Clemson Reunion Getaway

This past weekend met up with some friends of mine from Clemson for a Girls Getaway Reunion Weekend!  Jo Ellen, Kristen, Betsy, Taryn and I were all in Bible Study together while at Clemson and we hadn't seen each other in years!  Months ago we started the planning...decisions on destination, location, what to do, etc.  We finally decided that Gatlinburg, Tn would be a pretty central place to get together.  (with the exception of Taryn coming from DC)  I headed out Friday morning around 10:15 and went to Knoxville to pick up Taryn from her in-laws.  (Taryn flew there.)  I was able to see her baby girl, Jane, who is about 19 months.  Taryn and I continued to Gatlinburg, catching up on life since we hadn't seen each other since December of 2000.  We made it up the mountain safely, saw Jo Ellen, and Betsy and Kristen arrived shortly after us.  We stayed at the chalet and talked and talked some more.  We ate sloppy joes, potato salad, cole slaw, and chips, and then talked longer into the night.

I woke up Saturday morning and sat outside for a bit when I was joined by Kristen and then Betsy soon after.  We chatted some more until it was too hot, and we went inside to talk more.  We decided that if we were going to go do something then we better get to it.  We quickly got ready, which I think was pretty fast for five women, and headed quickly down the mountain (with Betsy driving).  Our original plan was to go to the Titanic, but when we got there it was full until later that evening.  So, we changed plans and went to a really neat store in Pigeon Forge that Jo Ellen suggested.  (I'll call it The Bear Store.)  We went in, and took a picture, of course, and then the five of us disseminated throughout the store.  We were there at least an hour looking at everything.  I bought some things for gifts and also a couple things for myself.  I really enjoyed looking around The Bear Store.  This is the type of store that I couldn't take my kids in because they would run in different directions, not to mention there are plenty of things on their level to touch and possibly break.  (Maybe I could take them if I knew exactly what I was going to buy...not to look and shop around, though.) 

Here we are at the Bear Store!  (from left to right) me, Kristen, Taryn, Betsy, and Jo Ellen
Kristen is sitting in a bear's lap....very fitting since she saw a black bear while she was driving up the mountain to the chalet, also she LOVES creatures that live in the forest, especially Mr. Tumnus.

After the bear store we went to the Apple Barn for an early dinner.  The food was so yummy, and any description I give will fall short of it's actual yumminess.  I had the chicken florentine, which was a chicken breast with spinach, ham, and cheese inside, with a white sauce on top.  My sides were macaroni and cheese and fried okra.  Also, with the meal you got a small bowl of soup, a salad, and dessert!  I highly recommend this place if you are in the Pigeon Forge area.  (If you go with a friend, check out the deal they have for sharing a meal.  That's what some of us did, and it worked out awesome!)

Us at the Apple Barn

After our meal we looked around the store that was attached to the restaurant.  Once again, it would be a store that would be hard to walk my kids through.  We headed back up the mountain to watch Shag.  It had been awhile since I'd seen it...probably since college.  Whenever I think of Shag I think of Ursula doing her Melena Confederate Flag "dance".  Finally, we decided to get into the hot tub on the back porch.  We talked several more hours, I think...

In the hot tub.  If we look extra smiley it's because everyone was laughing at me trying to get back into the hot tub before the picture was taken.  It was close, but I made it!  haha!

The night ended with more laughter as Kristen read through a friend's blog on an amazing woman named Bonnie Granola.  I don't think I have laughed that hard in a long time.  We went to bed finally around 2 am, I think.  We left in the morning just before check out.  Taryn and I headed north to I 40 in what might be some of the worst traffic I have ever been in...so glad she was with me!  It made the 2 hours in the car from Gatlinburg to I 40 MUCH better!  I came home to find our house completely picked up, the fridge cleaned out, our bathroom counters cleaned, and 2/3 of our children napping!  What an amazing husband I have!  Thanks to Ryan for watching our kids solo this weekend...he even did Mercy's hair for church!!

When will we have another reunion?  Who knows?  All I know is that I don't want to wait another 10-12 years for us all to be together again!  I loved our time together...mostly spent talking, of course!!  It was so fun to be together again...a real swinging time! :)