Mini-Getaway Day 3 - July 29, 2012

July 29, 2012

Charleston, SC – Alpharetta, GA

Courtyard Alpharetta Windward

355 Miles/6 hours                           

As I mentioned yesterday, we all went to bed very early…because Rich insisted that we had to get UP and GET going…early!  Well, the wake-up call came at 5:15a.m., and momma was up, packed and ready by about 5:40a.m.  Do you think anyone else was out of bed by then?  Absolutely NOT. 

Somehow we did manage to get on the road by 6:05. It was a very easy drive (with the exception of some backseat drama) and we were at Houston’s for lunch a little after 11.  Then we snuck up to Cumming to take a peek at the basement (which we’re finishing….half of it, we’ll finally have a guest room!).  Then Audrey and I snuck off to get our nails done, before meeting the boys back at our new hotel.

Hotel is awesomeJ.  Lots of bright light and we have two rooms connecting, with a view of a beautiful pool.  Within minutes of check-in, we were torturing fellow pool guests.  Audrey never stopped chatting, Barrett never stopped laughing (manically….it was weird, even for Barrett), Cammy never stopped whining and Hunter, well, he was pretty good.  We met a couple of talkative, retired school teachers who matched Audrey word for word in the chatty department.  They first latched onto me, but I quickly tagged myself out for someone better able to handle non-stop small talk.  I think Audrey may even be friends with them on Goodreads by now.

We stayed with our trend of an early dinners (to get back in time for the Olympics), eating at Macaroni Grill.  It was fantastic!  After we got some frozen yogurt and sat in the balmy breeze….it was beautiful, we could actually breathe.  The heat had finally broken.

Back at the hotel, I was once again the last woman standing…the Olympics are killing me.  I wish they weren’t on so late, I need to figure out how to watch live.

Kind of sad that our summer adventures are overL.  Planning on hanging at the hotel in the morning to catch up on some writing, and then head back and try to transition back into the school schedule.  A week from tomorrow, my Hunter goes to 6^th grade Viper Camp, with school starting a few days later.  Wow.

Back in GA

Mini-Getaway Day 2 July 28, 2012

July 28, 2012

Charleston, SC

The Dungeon formally known as The Citadel

I had weird dreams all night and the smell of this place has awakened my long dormant olfactory system.  I definitely don’t have any vampire blood in me.

Rich and Audrey got up early and hit the buffet.  I took the boys down, around 8a.m.  It was very crowded, perfect for people watching and let me tell you, I did some watching.

The plan was for me to take the kids for a walk, down to Market Street and back and then we were going to take the ferry over to Fort Sumter, for a tour.  Rich was going to spend the day working.  Well, at 9:45, after we’d made it precisely ONE block, all four mutinied on me (in all fairness, the bank sign indicated that it was 91 degrees)!  I bailed on the Market Street plan and took a detour back to King. 

In all the shoe confusion, during our departure from home yesterday, Rich and I forgot our hanging bag….and therefore neither of us had dress shirts/sun dresses, so I needed to pick something up for both of us.  It was easy in Rich’s case, because I stumbled upon a Tommy Bahamas store, almost instantly.  A dress for me, not so easy.  I was surprised by how dressy all the woman’s shops were.  The most casual was a Lilly Pulitzer shop…which just isn’t me.  Very pretty, but not me.  So we went into many, many stores.  I’d line the boys up, along a wall and threatened them with their lives, while Audrey amused many a shop keeper (and drove me crazy).  Eventfully, we found something.  I tell you all this, because it leads up to the kids having a mini-melt-down when we came upon a park with break-dancers, complete with 80’s style boom box and a farmer’s market.  They united and refused to go to Fort Sumter with me, since they’d already had to spend the morning doing stuff I wanted to do.  They wanted to hang out at the “fair.’  Can you believe that?   I was really bummed, but honest to God, it was so unbelievably hot, that I just gave in, without much of a fight.

We had an unmemorable lunch with daddy (unmemorable because on the place, NOT the company, just to be clear).  Rich wanted to keep watching the woman’s basketball team, so I took Bear with me and we went to a bookstore I’d seen earlier in the day, while the other three stayed with daddy.  Bear & I ended up back to the hotel, where I fell in to a deep slumber, until I heard a stampede of buffalos in hallway, which were of course my children.  Rich had taken them to the Children’s Museum.  Immediately feeling guilty about my nap, I took all four kids to the pool, so Rich could finally work.

