Our Honeymoon: The Grand Finale!!

I know that you have probably lost sleep waiting for the final chapter of this mini-series. :) I have recently been attempting to create a sense of order and a schedule in my home and actually be productive everyday. Turns out, I don't have too much computer time when I actually do all of the things I'm supposed to do everyday!

On the last full day of our trip we went to Dollywood. I have to admit that I had a great sense of anxiety about that outing. I had not been to an amusement park since I had started repopulating the earth and I was scared. Despite the fact that there was a time when I could ride every ride imaginable I now get sick on the merry go round and the swings at the park! But I sucked it up and we headed out.


Dollywood is absolutely beautiful and the people working there were so nice. I had to post this pic because I just love how the birds are looking at each other like "Who's the crazy lady?" Josh was ready to hit the roller coasters first thing and I decided that was probably best since I had not eaten yet. But speaking of eating I had to get a picture of this on the way in. Don't you just love the south? There's not anything we won't fry!!

We first went on ride that took us up really high, spun us around and then leaned really far to each side. I survived and it was actually pretty fun. The next ride was the Mystery Mine and let me tell you, if part of that roller coaster had not been a mystery Josh would have never gotten me on it! At one point there is a straight 90 degree drop!!!!!!!!!!!!! For some reason I was the only person screaming. Of course, I screamed at the first little dip too. I'm pretty sure the people on that ride spent the rest of the day avoiding being on the same ride as me. We also rode the Tennesse Tornado and I actually loved it! For some reason I cannot handle straight drops but I love looping upside down. Go figure. Somehow I handled the rides better than the swings at the park. We also went on a white water rafting ride. We got soaked. When we were getting off the attendant said "Congratulations to the newlyweds!" I thought it was very sweet he thought we were newlyweds seeing as how we've been married almost 8 years and have 3 kids. We've been through a lot in those 8 years too and I'm glad we still seemed like newlyweds!

Josh was really excited about a ride called The Sidewinder. Think Cool Runnings with water. We were going on a bobsled. First, let me tell you we walked about 85 miles uphill to get to this thing. And did I mention that I insisted on wearing my cute sandals instead of sensible tennis shoes? When we got to the top of the hill I thought I was going to have to call an ambulance as I was wheezing and gasping for breath. It didn't seem to phase anybody else. How embarrassing. Then, we had to get weighed. I assured everyone that I had lost at least 10 pounds coming up that hill. Ten pounds or a lung, I wasn't sure. Anyway, when it was time to get in I had to sit in between Josh's leg and then some lady I had never met had to sit in between mine. I wanted to inform her that I have never been introduced to anyone in that position unless I had just given birth to them. I didn't have time. When we took off I was convinced we were going to go flying through the mountains never to be seen again. Luckily, we stayed the course, but we for real got soaking wet that time. I had on jeans and let me tell you, that is a bad feeling!

So, Josh and I headed out to find this dryer we had seen earlier. We had laughed about people paying $3 to use it, but there we were, wet and miserable and looking for the dryer. It was about the most wasted $3 because it really did not dry our clothes. I personally felt like I was being assaulted in the face with a hair dryer. I wanted to ask someone to take our picture inside of it, but I knew that even Josh has his limits and I might not have a ride back to the cabin.

There is a chapel at Dollywood and I had just had to share a picture of this "window". Instead of stained glass they have framed quilts. Isn't it beautiful? One of my goals for the year is to learn to sew, but really if I can make a pillow or some curtains I will be happy. I really hope that somewhere people are learning how to do stuff like this to keep passing down the tradition. What a gift!

I also had to take a picture of this scene. Just so you know I plan to have a front porch like this one day and you can all come sit a spell and have a glass of sweet tea!

This is the restaurant where we ate lunch. We got cheeseburgers and chili cheese fries and they were heavenly! In case you haven't noticed from my other posts, I LOVE to eat. And those were the best chili cheese fries ever! While we were eating I knocked my cup of chili off the table (you can't take me anywhere!) and I know I should have been very embarrassed but I really just wanted to cry because that chili was so good! The last time we went on vacation (Sept. 2004) we went to eat at the Sundial in Atlanta. It's a restaurant that spins so you get a view of the whole city. During that meal my glass of water just slipped right out of my hand. Luckily we just rotated right past it!! (Now you know why we don't go out much. :) I know you are envisioning bad things to come with me eating chili cheese fries at an amusement park, but all was well. :)

I desperately wanted to drive a pink cadillac and I will not even tell you how long I stood in line with 4 and 5 year olds who were waiting for their chance to drive. I didn't get the pink caddy, but I thought this car was pretty cute too. It played "Chapel of Love" the entire ride and that made it all worth it for me!

