Thanksgiving 2015

We had Thanksgiving this year at Aunt Joyce house! It's always so much fun eating yummy foods, playing catch up with family, playing with the children, & of course planning where all we will have to go that night for Black Friday!

We even managed to make time for us to go ride the gator, drop by the lake, & of course see the horses! Poor Fancy bless her heart she needs a bath as you can tell from the photo above haha...

Normally when we go Black Friday shopping we shop until like 1 or 2 in the morning however, if you can believe this we only lasted until 11 last night.. We were all so tired plus Aunt Joyce wasn't feeling too well so we decided to cut it short this year. That means next year it wont end until sometime way in the morning ha I can already see it!

I hope everyone had a wonderful time with their family & friends :)

Santa's Workshop

Aunt Joyce, Madre & I went to Santa's Workshop! Normally we do not get to go because it always seems to go on while we are in Gatlinburg each year but I guess this year we got lucky! We love going & seeing all the cute decor we can buy & or make ourselves :)

After we finished shopping at Santa's workshop we were a tad bit hungry to say the least! We decided to head to Cheddar's to see how long the wait would be.. It actually wasn't too bad it was only a 25 minute wait...

After shopping at Santa's Workshop & eating some dinner at Cheddar's we decided it was time to head home! We were all three a wee bit tired...

Cades Cove Twenty15

I always love going to Cades Cove being able to explore & see all the wildlife as well as getting some really good photos! This year was so exception.. We did however, have a bit more adventure!

I always have this map with me when I go because I am always worried I will forget a place! Can you blame me? Normally when we go during Winter time we don't really get out much because its too cold however, this year it was perfect November weather with a small breeze...

First stop is normally here to John Oliver's! Did he not have the cutest little cabin back a long time ago? I can just imagine how cozy it once was...However, I think my favorite part is the wood fence! It looks amazing..

After you leave John Oliver's place before you get to the churches you always have huge fields to take photos in as well as see plenty of wildlife depending on what time of day it is. I always love those huge fields because they always have amazing views!

Cooper Road trial is right after you get past the churches.. It was an old wagon trail from a long time ago & sometimes you can see wonderful critters such as bears oh my! Aunt Joyce & I had not even made it into the hike but about 5 minutes when we found the sweet black bear wondering around in the dead wood.. We was super close to him/her & it did not seem to mind at all... It would raise its little nose up in the air because it could smell us but still kept wondering in the dead wood! I loved being able to snap a few photos of the little he or she!

Elijah Oliver had the cutest cabin back in the woods along with a barn for his bigger animals, a smoke house, a chicken house, & a another barn where I am sure he kept his wagon, hay bales & such! I love how Cades Cove has kept it restored & in good condition.. 

Abram's Falls came after Elijah Oliver's cabin back in the woods! I had never been & really wanted to see it needless to say.. The sign says its about a 5 mile hike each way being 10 miles total however, I know for a fact they did not measure the distance but instead guessed! Its actually 12 miles to get to it & 12 miles to get back! So if you want to see it you really better love hiking.. Lucky for me I love to hike! 

Wanna know the sad part about the Abram's Falls for me that day? I made it with only 2 miles left but stopped & turned around because on the last part of it you need really good non slip tennis shoes or really good hiking boots & I did not have either on to go down the slippery rocks! I had good pretty boots on but they would have made me break my neck if I had attempted to go down the boulders & rocks sadly :(  I thanked the people whom let me know what was ahead for me but was sad because I had to turn around at that point!

Come Spring I am going to go back with my tennis shoes & finish those last 2 miles so I can see Abram Falls dang it.. Since the sun was already going down by the time we finished the hike we didn't make it on the Cades Cove Nature Trail sadly! Something yet again I will do in the Spring when everything is in bloom! There will be some great photos I'm sure & I for one cannot wait..

Even though we didn't get to do the Nature Trail we still were able to see Henry Whitehead's Place, Dan Lawson's Place, Tipton Place, & Carter Shields Cabin! However we only seen those in passing! Again I cannot wait until Spring when it stays daylight outside longer & will give me more time to explore before it goes turning into night on me!

Some of the animals seen today was horses, turkeys, deer, & bear! I can only hope in the Spring I see even more wildlife..