The pool was very small, but we had a good time.  I finished my book (Emily Giffin’s Where We Belong – excellent!), Hunter met a friend, and Audrey told everyone and anyone at the pool everything and anything she could about our family.  Either because of Katie Couric, or Barrett’s rousing, repetitive rendition of “A Rubber-Dubbers” a woman approached me to ask about Bear and to tell me she had a son with autism.  They were from Miami, her husband is in the coast Guard, and I have to tell you it is soooo unfair what kind of benefits their (government) insurance pays for her son’s treatment!  They pay for everything!  Wow.  Anyway, very nice lady and we exchanged phone numbers.  (Sadly) It’s like being in the world’s biggest sorority, mom of children with Autism.

We got dressed and took a Taxi to dinner (not my choice) on Market Street.  Ironically, after taking the taxi to stay cool, we picked the one and only restaurant in the city, where the air-conditioning was broken.  I. Kid. You. Not.  It was so hot….Rich only ordered a shrimp cocktail, if that tells you something!

We ended up taking a Taxi back, because a big storm was moving in.  The thunder was horrendous, and I can only assume it rained and rained hard, but I didn’t have a window to look out of, so I can’t confirm it. 

I think the heat really got to everyone, we all fell asleep early.  I woke up at 10:45p.m., and both TV’s were on, along with some lights, but no one was stirring.  We’ve decided to leave tomorrow.  Rich has to get an early start on Monday and I need daylight!  So we are going to stay in Atlanta tomorrow night. 

Old School Beeakdancing

Kids were enthralled

And so it begins:(

Bear & Daddy

Cammy's 1st Fish sandwich - bigger than he is!

Me & my girl

Mini Getaway - Day 1 July 27, 2012

July 27^th, 2012

Cumming- GA – Charleston, NC

375 miles, 6 ½ hours

Embassy Suites Historic Charleston

We got off to a rough stuff.  Car was loaded and we couldn’t find Cammy’s sandals.  After looking everywhere (including the backyard, with a flashlight), we gave up and told him to grab another pair – he found lots of shoes, but not one that both fit and/or had a match!  I gave one more look in his room….and found them behind his toy chest!  Not a good sign.

We hit the road, with Willie singing at 6:15.  Once we made it out of the metro area, we planned to stop for breakfast (coffee!).  Well, east of ATL, we were not lucky enough to have a Starbucks on every exit.  God bless Rich (who does not drink coffee), he patiently participated in the Starbucks hunt.  To add insult to his injury….the kids loudly and affirmatively rejected his suggestions of Waffle House, Burger King or McDonalds.  They wanted Starbucks tooJ.  It’s costly, but I have to admit, I was proud.

We stopped in North Charleston for lunch (quick one at Panera Bread) and to take pictures of the hotel that Big A managed when the Chamblins lived here.  I was with them, in Charleston, when I found out I was going to be a momma for the first time!  If I knew then, what I know now…ha,ha.

We made it to the hotel around 12:30 and they said they wouldn’t be ready for us, until 3p.m.  So we crossed the bridge to Mount Pleasant …eventually landing on Sullivan’s Island, where we were lucky enough to find a parking space, rather quickly.  We all awkwardly changed into our swimsuits, in the car and hit the beach.  It was beautiful.  It’s been decades since I’d been to a beach in the Carolina’s and it was perfect.  The water was unbelievably warm.  There was a huge sand bar too, not too far out.  We managed to get all the kids out on it, so that was cool.  The temperature was perfect.  It was well into the 90’s, but with the ocean breeze, it was very tolerable.  (Although, Rich begs to differ).

