We're baaaaaaack!  The YaYas have returned from a wonderfully wild weekend celebrating the newest sacred sister with a YaYa Barbie Bachelorette Party!  Our traditional YaYa bachelorette parties include a full weekend in Nashville.  However, this weekend we found out as YaYa Vic Vic was reserving rooms...that Pink was in town.  Somehow that makes all room rates rise to upwards of $300 a night.  Not in the YaYa budget.  So, we spent our first night at Jr. YaYa Kristin's home to get the party started.

Once everyone arrived in their pajamas for this YaYa slumber party, the YaYas gathered for the introductory toast.  They toasted Leann giving her all rights and privileges of a Junior YaYa.  Mind you that us Junior YaYas have only limited rights and privileges.  In other words, we are not "real YaYas."  It was determined that the sacred title of a "real YaYa" will be passed down in the will of our lost sister.  Haha!

YaYa Vic Vic leading the welcome toast

YaYa-to-be Leann and her sister-in-law, Junior YaYa Natalie

Cheers!

 Following the toast, YaYa Hope led the ceremonial dance for her soon to be daugher-in-law and sacred sister.  As with most YaYa events...it was an impromptu moment that all YaYas understand.  You may remember seeing a similar ceremonial dance at Millie Janalee's initiation into the 'Lil Baby Yaya position.  Ha!

Once the welcome toast had been given and the ceremonial dance had started, we followed up with a few formalities...

Signing the Junior YaYa chalkboard

 YaYa Vic Vic began the big wardrobe reveal for our Junior YaYa of honor.  Every official YaYa event calls for a special t-shirt or wardrobe.  And ALL YaYas must match.  See, Plan A included a special YaYa tee that all the Senior YaYas received for Christmas.  Since us Junior YaYas did not own said tee, it called for an additional t-shirt for our slumber party!  Ha! 

THE official YaYa Road Trip tee

Leann's Friday night tee

Our Saturday DAYTIME tee

 And....(drumroll please)...our Saturday NIGHT tee...

 Once the Saturday NIGHT tee was introduced, everything broke loose!  It was time for the Saturday NIGHT wardrobe reveal!  You see, Leann is marrying YaYa Hope's son.  His name is Kendall.  Get it?  KENdall.  Sooooooo, we went with the Barbie theme since Jr. Yaya Leann is marrying her KEN!

Jr. YaYa Leann's headdress

Especially created for HER...complete with her Ken!

YaYa Hope, Jr. YaYa Leann, and Jr. YaYa Natalie (and 'Lil Baby YaYa, Graham)

 One of the first things you must realize as you become a Junior YaYa is that it's really NOT all about you!  Haha!  ALL the YaYas will participate in this themed weekend with a few accessories...

Our accessory table

 Since Leann is Barbie marrying her Ken...we thought it only fitting that Leann go out with all her Barbie Girls!  The YaYa Barbie girls!  That includes Fiesta Barbie, 80's Barbie, Western Barbie, Disco Barbie, Mother-to-Be Barbie, Biker Barbie, Mother of the Groom Barbie, and Malibu Barbie.  As you might can tell by Jr. YaYa Natalie's face...the family of the groom had NO idea what was in store for them either!  Ha!

A little preshow sneak peak of what Saturday held in store...

I'd say Jr. YaYa Leann was enjoying the show, and I'm pretty sure we overwhelmed her a bit.  I mean, how could she have EVER known to expect such a celebration?!  The spectacle was quite unforgettable.  But, just in case...there are pictures.  Lots and lots of pictures!

Jr. YaYa Leann sending pictures to her mom

The official YaYas

Initiated Junior YaYas with YaYa-to-be Leann (it's not official 'til we visit the Wildhorse!)

 I'm sure you all thought our Friday night was coming to a close.  Ummmmmm....no!  Our night continued well into the early morning hours with an always successful choice...KARAOKE!  Karaoke commenced following all the welcoming formalities, and the YaYas belted out our favorites along with some not-so-favorites for the next few hours.  There is video footage.  That you will never see.  It's in the vault.  And, once something's in the vault...it doesn't come out of the sacred sisterhood circle.  That's not to say it won't come up again and again amongst us sisters.

Jr. YaYa Leann singing her heart out

It was a fun night!  Paving the way for the rest of the weekend...