Vacay Was Long & Exhausting

For most people whom go on vacation its suppose to be rest & relaxation not stressed & ready to scream!  I love my family I really do however, they drive me insane sometimes.. More often then not actually how sad is that?

For instance my Aunt Shirley bless her heart she seems to think that if you not in a brand new hotel then god forbid staying there! You would think its a crime as if someone handcuffed her & locked her in a jail..

I on the other hand could care less whether it is brand new or not.. When we always go up in November I want easy! We always go up to go to the jewelry show.. Easy to me means staying close to the jewelry show! Why you ask? Well you see not everyone wants to stay the same length of time & such so being able to come & go as you please seems a bit more easier if you ask me!

Funny story my Aunt Judy, cousin Lindsey, & cousin Stephanie agree with me but cant ever seem to tell Aunt Shirley NO! So instead of staying where they were which was the exact same place I was at they decided to cancel their rooms there & stay with Shirley in the condo down in Pigeon Forge which was about 15 minutes away on top of that they now were going to have to pay to park which is around $10 dollars a day..

Wrong Aunt Shirley & Aunt Judy both decided they would just bring everyone including the kids up to mine, mother, & Aunt Joyce place & park! See if they could get away with it which they did by the way how ironic..

On Saturday everyone wanted to go to Paula Deen Restaurant to eat. We decided on lunch which was $16.99 per person over the age of 10 & then $9.99 per person 5 to 10 years of age which did not include drinks might I add. Aunt Shirley whom seems to always wait until the last damn minute on every damn thing did the exact same thing in this case! 

Do you think we made it to lunch? Hell no! It was dinner time surprise surprise NOT... Dinner was $21.99 for adults & $10.99 for kids again which did not include drinks! Aunt Shirley decided she still wanted to eat there so Aunt Judy, cousin Lindsey, cousin Stephanie & all the kids stayed even though they agreed it was a bit to much to pay but yet again did not like telling Shirley NO.. Mother, Aunt Joyce & I told Shirley NO! That was insane to pay almost right at $26 dollars per person not including a tip & such.. On top of that you didn't even get to go boxes or anything else!

They sent a text after we left to go somewhere else saying text when done eating maybe we can all meet up to hang out! Well after we had finished eating I sent a text saying " hey we just finished up eating.. Are you all done too? " They sent back saying " yes we just finished too " I sent back " great we will walk over & meet up with you all so we can decide what we all wanna do " they said " that sounds great "

We got over there but nothing was decided! I asked 4 times & no one even answered me.. I got so pissed off that I looked at them all & said Im pissed off none of you & I do mean none of you can decide on anything & it took me asking 4 times & getting angry before you even noticed me it seems like. You all do whatever you want but I am done! I am going back to my car & getting in it & doing what I want. I then looked at my mother & Aunt Joyce & said if you are coming with me then you better come on because I am not waiting!

A few text was sent afterwards saying we didn't mean to make you feel that way blah blah blah & I sent back I do feel that way I am not changing my mind & I am not coming to see any of you! End of discussion...

Last day rolls around Aunt Shirley is no where to be seen which is fine by me! However, Steph sends a text saying hey lets meet up for lunch! I sent back sure that sounds great why not give it one more try... What a joke that was! They wanted to eat somewhere in the shopping center & the only place their was to eat at was the Chop House! I put our names down then they call & say nevermind we dont want to pay that much or wait that long we are going to go somewhere fast food! I just said ok whatever that is fine! 

I find it funny that they waited the night before to go to Paula Deen Restaurant plus payed way more there then were going to have to do at Chop House! They sure cant tell Shirley NO but the can tell mother, Aunt Joyce & me NO! So sweet of them right?

Next year I dont give a damn if I am even anywhere near them to be honest! Little long to see them!  I refuse to be so damn stressed out wanting to pull my hair out next year on people whom cant make up their damn minds or tell someone No... I want a stress free weekend next year! Not a hell of a one like this year...

Does anyone else have these kind of problems out of their family? Or is it just me sadly?

Vacay Weekend Starts Tomorrow

I am finally all packed & ready for some much needed vacation time in the mountains which start tomorrow! Hello 3 nights & 4 days...