We got back to the hotel about 4….and the room is a bummer.  This mini-getaway was a last minute decision and our destination was determined solely based on availability.  Charleston was the closest we could get to a beach, in less than six hours (and the beach is 30 minutes away).  Embassy Suites had suites available…but no windows.  Have you ever?  I called the hotel to ask what that meant – and they said exactly what it says…no windows.   Apparently the hotel was the original Citadel, which I admit is cool…but those poor boys had to live in dorms, with no windows? I asked if it was creepy and they said no.  The girl said if you’re going to be in the room the whole time, it might bother you….but they don’t get many complaints.  Well, beggars can’t be choosers, so I booked it (after asking if I could be on wait list for windows).  Besides, I’ve certainly worked in a few offices with no windows, right?

Cute room, but I could not shake the feeling that we were in a dungeon!  I just couldn’t.  And….the room smelled a little musty.  No ventilation!  We took quick showers and then hit the streets, looking for dinner.  We were in a great location, one block off of King Street, which was lined with cool shops and restaurants.  Of course, finding a restaurant that has a kid’s menus, a full bar, and caters to both my agrarian tastes and Riches carnivorous ones….plus fresh seafood…well that presents more of a challenge.  And lest we forget….it was in the 90’s…hot, hot, hot.  Whenever we walk more than one block, you can guarantee two things are going to happen: 1) Audrey is going to complain that her feet hurt & 2) Cammy is going to say, “Hold me.”  Usually I can’t resist, but it was in the 90’s! so he was out of luck.

Eventually we ended up at a Coast, a seafood restaurant, with lots of options for the kids.  We had a wonderful dinner and the kids were great.  We made it back in time to watch the opening ceremonies of the Olympics!  I loved it, but was the only one who made it to the endJ.  Planning on going to Fort Sumter tomorrow.

Up & out early

Big A's old school hotel - turn of the century;)

Those are the kids out on the sandbar

Cammy

Bear

She swiped my glasses & pretty much wore them all night!

Cammy & Hunter

Fun night

Kids torturing the hotel's birds.

Day 41 Pictures

My camera is freaking out and I am to tiresd to mess with it.  Going to try again tomorrow.

Sorry.

Here we go:

Cammy & Zoe

The Grill Master

Rich and Cousin Jay

Garrett & Cousin Justin

Dad & Rich, loading up the toys

Hitting the open road

Going home!

Let's Go!

Home Sweet Home

Celebrating Dad's Birthday

Wishing for a happy, healthy & peaceful year!

Day 41, continued

Day 41 – July 8, 2102

Rose Hill, Va/Cumming, GA

276 miles/5 ½ hours

We left Rose Hill very early.  I’d committed to getting up at 4a.m., so we could hit the road at 5…at the latest.  But let me tell you, 4 a.m. HURT.  Rich had mercy on me and got ready on his own and I think started loading his stuff.  I finally dragged my you-know-what out of bed by 5.   Some coffee and I was ready to go.  As I’d loaded most of my stuff the day before – my big task was waking the crew, who’d become acclimated to sleeping LATE.

Lots of tears and moaning….ect….but after bittersweet good-byes with the grandparents – Willie Nelson was crooning from the car stereo….about being on the road again…as we drifted down Smith Berry Lane.

We stopped for breakfast, north of Knoxville and then continued on….mercifully missing all traffic, wherever we went.  We pulled into Ryan’s Bluff at noon and the kiddos went crazy when we saw HOME. 

Home.Sweet.Home.

I spent all day unloading/unpacking/doing laundry…before I knew it, it was 4p.m.  I’d planned to celebrate (belatedly) Rich’s birthday with a nice home cooked meal and presents….but there was no way.  Time got the best of me.   I ran to CVS for toilet paper, milk and breakfast bars.  We ordered pizza for dinner and Rich and I caught up on TIVO (as did the kids – on a different TV).

We did eventually celebrate daddy’s birthday – on Monday…I swear!

So, as a DebriefingJ and to answer what some curious minds wanted to know:

Miles Traveled:

6,545

Gallons of gas consumed:

* Still to be determined – but I do have the data…just haven’t got to it yet.