 We woke up early for our "8:00 departure time."  We decided Friday night (or was it early Saturday morning? Ha!) that we would "say" 8:00, knowing that we needed to be gone by 9.  Ha!  We did leave town by 9:00.  Almost exactly.  We loaded all the costumes, wigs, accessories, and our luggage into the YaYa Bus and the extra car that we now require.  We also decided that since we are an even 10, we just need to start chartering a bus or limo for these bachelorette parties.  Ha!

Junior YaYas ready to load on a FREEZING Saturday morning

YaYa Sherra, YaYa Susu, YaYa Teri, YaYa Vic Vic, YaYa Hope

We drove the three hours to Nashville in the steady fall of snow.  The pretty kind.  We stopped every hour for our Mother-to-be Barbie to stretch and walk around per doctor's orders.  We arrived in Nashville in time to make our first destination...Puckett's Grocery for lunch.  There were only a few brief panic attacks about our daytime gear before entering the restaurant.  I must say, we stole the attention of anyone else hoping to get it.  Ha!  Everyone stopped to ask what the event was, some stared wondering what was going on with such a bridal group as this, and a few came to ask suggestions for their own daughter-in-law or daughter's bachelorette party.  We are used to this.  We attract this attention anywhere we go!  

YaYas ready for lunch

Junior YaYas

After a yummy lunch, we loaded back into our vehicles and headed toward the hotel.  As our YaYa group grows, so does our sleeping space.  Halfway to Nashville we realized we left our blow-up mattress.  This led to one of the ever present "YaYa votes" as we decided who slept in beds with whom and who slept on chairs and couches.  Some of us gave opinions, and eventually the decision must be made by a senior YaYa after all the discussion.  The result ended with YaYas in one room, and Juniors in another.  We were connecting rooms, so it really didn't matter.  Ha!

YaYa Leann and her YaYa Barbie girls

The Bride

 Our afternoon was filled with visiting, talking, laughing, snacking, and the preparations for our Saturday night.  Oh, and there was another YaYa vote about our supper plans.  We decided to ditch our Maggiano dinner plans based on the wait time and our full bellies, and we would eat at the Wildhorse Saloon.  That way we could snack or eat a meal whenever we wanted.  That meant we could go ahead and begin dressing for our night.  Our night to remember!

Disco Barbie, Fiesta Barbie, Malibu Barbie, Biker Barbie, Mother of the Groom Barbie, Mother-to-Be Barbie, Western Barbie, and 80's Barbie

 Even us YaYas who were in on the planning could never have imagined how GREAT this theme would be!  The costumes were FANTASTIC and we laughed all the way through getting ready.  I helped 80's and Disco Barbie with their makeup while Jr. YaYa Leann got 80's Barbie's hair just right.  The rest of us made sure our headdresses were placed correctly while Jr. YaYa Kristin gave everyone a finishing touch with safety pins.  Ha!

YaYa Hope's YaYa family

YaYa Sisters

YaYa sister-in-laws

Once we all gathered for a self-timed group picture, we eventually headed downstairs to TRY to find a taxi.  When the elevator doors opened, we were greeted with screaming girls and their parents.  A gymnastics group.  They asked us if we could stop for a picture.  Haha!  We could've charged for all the photo opps we took throughout the night and made back our money from costumes, t-shirts, and hotel rooms!

YaYa Barbie and her YaYa Barbie girls

By the time we grabbed two taxis and all made it to the Wildhorse Saloon, they were taking a cover charge.  Special thanks to YaYa Susu for paying everyone's way!!  Of course, our YaYa Barbie bride and her "maid of honor" were free.  It was an hour and a half wait for a table to eat, so we grabbed a group of tables right by the dance floor and ordered our food at the bar.  A good YaYa knows how to take advantage of situations such as these.  It's in the manual!

Fiesta Barbie and Malibu Barbie

 We made quite the entrance (as you can imagine!!) as Malibu Barbie led us to our seats.  YaYa Susu is the planner of the group.  Basically, we would never get anywhere or have the best of the best without her astute skills.  While we are off having a grand ole time, she's usually on the phone calling ahead or looking for the best seats, calling for a taxi, secretly paying for a portion of everyone's costumes, etc.  Then, she joins in once we are all situated. 

Biker Barbie and Disco Barbie

 YaYa Vic Vic was our official hotel planner this trip, and she did a great job too!  Yay for YaYa Vic Vic and her connections.  It's good to have a sister in high places!  She also dresses up like champ.  Except for the gold parachute pants she wasn't all that into...she was up for whatever we threw her way.  Ha!

