DH & MIL should not travel together - IL. IN. KY. TN & WA, oh my! - Page 7 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Day 4 continued, Sunblock, Shopping, Sunburn & Sillyness
I didn't get pictures of 'vacation home' until the day we were packing to leave. This one is of front of trailer with area that can be curtained off and couch where DD is .
This is the back bedroom. Sorry about the unmade bed.
I grabbed my grocery list, a bag for DD with sunblock, and extra towel and bottled water and headed out the door. Made a stop by the pool to sunblock DD with strict instructions to wait 10 minutes before going back in pool (so sunblock would dry on her and not wash off in pool!) and told her I was going shopping and would stop by on my way back. Drove to the Kroger and enjoyed the air conditioning as I putzed though the store. I thought it was funny when I turned down an aisle at the same time as a man who asked me if I knew where something was. I laughed as I told him I was from Alaska, he said he had just moved to Pigeon Forge and didn't know where anything was either. After finishing my shopping, I stopped to check on DD again and made her put on more sunblock; I went to our trailer. I had just opened the hatch to unload groceries when another car pulled in. A man and 2 teenagers got out and the man asked if I was Bonnie, when I nodded he came up and hugged me, the whole time talking a mile a minute about how we were cousins and Aunt Ruby (who came to AK, so I had met her) was his mom. He introduced his granddaughters and they offered to help carry groceries so the job went really quick. They wanted to visit with MIL so I invited them in. While they visited I put away groceries then headed back to find DD and see how DH was doing since I hadn't seen him since we arrived which was almost 3 hours before. DD was starting to look a little pink so I made her get out of the pool which was in the sun and we headed to Aunt Judys room who was heading up the reunion. MIL came down too and DH was already there visiting with Aunts. Here is DD with 2 great aunts and MIL.
We were planning on eating out twice, and tonight was one of the nights out. I wanted to go to Cracker Barrell as I had never been. DD changed clothes and we headed off after visiting for awhile.
Here's DD and MIL at cracker Barrell
The store as we entered the restraunt was really cool and we browsed for awhile. I tried Catfish, which I had never had. Alaskan Halibut is better but Catfish was pretty good.
After dinner we sat on Cracker Barrell's porch checking out their rockers. They had a two seater one I would like to have one day.
Here is DD and DH trying it out.
When we got back, DD wanted to do the pool again but I said not until the sun isn't directly on the pool since she already had a touch of sunburn. I got out the Aloe Vera to doctor her up. DH went to visit family while MIL read, I puttered and DD found something on TV to watch until she could go swimming. I was planning on Dollywood the next day and had mentioned it at dinner, DD and DH confirmed that they weren't interested. I asked MIL out of polietness figuring she would say no but MIL wanted to go. Deep breath....can you hear my sigh? Oh well, I could not be rude I had asked after all. I wanted to leave with the first trolly that arrived in the campgrounds but MIL wanted to go to reunion breakfast first and see if anyone else was going to Dollywood Wednesday. OK, not a problem, I'm flexible - right?
After the sun was lower in the sky, we got ready to go to the pool, MIL had said she loved swimming and DD invited her but she said no. DD and I found DH and headed for the pool, since the sun was no longer on the water it felt cold! Cold enough to make me gasp!
We played with DD in the water just being silly and having a great time. It was a nice way to end the day.
Up next: Dollywood with MIL
__________________
Alaskan Mom aka Bonnie
Last edited by Alaskan Mom; 01-23-2016 at 04:45 PM..
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[QUOTE=chezp;4119329]How wonderful that you got to meet up with family like that. [/QUOTE
As I said, I had only met my MIL, 2 of the DH's aunts and one uncle. But the one aunt who visited Alaska, when she saw us, she gave us big hugs and was so happy to see her favorite family from Alaska; which made me laugh because we are the only family from Alaska she knows.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
Great day gathering family together. I'm not sure about you and your MIL going to Dollywood alone, though.....
Too true Laurie, but ended better than I expected.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dutchdisneyfamily
Can't wait t hear more of your adventures there. We've looked into going there. Funny about the guy asking where something was in the grocery store.
I did enjoy the 'south' and would like to go back, in fact we are going to try to attend next years reunion (June '14) but would fly into Louisville and do more of what we missed this trip.
Today was one of DH's aunts birthdays so he gave me the job of buying her a gift while MIL and I were at DW, I can handle that.
We had decided to take the trolly (only .50 a ride) to DW instead of MIL's jeep and save on parking fees. I wanted to catch the first trolly but ended up on the 2nd one because MIL wanted to wait for some of the other family members to see if they were going to DW also. Said bye to DD and DH and off we went. There was a man on the bus who was very friendly, a sterotypical southern type person with missing teeth, shaggy hair and a strong accent who asked us if us ladies were there (in TN) looking for a man. I nearly laughed out loud but mananged to nicely show him my wedding ring and say I was married but I gestured to my MIL and got as far as "but she's ava.." when my MIL quickly changed the subject and gave me a poke. We laughed about it later. We made it to the bus station and made the transfer to the DW bus - only had to wait about 10-12 minutes. Arrived at DW and got out tickets, it was just under $60.00 if my memory, remembers correctly. If you are like me, I am a planner and had several things I wanted to see however if you are like my MIL you wander around and so whatever strikes your fancy. I had asked her the night before what she might be interested in and so we at least had the morning plan for things we agreed on.