We had a great day acting like kids, taking in the sights, and enjoying the best chili cheese fries ever. We can't wait to go back and take the kids!

Speaking of them we spent our last night there searching for the perfect surprises to bring back.




Kate got a little lion that looks like Eli's lion USED to look. :)

Eli got a gun. What can I say? He's a boy and he likes to shoot things.


Sarah loves horses so we had to get this for her. Let me introduce you to the newest member of our family. Sarah named her Ginger Beth Fidler. :)

Our Honeymoon Part 2: A Wonder Full Day!!

I stayed up way too late the first night we were there. You see, we don't have cable at our house and I really am fine with that. But when I go somewhere that has cable I am just completely overwhelmed by all of the shows to watch (most aren't worth watching), but what I am saying here is that I became mesmerized and stayed up too late watching TV. :)

The next morning I slept in and Josh hung out in the hottub and played pool. I finally got up and got around to getting ready and it was then that I realized I could not find my hair straightner. Josh looked everywhere for me and when we accepted that I had forgotten it he solemnly asked, "Are you going to be okay?" LOL! I love it! Only my man would understand what a serious, emotionally distressing situation this was. Of course, he is the one who has to look at me when my hair is not fixed. That's why he understands! I assured him that I would be fine. I set about trying to blow dry my hair straight with a round bush. It took hours (it felt like) and I alternately dropped the hair dryer or the brush quite a few times. That is why you will notice that my hair is in a ponytail the rest of the day!

We had lunch at Tony Roma's and that may have been my favorite moment of the trip. It was so nice and peaceful and we were actually able to have a conversation! It was really a moment that I felt like we were just Josh and Emily and not the preacher and the preacher's wife or Sarah, Eli, and Kate's parents. Not that I don't enjoy those titles. But it was nice to just be us for awhile. :)


After that we headed over to WonderWorks. It's a museum with lots of cool
interactive activities. As you can see, it is a house turned upside down so we felt very at home. :) It was a cloudy, drizzly day and it was pretty crowded too. One of the exhibits demonstrated hurricane winds and you stand in a room that blows a huge fan on you. I have to say I wasn't that impressed. You may remember from one of my previous blogs that our family has a thing with fans. I told Josh that the fan in our bedroom felt an awful lot like that hurricane!




I had to take a picture of Josh taking this quiz that asks "Are you a Risk-Taker?" because at one point he was bound and determined that we were going SKY DIVING on our trip. Can you believe that? I am all about supporting my husband in all ways, but really, I was a little concerned I was going to need a stunt double for my honeymoon! Believe it or not the quiz said that he is only a moderate risk-taker. I don't even want to know what you have to do to be an extreme risk-taker!












According to this Josh has a much better reaction time than me, but I don't know....

...I have been known to leap across a room in perfect time to catch a pacifier before it hits the ground!

Look at that form! Josh was disappointed with his pitching speed and felt that the machine was wrong. I also felt it must have been broken since it said that I only threw 26 mph. :)








I have also mentioned in previous blogs my struggle with fashion. I have to say that I think I am on to something here. I call this...Space Chic!! I read something that said I would only weigh like 10 pounds on the moon so....I am preparing to move!

After WonderWorks we rode around checking stuff out. There was so much to see! I really wanted an old time picture and luckily there were several places ready to fulfill my dream. :) The clothes that we wore actually just tied on over our street clothes and I've decided I'm going to create a line of clothes made like that for stay at home moms. That way, on laundry day when you're in you pj's at 11:00 and somebody just happens to stop by, you can just tie on an outfit! Those will probably catch on like my space chic. :) Anyway, I finally got my old time picture. Josh is such a trooper. The things that boy has done for me! The photographer made him be serious and I just am not using to seeing Josh without a smile! It also looks like I am about to whop him upside the head with that umbrella! I promise I wasn't. If anything Josh probably wanted to whop me for making him do this!

After that little adventure we spent the rest of the day strolling around checking out the stores. We had a great supper and then went to rent some movies and do some grocery shopping. I love vacation grocery shopping! We got: cereal, milk, diet cherry cokes, peanut m&m's, chocolate covered cranberries, and popcorn. I really don't know what to do going to the store and not buying a pack of pull-ups or capri suns!

