In this photo, we're on our way to drop off the Pups at the Puppy Hotel.
Our drive up to Gatlinburg was relatively painless. We got stuck in the obligatory stopped traffic just south of Chattanooga, but otherwise the trip was easy-going. We even got to see some decent snow on the drive through Knoxville!
I swear it's there; use your imagination.
We made record time through Sevierville/Pigeon Forge, about 30 minutes from I-40 to the timeshare just before getting to Gatlinburg. Seriously, record time. Once we arrived, we unloaded the car and I got to work to finish making my cinnamon-raisin bread, and Hubs set out to make his home-made ice cream.
Thursday morning, I got up and baked the bread, and we all watched the Thanksgiving Day parade.
In an attempt to better explain how I am related to the people who were in Gatlinburg, I've made mini-family trees:
Lorraine is my Great-Grandmother (GG). Her two living children,
Jewell (my grandmother, Mommal) and Elaine were in Gatlinburg.
Mommal's children and grandchildren. I was only one, in addition to Mommal,
who was in Gatlinburg.
Aunt Elaine, her daughter Jennifer and Jennifer's daughter Courtney,
as well as another of Aunt Elaine's grandchildren (Alicia) were in Gatlinburg.
My Aunt Charlotte's two grandsons, Brandon and Nickolai,
were also in attendance.
So there were a lot of people. Most of them, I'd seen fairly recently. Mommal came up to visit Hubs and I for Easter with my mom and sister. I saw Aunt Elaine, Jennifer, Courtney (17), Brandon (19) and Nickolai (11) at Thanksgiving in Orlando last year. This was my first time seeing Alicia (13) since she was an infant.
I really enjoyed getting to see all those cousins. And we all had a great time together! The 6 of us "kids" (yes, I include myself with the kids) played card games, board games, and charades, as well as hung out and watched TV together.
Thanksgiving afternoon, we all, the adults included, walked down to the main activities area and made paracord bracelets. I didn't make one, but I used my elementary school and summer camp knowledge of make best friends bracelets to teach them all how to do it. Here's all of us (and them all posing with their bracelets):
Alicia, Brandon, Aunt Elaine, Husband, Nickolai, Mommal, Jennifer, me, and Courtney.
After bracelet-making, we all headed back to our cabin. The Hubs, my cousins and I all played a few card games while Mommal, Aunt Elaine, and Jennifer worked on finishing up dinner. I would have helped, but the kitchen was way too small, and I think 3 cooks was already too many in the kitchen. When food was ready, the kids cleaned up the table and surrounding areas, Hubsandwich said the blessing, and we ate. After dinner, Mommal and Aunt Elaine relaxed, and us kids did the cleaning.
Early Friday morning, Jennifer, Courtney and Alicia had to leave to get back to Florida in time for Courtney's high school football team to be in the playoffs. The rest of us ate breakfast at the Apple Barn, then rummaged through the gift shop. A few pictures:
Mommal! My favorite grandmother!
The Hubs and I. We sort of match, totally unplanned.
Brandon and Nickolai. Brothers born on the same day, 8 years apart.
Hubs and Mommal
The remaining family: Aunt Elaine, Brandon, Nickolai, me and Mommal.
Hubs offered to take the picture.
Sadly, on Friday night, we needed to pack up the cabin, our clothes, our food and our vacation. Saturday morning was coming quickly, and it would be time to go.
Oh, did I mention the snow? There was plenty to go around. Thanksgiving's high temperature was near 34 degrees. Friday was much warmer, around 46.
Sisters, Mommal and Aunt Elaine
Mommal and I! I just woke up, so I'm jacket-free. Not the way to be.
Aunt Elaine wanted a picture with the snow on her car :) I've been there!
We hit almost no traffic coming back home, not even through Chattanooga, and got home in time to pick up this thing before they closed for the day:
Puppy was so excited to see me that she literally tackled me to the
ground at the Puppy Hotel and stood on top of me to claim me.
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