The entrance.
The first place we were headed was Dolly's museum.
That's my MIL going in the door, notice the saying above the doors.
This place was stuffed with Dolly items, followed her life, and was enjoyable; both MIL and I liked it. Next we went to a show, it was a gospel singing group that was fun and they were great singers, very nice. Then we hit a couple of stores, now MIL LOVES to shop so she was happy. We had quite a time figuring out what to get for DA and finally did decide on something we thought she'd like. I also picked up a T-shirt each for DH and DD. A hat for DD and one for me too. MIL said her stomach was starting to bother her, we were supposed to catch a bluegrass group next so I told her we could find that and get a place to sit then I would find her some ice. She likes to eat ice. That sounded good to her so off we went. By this time I was getting hungry but I knew that if MIL wasn't feeling good she wouldn't want food. We found the place where the concert was and got MIL a spot to sit, I told her I was going to find lunch for me and ice for her and would be back. I was walking along smelling all the food being cooked,,,,drool and sightseeing as I headed back towards the restraunt I wanted to try when I realize I had made a wrong turn because I was in a totally new area that I hadn't seen before. Then I saw this...
which I loved. If I had more time and MIL wasn't waiting for me I would have sat for awhile. After snapping the pic, I turned around, found the restraunt only to find a line clear out the door of the building which would have made for a too long of wait. I checked out several of the QS type of eateries and finally settled on one and got some potatoes with chilli on top. They also sold me a cup of ice so back to MIL I went. I was happy to sit and eat my potatoes and listen to the music and MIL was happy with the ice.
There was an Amish family in front of us with 2 kids who were so adorable. The older girl was in front of me and she kept looking at me and waved. The dad made her change places with the younger who was probably between 2.5 to 3 years old and wanted a bite of my lunch so I gave her one. She chewed for a minute an I knew she was going to spit it out so I held out my hand and she gave me back a chewed pot. which got folded into my napkin. I don't think she liked the chilli. She was facinated by my necklace, and wanted to touch it, I let her. She had the most beautiful smile. Her dad told her to turn around, I quietly explained that I had 2 grandchildren and it was ok. He problably didn't want my worldliness to infect his children but they were lovely and I enjoyed by silent visit with them anyway.
I wanted to go ride the train so we headed off that way, we found the place where the train ride was which wasn't ready yet so I was going to check out a store by their, but MIL said her knee was bothering her and just wanted to sit. I asked her if she wanted to leave now. She refused, found a bench in the shade and told me to go ahead and ride the train and then we could go. While I waited I went into a store, and found a bunch of dolls on sale. DD loves dolls and has a collection so I went to see what might be of interest. I finally decided on a doll that sits in a swing (like a swing hung from a tree branch) and it was more than 50% off. I knew DD would love it. MIL gave me a hard time about buying more stuff, oh well, she said she saw some of Dh's family and talked to them while I was in the store and that they went to ride the train. I went to get in line, actually got to see the tops of the Smokey mountains since I end up not getting to go to them. The coolest part was that this train was really old and actually was shipped to Alaska during the Klondike Gold Rush to tote miners up part of the way which thrilled me. After my train ride I got MIL and started back to the entrance, there were so many shops I wanted to stop and look into but MIL still wasn't feeling very well and so I knew I had to leave. I did manage to walk through the candy store and smell all the goodies but when I realized MIL didn't follow me I went back out to find her. We got in line for the trolly and waited less than 10 minutes. Made it to the station where we need to change to the one that went back to the campgrounds and waited without shade the heat for 45 minutes, I guess we didn't time that very well. Finally made it back to campground and showed DH and DD gifts, they liked but DD LOVED her hat and doll they were big hits.
DH delivered aunts birthday gift which was also a hit. Made tacos for dinner, relaxed, went swimming before bed. Overall was a nice day. I would have liked more time to explore and ride things at DW, as it was, it was just enough time to wet my appetite!
Up Next: Wonderworks, family reunion, and marshmellows.
__________________
Alaskan Mom aka Bonnie
Last edited by Alaskan Mom; 01-23-2016 at 04:45 PM..
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I think, all things considered, you did well with your short visit to DW. Sounds like there's a lot to do and see there-- you'll have to return someday!
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I think, all things considered, you did well with your short visit to DW. Sounds like there's a lot to do and see there-- you'll have to return someday!
I do want to return.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dutchdisneyfamily
You did very well with your MIL considering the circumstance. DW looks like a great place to visit.
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What a great dinner and the deer sighting was so cool! 
Sorry DMIL isn't well and drive wasn't the greatest. 
Alaskan Mom aka Bonnie
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I nearly laughed out loud but mananged to nicely show him my wedding ring and say I was married but I gestured to my MIL and got as far as "but she's ava.." when my MIL quickly changed the subject and gave me a poke. We laughed about it later.
After my train ride I got MIL and started back to the entrance, there were so many shops I wanted to stop and look into
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