Countries:

2

States (visited…not just driven through)

17

Cities:

30

Presidential Libraries

3

Boat rides

2

Speeding tickets:

0J

Chance encounters with friend of dead parents:

1

Visits with family and friends:

6 (citiesJ)

Broken:

Blow dryer

iPad screen

Car-phone charger

Bracelet

Mom’s laptop

Camera – damage…still working…just not wellJ

Lost:

Bear’s backpack

Mom’s favorite pillow

Audrey’s camera

Countless things of Hunters

DS charger

More than one DVD movie

Favorite places:  (Speaking for momJ)

Philly, PA

Rehoboth Beach (kids too)

Cape Cod

Boston, MA…especially, Concord, MA

Burlington, VT

Kingston, ON

Chicago, IL

Des Moines, IA

Nashville, TN

Places we loved because of people we love!

Rehoboth Beach, DE

Boston, MA

Cape Cod, MA

Pittsburgh, PA

Columbus, Oh

Rose Hill, Va

Don’t need to visit again:

Atlantic City (what LITTLE we saw!)

Montreal, QB

Buffalo

Cleveland

Wheeling, WV

Minneapolis/St. Paul

Madison (liked it, don’t need to go back)

Hottest Place:

Des Moines, IA – (only place we broke 100 degrees)

Coldest:

Boston – 52 degrees

Highest gas:

Chappaqua, NY – $ 4.14/ gallon

Lowest gas:

Some little town NW of Nashville, just after crossing the KY/TN border $2.88/gallon

Best Memory – honestly, too many to list

Worst Memory – they’re already fading….but I’m sure the bookstore in Madison will haunt me for a while.

Bookstores visited:  soooo manyJ….favorite is Browse About Books in Rehoboth – a must seeJ

Thank you so much for your interest and sweet e-mails.   Y’all kept me laughing and at times, literally kept me going.  I have the best family and friends.  Thank you so much for caring soooo much about us!

 I think we’re done for the summer….but you never know…I may get the itch and head south to visit family and friends in FL, at the end of the month!  I’ll keep y’all posted!

Peace out….

Day 41 - July 8, 2012

We're HOME:)  I have so much to debrief....and still have reunion pictures to share....but a long day traveling/unpacking/laundry/getting some kids ready for camp tomorrow........................tired.

Promise full discolsure, tomorrow.  Then y'all will be done with me.

But we made it :)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Day 40 - July 7, 2012

Day 40 – July 7, 2012

Rose Hill, VA

Today was the big Garrett/Smith Family reunion.  We were up early and working….prepping food, cleaning, bathing kids, setting up tents, packing my car (I had 17 bags in the guest room!, had to clear them out so the guests could get to the bathroom).  Oh, and it was HOT today.   Once everything was done, and we were waiting for the first guests to arrive, I almost fell asleep in Dad’s Lazy Boy chair!

Anyway, before we knew it….everyone was here…it was crazy for a couple hours (and HOT).  It was very nice to meet so many extended family members, but also a little overwhelming. 

I’m happy to report the kids were very good.  Woo-hoo.

So everything’s cleaned up, and I’m packed….ready to go home.  One more drive tomorrow, and we will be!

I’ll post pictures tomorrow (my last blog of the tripL) of the reunion.  Very slow upload in the mountains!  Too tired to wait.

Day 39 - July 6, 2012

Day 39 – July 6, 2012

Rose Hill, VA

Quiet & HOT day!  Fortunately, the power came on some time during the night.  Rich was still up when it happened and woke his mom up and they transferred all the party food from coolers back to the fridge.  Blessedly, I slept through it allJ.

Quiet day.  Rich, Lance & Stan took all their “vehicles” for a trail ride on some ridge.  Mom headed into Middleborough & Tazewell to pick up last minute stuff.  I hung with the kids, by the pool.

Mom saw a bunch of damage on her travels….lots of debris & trees down.  Apparently, we dodged a bullet!

Nice dinner and the boys are all watching some race on the TV. Mom and dad are in full party preparation mode. I’ve asked what would best for me to do, to help….the consensus is that I should get the kids OUT of the house tomorrow…as it will be tension filled, leading up to the reunion. So I will take my road warriors to Kentucky –add another state to our journeyJ….find a book store and a McDonalds…that should keep us occupied for a couple hours.

Happy Bear

Aud & Zoe

 

Jena, Rich & Gabe

Cammy....ready to take off.

Baby Garrett

The kids table

Rich, keeping a close eye on Gabe!