YaYa Vic Vic and Jr. YaYa Natalie

 By the time we made our entrance, got the best seats in the house, and Jr. YaYa Natalie and Baby Graham were fed...OH the things you see when you are seated right by the dance floor!  Including a group of 9 women ages ranging from 24ish to 50-somethingish dressed for a Barbie bachelorette party and dancing their hearts out!  Haha!

YaYa Bride and YaYa Teri

YaYa Hope and the bride-to-be

 And, let me give a big shout out to YaYa Sherra and YaYa Teri for being such good sports!  I NEVER thought YaYa Sherra would accept our invitation to wear that humongous cowboy hat.  But, she did!  And, Teri was awfully hesitant to wear that huge afro!  She was skeered.  I assured her that I would be her bodyguard as I'm certain I looked like a bar bouncer.  As was evidenced by a lady stopping me to ask where the restroom was upon her entrance.  When I lowered my glasses, she said, "Oh.  You don't work here?"  No ma'am, but the bathrooms are just that way.  Ahem.

YaYa Sherra, YaYa Susu, and YaYa Hope

 Now to recognize Jr. YaYa Natalie for being a trooper on a night such as this...8 months pregnant!  We laughed that everyone would think she's just dressed up as Mother-to-Be Barbie, because she doesn't look pregnant anywhere except her basketball belly.  THE cutest pregnant person EVER!  She and baby Graham hung in until midnight or so.

YaYa huddle on the dance floor

Sometimes, you just need some quiet time...inside the big hat.

YaYa Hope is one party girl!  She loves to get out there and dance, have a good time, and laugh at everything.  Natalie, Kristin, and I were born into the sisterhood.  The sisters didn't really have an option.  But, Jr. YaYa Leann (and Jr. YaYa Marci, who wasn't in attendance) were invited.  To marry into the sisterhood means a senior YaYa approves of you.  And YaYa Hope must approve of her son's choice for his wife.  The sisters approve too!

Making up their own line dance?  Not sure.

YaYa group dance

 I was the photographer for the evening, so I made sure I was documented as attending this Barbie bash by taking a "selfie."  Haha!  YaYa Sherra photobombed my selfie.  You can see that by this point we had switched around our wigs and headgear.  Haha!

 YaYa Kristin did an AWESOME job creating the costume design and theme for this YaYa bachelorette party!  She spent lots of time handcrafting and coming up with ideas so that every YaYa was looking her best.  Cheers to Jr. YaYa Kristin!

We left Wildhorse Saloon a little after midnight.  This was Jr. YaYa Natalie's exit to make sure baby Graham got a full night's rest.  She said he kicked and danced the entire time we were at Wildhorse.  YaYa Susu and YaYa Vic Vic escorted her back to the hotel room, because everyone knows you never let a young pregnant lady loose to find a taxi alone in Nashville, while the rest of us made our trek to our next destination. Did I mention it was snowing?  Like the WHOLE time.  Beautiful large flakes.  And, none of us took coats.  It just didn't work with our theme.  A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!

This is the best I could get of the snow during our walk to Big Bang

 Another favorite of ours is The Big Bang in downtown Nashville.  The Big Bang is a dueling piano bar, and it is SO much FUN!  We made our grand entrance...it was very understated.  NOT!  We thought Jr. YaYa Leann found us a table up front so we followed her.  It turns out, she just wanted to dance by the stage.  So, there we were!  Up front and center...just in case anyone missed the afro, big cowboy hat, Chiquita banana hat, and veil.  Ha!

There's "no shame in our game," as Jr. YaYa Leann says.  And she lived those words...she didn't just say them.  She did us YaYas proud!  Including her stage debut during "I'm a Barbie Girl."  I have a portion of that on video...

YaYa Leann with the stage "bouncer"

Our time at the Big Bang was certainly one to be remembered.  There are all the dance moves and laughter we shared...then there are the other things.  They are in the vault.  Haha!  To be a YaYa...you must learn to hang.  And we hung in there for sure!

Jr. YaYa Leann and Western Barbie

The youngest YaYas

Yep.  We hung in there with the best of them until closing time.  3 am!  In fact, we were the last ones in there and were specifically asked to make our way toward the exit.  Ha!  Now, that's how you know you've had a great time!

