Months ago, I signed up to go to a conference in Nashville called The Pearl Event, II - The Double Strand. A friend of mine was speaking and sharing her testimony of losing her identical twin boys this past year and several other ladies were going to be sharing their "stories". I purchased my ticket and didn't really think about who I would go with or anything! A couple of months later, I was talking with one of my good friends and she wanted to go, too! She put a little group together, we got a hotel room and our trip was planned!
Cass decided to make it a mini-vacation for him and the little three. I booked them a room at Embassy Suites, which was just a few miles away from where I was staying, and he started making plans for them. He decided to visit a church while we were there so we stayed an extra night to check out how they do preschool! (and it made us very thankful to be where we are :) ).
We headed to Nashville on Friday morning and had lunch at Demo's in Downtown Nashville. It is delicious and we all enjoyed our meal! Then, we headed to get them checked in at their hotel so all they would have to do is go back to eat and swim. They got all settled and we headed to walk around the Opryland hotel until time to meet up with the girls! We had fun walking around. The boys LOVE the Opryland Hotel for some reason so it was fun to watch them explore. We got them dinner to take back to their room, I met the girls and our weekend started!
We went to dinner at Ted's Montana Grill and then came back and walked around. It was a fun night of laughs. I NEVER leave my children. This was my second time since I've been married to be gone overnight so it was HUGE that I did it with no trouble (I know that seems crazy but I'm just more of a home body and have trouble leaving my family behind to go away)
Cass and the boys swam at the hotel then crashed!
I enjoyed listening to the testimonies given at the conference of how God had walked these ladies through some really tough times. It's always neat to me to see how HE works and the way he provides strength for people right when they need it (myself included). I am always blown away at how He ALWAYS meets our every need!
I met up with Cass and the boys after the conference ended on Saturday and we headed to Franklin to spend the night. We ate at a Noodle restaurant and it was delicious, then we headed a few doors down for gelato and Italian ice for a snack! It was a special family time for us and we all enjoyed it! Cass had to meet with a friend that night and he was running late so we were glad he ended up being able to eat with us!
We got up and went to Krispy Kreme for breakfast then packed up our stuff and headed to church. After church we headed to the mountains for a few days. Mimi and Poppy were up there and had lasagna, salad and birthday cake waiting on us! We ate with them then they got on the road back to Atlanta and we got all settled and went to bed!
Monday we stayed around the cabin all morning then went to the outlets and Fuddruckers for dinner. Then, we took the boys to The Track to ride a few rides, which they thought was the BEST, but it seems so redneck there, haha!
Tuesday, we stayed home in the morning then headed out and ended up by a horse place. We ended up taking a carriage ride through the mountains and it was BEAUTIFUL! The boys sat up front with the man and we enjoyed listening to his stories and talking to him. Then, we headed to the swinging bridge for the boys to walk around. Then, we ended up having dinner at Bullfish then calling it a night.
On Wednesday, we headed home and stopped in Cleveland for lunch at Deli Boys with our friends, Sarah and Jonathan. It was delicious and good to see them. We stopped by my little bakery that I love and got some cookies and petit fours! They were DELICIOUS! Then we went to Chattanooga and walked around, rode the carousel, played outside, walked across the walking bridge, got a sno biz, picked up Cass' favorite donuts for breakfast and had dinner at Sticky Fingers! The boys wanted to play by the aquarium after dinner so we let them run around before heading back. It was a fun trip but we are happy to be home!
Here are pictures from our trip. They got all mixed up from Cass' phone but you can still see our adventures!
Bates enjoying our time on the porch!
 |
| He LOVES his lovie! (lala) |
Peek-a-boo!
Enjoying a donut for breakfast!
Playing in the den at the cabin!
Caden having fun on the porch!
They LOVE to dig under the porch at the cabin!
Getting dirty!
Aren't the cute???
In front of a bear in a store in Wears Valley!
He LOVED going down in the woods to get their ball when it would roll down there!
Then, Cass took him up in the woods (you can see the house below) and he LOVED it! It was his first time to hike like that!
Staying busy!
Calder trying on Mommy's cowboy boots!
Calder using his pants as a tool belt! (they were all stuck IN HIS PANTS!)
Bates on the carousel in Chattanooga!
He LOVED it!
Caden being his silly self on the carousel!
Calder!
All three boys!
On our carriage ride!
Isn't it beautiful??
Caden loved feeding the horses. He has a huge love for animals...maybe he will grow up to be a vet!
The boys getting ready to ride!
Me, Cass and Bates on the carriage ride!
Boys up front!
Bates felt big!
He was happy!
He smiled and talked the whole time!
Walnut grove on the carriage ride
Swimming at the hotel!
Snuggling with Daddy at their hotel while I was at the conference!
Lunch at Demos'!
Demos'
Eating at Demos'
Demos'
Caden loves being a big brother!
Horse!!!
Feeding the horse more hay
Bates loved petting the horses!
Opening more gifts from Mom and Dad
A cake server in my SLAH pattern!
A new table cloth! (and they gave me three new cake plateaus)
My cake!
Me and Melanie after the conference!
Calder, Caden and Bates at the Opryland Hotel
Eating at Noodles in Franklin
Mommy and Bates at Noodles
The dog on one side of the walking bridge in Chattanooga!
Playground at the Nashville Zoo!
Mimi and Poppy left each of the boys 10 dollars to spend in the mountains and Calder bought this cup and this shirt at the Disney Store and he won't take the shirt off! He loves it!
View from the porch!
Typical Calder...with no shirt :)
Relaxing on the porch :)
Caden in the trees!
Enjoying sno biz in Chattanooga!
Bates loved the sno biz, too!
Beautiful sunrise!
Swimming in Nashville!
They love to swim!
Swinging on a playground in the mountains!
On the swinging bridge!
The swinging bridge!
Bates on the train at The Track!
Caden loved riding this at The Track!
Bates rode the swings. I was afraid he would climb out but he didn't!
All of us on the train!
SO, it was a fun trip with lots of fun memories and great family time :)
No comments:
Post a Comment