We went back to the cabin and watched Marley and Me and pigged out on junk. Now you know how boring I am because that is pretty much my dream night. It was the perfect ending to a pretty perfect day!

Our Honeymoon Part 1: Natural Disasters and a Dixie Stampede

I am finally getting around to posting this blog, mostly because after the last few weeks I am beginning to think that our vacation was just a dream and I am afraid I will forget it all if I don't document! (Remember I was a social worker; you always document, document, document!!)

We started our vacation in Panama City. We stayed with my parents for the weekend and spent Saturday on storm watch as all kinds of crazy natural disasters hit the country. I do apologize that I did not send out fair warning to let everyone know that we were attempting to take vacation and of course floods, hurricanes, volcanoes and tornadoes were sure to strike. Finally, the skies cleared and we took my parents out for their anniversary. Then on Sunday it was beautiful! Josh preached at our home church and that afternoon Sarah's dreams came true when she got to go to the park with ALL of her Florida grandmas.

Josh and I left out EARLY Monday morning. I'm talking 4:00 am which is usually late to me because I'm the type to stay up that late rather than get up that early! But Josh was ready for a vacation! As we were getting ready to leave I kept seeing the kids things and thinking that I better not forget them and then it would hit me that we were leaving them. I prayed really hard that God would help me enjoy the time with Josh and I knew that they were going to have a blast while we were gone. You know you're a mom when you get excited that you can stop to go to the bathroom without changing a diaper and having to take a car full of people with you!

The trip was long, but pretty. It was also QUIET. People kept telling me and Josh that we wouldn't know what to do with ourselves and it was true. It's funny how we always have so much to say when their are little people constantly interrupting us, but with just the two of us we had a lot of quiet time. I think we mentally went into shock. :) I usually enjoy road trips, especially if I have time to just hang out and think, but I was sooo ready to be there! It was well worth the wait!

My pictures couldn't do our cabin justice. You can check it out at http://www.starrcrestresort.com/. Our cabin's name was A Walk in the Clouds. I share that link so that if you are like me and your brain needs mini-vacations sometimes you can check it out. It makes me happy just to see it online. :) Also, isn't it wonderful to walk into a kitchen and the first thing you see is a restaurant guide? That made me happy too. :) Josh picked that cabin because after seeing the pictures he thought it was decorated the way I would decorate it. That made me feel special. I have to say that despite the last couple of weeks full of stomach viruses, head injuries, and dentist visits I am starting to feel all giddy again just talking about our trip! :)

That night we had reservations for Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede. Yee Haw! I had been to one when I was younger and was excited to go again. Let's face it, these days it just doesn't take much to excite me. Anything out of our little routine that gets me out of cooking is exciting to me! Unfortunately, I had not packed well. People kept talking about how cool it would be in the mountains, but I stayed in denial convinced I would be wearing my cute sundresses everyday. WRONG! It was cold!! Anyway, we went to pick up our tickets and the lady asked Josh which side our reservations were for, the north or the south. As soon as she asked that I remembered the way that the show was set up and that you are on either the south's side or the north's side, you know like in the civil war. Josh did not know this when he made our reservation and we ended up on the north side. During the show I informed him that we had ancestors rolling over in their graves as we cheered on the yankees! But, we also felt at home because in Mississippi everybody thinks we talk like yankees!

Before the show there was a pre-show that took place in a big saloon. We had bought these nifty souvenier cups. (Sorry the pic is blurry. My camera has a mind of its own and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.) There was a group that played blue grass music. I have to admit that I am not personally a huge blue grass fan, but they were really good. At one point they started playing hymns and people started singing "Amazing Grace". I looked around and realized I was singing "Amazing Grace" in a saloon drinking diet coke out of a boot. Only in the south, right? When they were done I wondered if I should raise my boot and say "Amen!" But I didn't. :)

The show was a lot of fun and we ate a LOT of food. Personally I would have been content with a gallon of the soup and cheese biscuits, but you also get a baked potato, a WHOLE rotisserie chicken, corn on the cob, pork loin, and an apple tart! And can I just say that I hadn't had any carbs for 3 weeks and when they brought that apple tart I about jumped over the table to get to it! Our honeymoon was definitely off to a good start!