The trip to Nashville with Mom was a blast....we caught 2 shows, one for the Rockettes at The Grand Old Opryand one at The Ryman with Diamond Rio and Charlie Daniels, at The Ryman Theatre.....wow that was awesome. The Gaylord was beautiful. We got in some good Christmas shopping and enjoyed the ride up and back. I like leisurly road trips...can't wait for that to be my life one day. It has been a long time since Mom and I have done a "girls trip" and we really had a good time. The evening we arrived was Gaylord's Lighting of the Tree event. They had lit Nativity scenes all around the grounds, and beautiful trees. There was singing by several folks and was a great start to a holiday trip.
Right outside our hotel room was this poinsettia tree....WOW!
We had neither one been to the Ryman Theatre (the original Grand Ole Opry) so we were anxious to see it.
We had dinner first at Big River Brewery then made our way to the theatre.
At the Ryman you sit on pews like in a church. The little gold plaque to the right of mom's shoulder is how you know where on the pew is your "seat", or rather butt space. A little odd, but it works.
It's an old beautiful building.
Little Jimmy Dickens is a legend here and will often MC a show.
It is a live radio show, so the announcer will do live commercials as well as announce performers.
Diamond Rio did their hit song One More Day....was awesome
And Charlie Daniels on that fiddle with that HUGE belt buckle was just amazing.
It was a wonderful evening.
NO trip to Nashville is complete without eating in a Jack Daniels restaurant, or visiting the place where's it's made....especially if Mom is with you!!
No pics were allowed during the Rockette show, but is was just spectacular, as you might imagine.
We had a terrific time.....maybe a repeat next year!!!
Thanksgiving was the usual push/rush crowded and over-done. Somewhere along the way we lost the reason behind getting together at Thanksgiving ...whcih should be about family and friends....and we began to focus on the food and the exactness of the presentation....and as always, some enjoy, while others of us bust our buns to make it all happen. Is a long and tiring week....for some of us. It's nice to visit with those that come onto town, but we just don't get a lot of that.....and so, another year is done. Perhaps one year we can go on a cruise or some outing and just enjoy each other...with little or no work. Sounds lovely.
Between Thanksgiving and Christmas it was a busy time. Much shopping and wrapping and watching of Hallmark Christmas movies.....just love those flicks. Then all of a sudden it was THE BIG DAY.....Christmas was here.....except, we had to celebrate the day after. Our family is growing so much we have several that have in-laws they need to split time with....so FLEXIBILTY is the word of the season!!! We attended candlelight service on Christmas Eve which was wonderful, then hit WH for our traditional after church dinner. On Christmas Day we visited at sister Kelley's for a bit and saw the kids...then headed to Deb's for some cards and hanging out. It was a slooooooooooooooow day, but ok. Then on the 26th, it was like Ground Hog Day....it was Chritsmas all over again. It started out with a 2.5 hr power outage, but once we got past that we were good to go. We opened gifts and ate snacks for hours....with 3 babies that were all 7mths or less and one 2yr old it was a busy day...and we had a blast.
It turned very cold, so the fire was blazing all day....then our day ended with a prime rib dinner....yum-o!!! Most thankfully, years ago we switched our Christmas day to easier cooking.. We have snacks hot and cold during the day..then steak/potato/salad dinner...not much work but REALLY tastey!! Gives us lots more time to just be with each other....that's what it's all about anyway!!!
So....all that's left for 2012 is New Year's....and for me, that will be very quiet. I will likely be in ATL with my sisters and run for FL soon there after.....
I hope you have each had a wonderful holiday season...and a great 2012.....
I'm looking forward to 2013 and the BIG RV show in Tampa.....maybe I'll really find something awesome.
Safe travels everyone....until next year!!!