Our 3 am YaYa crew

 By the time we made our way back to the hotel room, it was around 3:45 I'm gonna guess.  YaYa Susu was awake as we entered talking about the hours she missed.  YaYa Vic Vic was sound asleep.  Although she does remember waking up to a kiss on the cheek.  Ha!  And our Mother-to-be Barbie was never disturbed.  It was a fun-filled night that ended well.  With two rooms full of YaYa Barbies sleeping soundly.

Until 8 am.  Then, it was time to move again!  To our next traditional spot - Pancake Pantry.  The waitress remembered us from our last YaYa Bachelorette party and took our group picture for us.

That's the way we roll.  We are unforgettable for sure!  I'm sure we are all over social media as we posed for a number of strangers.  We're famous no doubt.  Famous as YaYa Barbie girls.  Our roadtrip ended with a YaYa huddle and chant in Kristin's driveway before we all drove home...

...home to our own beds.  With exceptionally early bedtimes!

YA-YA!

Because Russ was working out of town this weekend, Uncie Bucket and Sheila came to take care of our sweet girl.  They did a PHENOMENAL job!  I came home to a super clean house with dishes washed and put away, clothes washed and ready to take out of the dryer, and clean sheets on my bed!  Millie Janalee peed on her uncle twice initiating him into diaper changing club.  Haha!  She was happy the entire weekend, and I didn't have to worry one bit!  Dustin and Sheila would not take gas money, take-out money, or anything.  They were just thankful for the memories.

A happy girl!

She She, Millie Janalee, and Uncie Bucket

And I am too!  Memories for sure.

Mighty Yaya Priestesses

"We are the flames of the fires, the whirling of the winds.  We are the waters of the rains and the rivers and the oceans.  We are the rocks and stones.  And now by the power invested in me, I declare we are the mighty Ya-Ya priestesses.  Let no man put us under.  Now our blood flows through each other as it's done for all eternity.  Loyal forever.  We raise our voices in the words of Mumbo Gumbo...YA-YA!"

 You may remember Millie Janalee's initiation into the sacred Yaya sisterhood in August.  That was nearly 7 months ago!  As Millie Janalee continues to enjoy all the rights and privileges that come with the sacred and mighty sisterhood, we pause for the weekend as we welcome our newest Junior Yaya!

Each time a Yaya child gets engaged, the Yayas come together to plan the biggest Yaya initiation known to mankind.  The Yaya Bachelorette Party!  The newest engaged couple belongs to Yaya Hope.  Her son will marry Yaya-to-be Leann.  And, this weekend, we will celebrate and initiate this Yaya wannabe.  Whether she wants us to or not actually.  Haha!

Millie Janalee will not be joining us for such festivities as I'm quite sure the weekend will be unsuitable for a seven month old, but she's heard stories.  So she knows to go ahead and laugh at all the crazy antics to come.  She's also giddy with excitement that her Uncie Bucket and She She are coming to keep her for the weekend.  I've been busy getting the typed pages of instruction posted on the refrigerator, bagging and labeling her baby food for each meal, labeling her nighttime diapers, and cleaning sheets.  I've tried to organize the house before their arrival, but I'm sure I will not complete that task.  In the midst of the hustling around last night, I somehow managed to get Tulip paint...BLACK Tulip paint...squirted all over me in the line at Walmart.  All I wanted to do was pick up something for my bachelorette party uniform and a bottle of paint for my sister.  When...POW...I was hit with black paint through a hole I didn't see.  The entire 268 people in line for the 3 registers open at 11:00 pm screamed, "OOOOOHHHHH!"  Yep.  That was me.  I got in the car to find Russ consoling a crying baby, and I couldn't touch her or anything else because the clerk did not have and would not offer to find a paper towel for me to wipe off with.  I was in too much of a rush to go all the way to the bathroom to clean off.  I will spare you the details, but when I got home I found black paint all over my lips, neck, cheeks, shirt, jacket, and purse.  The lady also stuck the other bottle of paint that had been squirted as well into my bag with the rest of my purchases.  She gets an F for her services and accomodations.  Anyway, you can get an idea of how my last few days have gone.  I'm in desperate need of a Yaya partay!  And the Yayas know how to throw one!

I've had quite the happy day today though!  Number one...my days are always happy playing with this sweet girl.  But, today she has learned to clap on command...or when I say "Yaaaay!"  So I have enjoyed a day full of constant applause!  Don't you wish you had that?  Ha!  I'm feeling very proud every time I do something and hear that applause for a job well done.  Yaaaaaay for me!

Yay Mama!

