New Year's Getaway

This holiday season has been a crazy one for Russ and I. Between my school stress and Russ's interviewing and traveling, we've hardly had ANY time to relax. I know...many of you are sitting there saying, "Welcome to the real world." But, seriously, from October on I never felt like I could catch up! So, I had an idea! My dad had told us he was planning to visit a friend who recently moved to Maryville, TN after Christmas. Enter my thought! Maryville is near Gatlinburg! My family used to go to Gatlinburg every Spring Break for cheerleading competitions and vacations. We haven't been in forever. So, my dad's friendly visit turned into a Smith family vacation to Gatlinburg. Our mission: to RELAX!

We began our vacation on the 27th after a wedding that my dad officiated in Memphis. Since he was in Memphis, we just decided to meet him in Nashville and spend a night there. We stayed across the street from the Opryland Hotel. Our hotel was very nice and within walking distance of the Opryland Hotel. We spent the evening walking through the hotel and eating dinner there. It was a fun night. I always love the Opryland Hotel during the holidays.

The family inside the Opryland Hotel - thanks to Lee for taking the picture!

The kids outside the hotel