The 15th Annual...

Back to School Ice Cream Party!!!! I can't believe we've done this for 15 years! Holy cow, that means Mabry's in the 14th grade (we started in Kindergarten)! As usual, the 3 course meal includes an appetizer (ice cream cone), the entree (banana split) and dessert (hot fudge sundae). We had around 40 people come, which is par for the course. It's really an open house type deal, with people coming and going as they please. Usually we hold it on a school night, but because I was caught totally by surprise when school started (When my friend called Wednesday night to ask if we were having it Thursday, I said, "Why would we? It's not til the first day of school", to which she replied, "Well, the first day of school is tomorrow!" (insert shocked and confused face here)) we held it this past Friday night instead. As a result, the last of the partiers left around 11:30 pm! I guess that's why we hold it on a school night, so folks HAVE to go home at a decent hour! :)*

Finally! Someone who agrees with me!

I've always said talking to Ryan is like talking to a wall, and finally someone must agree with me. Last week was the opening of the play A Mid Summer Night's Dream, in which Ryan played Snout. In the play there was a play, and in the play within the play Snout played a wall. Yes, you heard right...a wall! And oh, was he ever a great wall! Unfortunately I don't have really good pics, but I do have one of him showing his chink in the wall, through which the 2 lovers spoke and kissed. Oh, now THERE was a picture for ya! For some reason the wall was ok with them speaking through his "chink", but he kind of grossed out when they kissed! LOL All in all it was a great play, and he sure played his part well!

Wait...How many kids do I have?

Earlier tonight my cell phone rang. It was one of Pete's friends, and she's riding in the car with him going to see her boyfriend.

Me: "Hello?"
Her: "What's the name of your GPS?"
Me: "Huh?"
Her: "Well, Pete says her name starts with L but I think it starts with E. Which is it?"
Me: "Um....it's Evelyn. You win."
Her: "HA! I TOLD him it was an E! Pete, you loser, it's Evelyn!"
Hang up.

It both baffles and tickles me that their friends treat me like their Mama!

My kind of fun!

Went rafting for the first time ever in Gatlinburg last weekend. It WON'T be the last time! I'm trying to figure out when we can go back with the family. It'll probably be next year, but it's definitely gonna happen! What fun!!!

I know it was HERE!

Thursday several of us decided to check out the Tanger Outlet in Pigeon Forge. Holy smokes, that place is HUGE! It's probably 10 times the size of the outlet in Foley, AL! In fact, we were smart and packed a lunch in a cooler, and we actaully tail-gaited at the Tanger!
Towards the end of our loooonnnngggg day, Valerie (Kentucky), Jamie (Arkansas) and I decided to wait for Tricia (Indiana) and Karen (Connecticut) in the car. (Let me tell you, I've seen shopping and I've done shopping, but NEVER have I seen the likes of Tricia!) I started the car and we waited a bit, then I called Karen to see where they were and tell them we were waiting. They wanted to hit just one more store, which happened to be very close to where we'd parked the car at the beginning of our excursion.
I decided to take that opportunity to run into another store close by. Keep in mind this was just Thursday, so I hadn't even known these ladies for a full 24 hours yet, which is why I had no idea Valerie is the prankster she is! So I kept the car running and darted over to the store while Karen and Tricia finished their shopping.
When I came out, I started walking towards the van. Well, where the van was supposed to be, anyway! It didn't take me long to spot it; it IS my van, after all, and they hadn't moved it too far away. Tricia and Karen, on the other hand, were at a disadvantage. They did go to the right spot, only to find it empty. The looks of confusion on their faces was priceless!
I have in mind a little prank to pull on Valerie next year, but I'm gonna keep it close to my chest! But watch out, Valerie....your turn's coming! :)

You Have Arrived!

We took Patrick's GPS with us to Gatlinburg. The GPS's name is Evelyn, and while she can be pretty annoying when you know where you're going, she's a complete gem when you don't have a clue. Such was the case while driving from the Knoxville Airport to Gatlinburg!. I programmed the address to the rental office, and waited while Evelyn calculated our route. I had assumed we'd take I-40 in, but Evelyn had a quicker, more direct route.
I had Toni (from Colorado), Jamie (from Arkansas), and Patti (from Texas) with me, and the drive was so much fun! The route Evelyn took us was beautiful, winding through the mountains on tree-lined, 2-laned roads. After about an hour, we had seen a sign for Gatlingurg so we knew we were getting close. We were in the Smokey Mountain National Forest, winding our way toward Gatlinburg, enjoying the scenery: densely populated forest on our right, steep sloping hills to our left...absolutely beautiful, with not a man-made object to be seen anywhere. Ahhh, this had to be close to Heaven! What it wasn't, though, was the address to the cabin rental. For it was in the middle of that densely populated forest, with trees on our right and steep sloping hills on our left, that Evelyn pronounced, "You have arrived!"
Silence in the car as I find a spot to pull over. We look around. "Ummmm....." A quick scuffle looking around the car for the map we printed from the rental office website. Jamie grabbed the map and was studying it, when she asked quietly, "Did you put in "East" Parkway?"
(shrug)"Parkway's Parkway, right?" (insert embarrassed grin here)
(sigh) RE-program Evelyn with the correct address and we were back on our way again. A little late (as we also had trouble finding the actual cabin, but that was due to our inability to actually read printed directions instead of just trying to look at a picture!)but we eventually got there!
I'll post bits and pieces of the trip here throughout the week; suffice it to say for now that we had an absolute blast, and are planning next year's get together already!

Gatlinburg, Here I Come!!!!

Many of you know I belong to a group of Dave Ramsey followers on The Total Money Makeover site. I've been a member for several years, and throughout those years have come to consider several of those people friends. I've only ever met 3 in real life. It took some getting used to, meeting people for the first time. It actually felt kind of dirty the first time we did it....seedy, you might say. Previously the only time I'd ever heard of folks meeting other folks over the Internet, it was to "hook up" for some naughty fun, so I had to get over that perception. I'm happy to say I'm over it, and next week I'm meeting a group of about 14 women for a LONG weekend in Gatlinburg. Actually, 2 of the women will come in Tuesday night (one from Colorado and one from Arkansas) and spend the night with me before we make the drive together into Tennessee. We'll make a stop in Knoxville to pick up another woman flying in from Texas. Another hour more should see us in the mountains at the cabin that sleeps 22.
I can't tell you how excited I am to finally meet these women. We've known each other for years in some cases, and we're finally meeting next week. Oh, what fun it'll be! I'm not even apprehensive in the least, which is a bit surprising! I'll be sure to post pics and stories as soon as we get back.