 Although Millie Janalee is very sad that she cannot join us for this big weekend, she understands that every Yaya has her turn.  And no celebrations can ever be combined.  That's in the handbook.  So, she will have her day.  For now, she will enjoy a weekend full of who knows what with Uncie Bucket.  Ha!

I'm pretty sure she's not ready to hang with the Yayas yet anyway.  You must be confident enough to unashamedly wear your Yaya headdress at all times.  No matter where you are.  Millie Janalee was not feeling this big ball of tulle atop her sweet head.  Not at all.

So, here's to Leann and the rest of the Yaya and Junior Yaya priestesses!  May our Yaya Bachelorette Party be forever in our favor...and may no man put us under!  YA-YA!

P.S.  And may our pregnant Junior Yaya, Natalie, not go into labor until AFTER we return safely home.  Amen.

Gatlinburg Part 2

The second part of our Gatlinburg trip was much like the first as far as sleeping in, lazing around, and enjoying the sights and fun attractions offered in the Smoky Mountains.  We didn't hike at all this trip.  Kristin is not the biggest fan of hiking and cold locations...I think she much prefers the beach.  Ha!  I'm sure many of you agree.  I, however, am dying to go on a family ski trip.  Maybe sometime sooner than later?  We'll see.  We took one afternoon to drive up the mountain for some photo opportunities.  I wonder whose request that was...  Ha!

My mountain baby and me!  On a COLD mountain day.

Lee and Kristin

After our little mountain drive, we traveled over to Pigeon Forge to another MUST for any and every Gatlinburg trip...Dixie Stampede!  Again, if you have gone to the Smokies and never taken the time to enjoy the wonderful Dixie Stampede, PLEASE do!  You will love it!  The food....incredible and unmatched!  The entertainment...A+!

So excited about going in!

Millie Janalee put on her new for real cowboy boots from PawPaw and Susu and was ready to giddy up to the sounds of the pre-show band!  She also LOVES watching the horses, riders, and entertainment during dinner.

Watching the band during the pre-show

For the first time ever, we sat on the North side.  We were still on the front row and had lots of room for Millie Janalee to stand and be passed around.  No dirt flew up on us this time, but one of the performers did jump up on the ledge in front of us for part of his dance and song.  That was fun!

Lee and Kristin ready to grub!

Let's see if I can give you a quick rundown of how this Dixie Stampede experience works.  The pre-show lasts about 45 minutes or so where you enjoy a little bluegrass band, sing along, and tap your toes.  It is such fun!  Then, we all move into the arena for the dinner show.  The menu includes a full little chicken, potato, pork, the most amazing soup, cheddar biscuit, corn on the cob, and finished off with apple pie.  I think I got that right.  It's our favorite meal always!  The horses and riders perform tricks and shows, there are live animals, and a lumberjack contest.  The lights and effects always make it so much fun!  I don't want to give everything away, but I DO want you to make a night of it on your next trip.  You won't be sorry.  After the show, you can walk down toward the arena floor to meet the cast and horses.  You can also see the horses in their stables outside as you leave.  Millie Janalee watched it all intently and followed those horses all over, and she loved seeing the fire too!

After our Dixie Stampede evening, we put on our pajamas back at the condo and caught up on American Idol.  Millie Janalee has her favorites I'm sure.  She was very into it...

"They are good, Mama!"

Our future performer in action

Thursday, we spent the day shopping at the outlet mall in Pigeon Forge and finished the day off at Apple Barn.  We love visiting the Apple Barn!  During the off season, you have to look up the hours, because they close early.  We managed to arrive 30 minutes before closing, so we could enjoy some apple cider and pick up some apple pies for Maw Maw. 

Millie Janalee's second trip to Apple Barn

Millie Janalee was a big hit everywhere we went.  Ha!  I think it was the cute little hat a sweet friend gave her.  We never took it off, because I'd hate to see that hat hair!  Ha!  It was quite cold, so she needed it anyway.  We enjoyed a delicious dinner at the Apple Barn Farmhouse Grill, and Millie Janalee slept through the entire thing.  It's hard work being so cute and shopping so hard.  We did shop a good bit for little Miss Thing.  We have lots of 12 month clothes, but very few 9 months.  So, we fixed that problem.  She's certainly not neglected in the clothing department!  I'm sure you know that by now.

