Ok, I think it's time now.............

[Emilysmom]

The get together is just around the corner, and I'm feeling a bit nervous about it all. I'm hoping we can do a roll call and make sure we know how many people are going (I'm thinking I should go ahead and take the unused rooms off my credit card), and make some semi-firm plans about what we'll do there.

Can everyone who is going, post up and also look at the thread called "Some fun things" and share what you'd like to do, please? If everyone wants to simply hang out at the hotel together, I'm ok with that. If we want to do a package deal with a day at Dollywood/day at the water park, that's ok by me too. Dollywood will be VERY hot this time of year, but there are plenty of water rides to cool us off. There are also tons of miniature golf places, little places with go karts and rides for little kids, and Ober Gatlinburg. For our family, keeping the cost DOWN is going to be really important.......still saving for the NDSC conference!
I'll just feel a bit better when we have more definite plans for the get together.

Susan

[Becky]

O Man I cant wait for the trip to get here

We are with you on keeping the price down, I think you posted something with gokarts and a big slide that looks to us.

See you in "31" days

Becky

[logansmom]

We're going!

Kim, Marvin, Logan (Ds, 4) and Carson

[dpurvis]

Us, too!!
Steve, Debbie, Ashleigh and Corey

[Emilysmom]

GREAT!! Four families so far..........but where will we go?

[Becky]

I know we are wanting to go to the Aquarium and Ober Gatlinburg looks like alot of fun allso.

www.ripleysaquariumofthesmokies.com/

I called to a lady, she was very nice, they group rate is for 20 or more people

Group - Adult $17.99 - 6y-11y $9.99 - 2y-5y $3.99
Non group - Adult $19.99 6-11 $10.99 2-5 $4.99

She allso said you save $2.00 at the gate, not sure if that is for parking, she is sending me some stuff in the mail.

But you knowing hanging out at the pool sounds good to us.

Just us, we are thinking of just doing something one of the days we are there and just hanging out the other days, to save some money, right now the gas prices are low but Im sure theyll see us getting ready to go somewhere big and theyll go up, lol

Cant wait to see everyone

[Emilysmom]

I'm really struggling with this. I know what I WANT to do. And it's NOT what I really need to do (because of my very sore knee that barely gets me around at work.....let alone an amusement park or water park with stairs!). I would love to do the 2 day Dollywood/Splash Country thing. I believe their group passes require a 2 week notice, and 15 people. I'll look into it.
Just before our vacation, I had a lot of fluid drained from my knee and got a Cortisone shot into it.......that gave me only one week of comfort! It was the 4th Cortisone shot, and I really never wanted to have more than 3 of them. So, I'm very concerned that I won't really be able to do ANYthing that requires walking! (LOL Who wants to bring me breakfast in bed???)

Susan

[dpurvis]

Just my two cents ...
My vote is for Ober Gatlinburg. Lots to do in there, and also on that strip right before you get there is tons of little stores and putt golf, laser tag, neat stuff like that. We could spend a whole day down there in Gatlinburg.
I know some of you will get there alot earlier than us. We probably won't be there until around 5:00 Friday afternoon. We'll have Saturday and Sunday, then we'll have to leave really early Monday morning. Steve has to be at work 5:30 Monday afternoon.
I know I'm going to be so excited to meet you guys (!!) maybe Friday afternoon we could all go out to dinner and then just kinda hang out at the hotel. Then maybe Saturday do the Gatlinburg thing... and then Sunday...maybe the waterpark or Dollywood. I checked on-line and even for a group it's $68.00 for the combo ticket to both parks ...that would be almost $300.00 for us to do both parks.
This is just my suggestion. We're very flexible...and we can always decide when we get up there what we want to do!! Looking very forward to meeting everyone!!

Debbie

[dpurvis]

What about the Dixie Stampede?!? Would anyone like to go to that. In case someone's never been - it's a FANTASTIC dinner show. They also have a combo ticket for the Ripley's aquarium and the Dixie Stampede - Adults are $54.78 and kids are $24.75 for both places. I know that's expensive, too...but that dinner show is really great!!
Just a suggestion...

[logansmom]

We're flexible. We're REALLY looking forward to meeting everyone and we're excited about whatever everyone else wants to do. The aquarium, OberGatlinburg, a dinner show, hanging out at the motel, Dollywood, a water park . . . they all sound good. So many opportunities with so little time! The only thing I'm worried about is the ages of my children - Carson is 21 months old and still takes naps. Without them, he's MR. GRUMPY!!!!!! So whatever is decided, my husband and I will have to make arrangements around Carson's schedule.

Kim, Logan (Ds, 4) and Carson (21 months)

[Becky]

We are going to leave here around midnight to get us into Gatlinburg around 2pm, its a 14 hour drive for us, so Friday night will probably just be hanging out by the pool and maybe dinner, then Saturday, I know for us Dollywood is out, Justin can not to do the heat and I dont think he would enjoy it, so something inside is why we were thinking the aquaruim, but then just spending the day in Ober Gatlinburg sounds like fun also.
I know one night is mom night right, they guys stay with the kids.

[Becky]

We cant forget the big birhtday paty for all the kids with birthdays in July, I have a list but of course cant find it right now, I think I allready but it with the paper with out hotel stuff.
Can you tell Im ready, Im allready gettting stuff together to pack to make sure all of us have everything.
Hubby was just laughing at me for getting our bathing suites together.
"26" days and well meet all you wonderfull people.

[dpurvis]

You're so funny, Becky! We leave next Monday to go on our "family" vacation and I must say - I'm looking way more forward to this get together in Gatlinburg than I am this vacation.
So - there's only four families coming?!? I've never been to one before, but from the pictures I thought there would be way more than that. I know it's really hard to plan something with people's work schedules and everything! I'm so excited to see Susan after about six or seven years and to meet Kim and Becky and all of your families!!!
I wish we had more time, but I'm sure we'll have a great time for the weekend!!
See you guys soon!!

Debbie

[Becky]

Debbie,
Im thinking there is going to be six families total, but that is just my count, its ok Im just looking forward to meeting the ones that are going to be.
I have been chating with Susan for allmost 7 years and now we get to meet, she was one of the first ones on here for me to talk to, I came here before Justin was even born.
Cant wait to meet everyone, and yes I do have my suite case out and some stuff allready in it, lol stuff I wont need tell we get there like bathing suites and little swimmers for Justin and so on, lol
Getting movies together allso for the 13 1/2 hour drive.
See ya all soon

[Emilysmom]

I'm not pushing this at all, but wanted to post something I got in an email today about Dollywood:

www.dollywood.com/land/splash/splash.htm?track=EMAIL0706SPLASH

This is a THREE day pass to the two parks for $78 per person for adults. I didn't check out the price for kids, but I'm sure it's less than that. I think that's a pretty amazing price! I'm pretty sure I couldn't walk around Dollywood long at all. But I could sit at a water park for days! And doesn't a lazy river sound like fun to you?

Susan