hung in with us until the end.

Then he made his Christmas Wish List...

that's all he wants...

But he'll be really happy with it!!!

We left Bass Pro and headed to the Galleria at Cool Springs.

We knew if we left for home at 5:00, Jackson would fall asleep

and then wake up about the time we got home

 and not want to sleep.

So we walked around the mall for a little while

and had some more fun!

Well...I had some more fun...

the boys might disagree.

But, now we are back home and getting ready for the rest of

our upcoming adventures...

We are heading over to see Scott's mom and dad tomorrow,

for a quick little trip and then back home tomorrow night.

Packing up Scott and Austin and sending them off

to Bear Creek at 6:45 Monday morning.

Austin has an overnight field trip with his class.

They are going to explore a cave, climb on high and low ropes and

then top off the adventure with rappelling on Tuesday morning.

If Scott's proposal has not hit by then,

we are heading off again...

not going to say where....

in case it falls apart...

but it's going to be fun!!!

Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving and slows down

to take a minute to stop and be thankful for the many wonderful blessing we have.