PawPaw and Millie Janalee

Friday, we decided to try something else new.  We visited the Titanic in Pigeon Forge.  We have driven past this huge ship many many times, but never considered spending the two hours touring the museum.  I'm so glad we did this time!  It was wonderful!  When you enter, you receive a boarding pass with your name, age, and what class passenger you are on the ship.  As you tour the artifacts (all original artifacts from the ship), you may see things about yourself or others in your group.  It is fascinating to see the pictures, hear the stories, and experience the sinking of the Titanic as if we were there.  It was also very interesting to see whether you survived or not and what happened to you afterward.  Millie Janalee was a little 5 year old girl in third class traveling with her nursemaid.  She survived!  And so did I!  Lee and Daddy did not survive.  Lee was one of the crew members, and we were able to see some of the letters he sent home talking about the ship.  Daddy was owner of Macy's.  He went down with the ship, and his wife refused to leave him.  So, she gave her life vest to their maid.  Mama was the most talked about passenger on the ship, which was fun to follow.  Ha!  The museum was set up like you are walking through the actual ship...grand staircase and all.

Mama, Millie Janalee, and Auntie Kristin

Millie Janalee had the best time!  Can't you tell

Millie Janalee didn't last long in her stroller.  She was fighting her nap so hard.  She wanted to be up and see it all like we did.  So I carried her the entire two hours.  This is when I realized just how heavy she has gotten.  Ha!  She was so interested in everything!  She even touched the real iceberg.  We enjoyed a low key dinner at Bubba Gump's in downtown Gatlinburg before retiring to our condo for the night.

Just a close-up of how happy she was!

"Ummmm, Mama.  I'd like to go back please.  No more pictures."

Kristin and Lee

We decided to spend our Saturday at Ober Gatlinburg.  We rode the tram up the mountain from downtown Gatlinburg.  I am scared of heights, but I love riding the tram.  Millie Janalee never took her eyes off our "Mountain Man" guide as he told us about our elevation and the things we were passing as we rode up the mountain.  It's ski season, so we were able to watch people skiing and tubing down the mountain once we got there.  It just made me want that ski trip more!  Since we weren't dressed for skiing, we found a table at the cafe overlooking the ice skating rink and ate lunch.  Then, Kristin, Lee, and Daddy decided to ice skate.

"What?!  I can't ice skate?!"

I ice skated last trip, and I was really wanting to stay with Millie Janalee this time to see her watch everyone.  She's so much fun at this age.  And hilarious!  To be honest, I think it was more fun watching Kristin, Lee, and Daddy get the hang of the whole ice skating thing.  I videoed and took pictures.  Unfortunately, I missed Daddy's big tumble.  I saw him crawling across the ice toward the rail, and by the time I stopped laughing long enough to grab my camera...I only caught the aftermath...

Millie Janalee watched the skaters intently!  She waved her arms and yelled out at them the whole time!  It was so funny.  She and Susu cheered for them when they skated close.  We moved her stroller up to the rail so she could see really well.  This is how she sat the whole time...

I'm sure she's getting the motions down for when it's her turn.

"I think I'll chew on the stroller since I can't skate."

"Wow!  I wanna skate like that one day."

Susu and Millie Janalee looking for PawPaw.

We saw many an ice skater tumble and smash their heads, knees, hips, and other body parts on the ice.  I'm thinking helmets might be a good investment for some.  Ha!  I also laughed as I watched our own ice skaters wobble, skid, and tumble themselves.  Luckily, I caught one of those on camera.  Every stage of the fall documented!

The couple collides...

Lee tries to recover...

Only he continues going down...

Down to his booty.

So, he tries to get up the only way he knows how...

Trying.  But maybe he needs a little help from his wife.

Yep.  A little help is what he needed.

Until they both nearly fall again!

They made it!

Susu, Millie Janalee, and I laughed and cheered during the ordeal!  We were happy to see it end without any injuries.  At least until the soreness kicked in that night and the next day.  Haha!

Yay!

Our professional-ly challenged skaters!

We enjoyed the rest of our last night walking around downtown Gatlinburg taking in the sights, buying fudge, and trying to grab some apple cider from the Donut Friar.  Alas, they closed early.  I may write the owner.  Ha!  The next morning, we woke up early to pack the cars and eat breakfast one last time at Pancake Pantry.

Millie Janalee couldn't contain her excitement as she thought about seeing her Daddy again!  She talked to him on the phone at our lunch stop in Chattanooga.  We enjoyed our trip so much!  We are so thankful for my parents for arranging the trip and literally treating us to everything! 

And it sure was nice to be home sweet home in our own beds!