Day 37 & 38 - July 4th & 5th, 2012

Days 37 & 38

July 4^th & 5^th, 2012

Rose Hill, VA

Happy (belated) Fourth of July everyone!  We had a relatively quiet 4^th.  We spent the morning visiting with Rich’s Mamaw and his Uncle Stan.  The kids picked blackberries, determined to get enough for a pie!  We’re in the mountainsJ now.

For the rest of the afternoon, the kids were in and out of the pool and everyone found their own personal entertainment/relaxation.  I read for a while and planned a picnic with Camden (for the next day…he wanted a “date”).

We had a surprise visit from Rich’s cousin Jenna, with her new baby (3 weeks old) and Gabe, her 2 year old.  My crew played with Gabe while I got a wonderful, much appreciated, baby fix!  I love me some baby time.

We had a great dinner, but while I was tucking the kids in, the reminded me, wistfully, that it was the 4^th of July…where were the fireworks?  I felt so bad.  We didn’t actually forget, but it was definitely a nontraditional 4^th. 

So Rich, Uncle Lance and I loaded the kids on the 4-wheeler and drove up to a higher perch on the farm, to watch Fireworks.  It was a bid dud….couldn’t see anything.  Not even sure if there was anything to see.

Everyone went to bed, except me.  I had a book to finish.  It was a page turner!  Mary Kay Andrews Spring Fever.  Loved it.  Anyway….trying desperately to see how things would wrap up, and the clock said 12:20a.m. and that is the last thing I remember, until…

“Allie?”…mom’s gentle voice woke me at 6:40 A.M.!  We were going to take Zoe, their dog, to Kingsport, TN, for her grooming appointment and get our nails done.  Mom & Dad are hosting a big family reunion on Saturday, so she also had a bunch of stuff to buy.  So the plan was for me to take Zoe home when she was finished, while mom hung back and shopped.

Long drive, but worth it to get my hands and feet rubbed for five minutes.  I successfully managed to get Zoe in the car and we headed home.   When I got there…everyone but dad was gone.  So I did what any sensible person would do….took me a nice long napJ!!!!!!!

As I type this, we are all finally under one roof, but we’ve experienced a huge, wicked mountain storm.  We are one hour and counting with no power.  Mom has a car load of perishable groceries, so it might be an interesting night.  My kids are going nuts….no power and no possibility of swimming…if things don’t improve, we may have to bail earlyL

***Update.  Okay…now it’s been five hours with no power or water (they’re on a well)…tensions are rising…oh boy!  Not sure what tomorrow will bring.

No pictures...limited batery and can't find my camera in the dark!

Day 36 - July 3, 2012

Day 36 – July 3, 2012

Nashville, TN/Rose Hill VA

265 miles/5 hours

Grandmom & Granddad’s home – Smith Berry Farm

Well the kids woke up very excited to get to their grandparent’s house, but not excited enough to get right on the road.  They begged to go swimming in the hotel’s (outdoor) pool, since it had been raining the day before.  In a rare moment of early morning benevolence, I relented.  They swam (and probably woke up more than a few guests) while I read.  It was already in the high 80’s at 8:30a.m.

Then we (ME) loaded the car and ventured to the Grand Ole Opry.  I really wanted to see it….and the kids, really did not.  They complained and moaned that they wanted to see their dad and their grandparents….grrrr.  So, I only got to see the Opry from the outsideL.  I need to go back to Nashville, what a cool little town.

 The drive was beautiful.  We are so lucky to live in this country.

Somewhere around Knoxville…Barrett had had it.   And boy did he let us know it!   Yelling and screaming (Audrey swears he said “homesick”) and crying a little.  I felt really bad, until he grabbed a bag of popcorn and literally showered the car with it.  What a mess.  You do not even want to see (nor smell, for that matter) the inside of my car.

Once we came up on Cumberland Gap and the kids saw the “welcome to Virginia” sign….all Hell broke loose.  They went crazy.  They screamed for the next 20 minutes, until we pulled onto the drive of the farm.  We were greeted by Rich, on the four-wheeler.  I couldn’t stop the car fast enough, as the kids were clamoring get at him.

Nice quiet night.  Dad made me a Rose Hill martini and all the road irritations fell by the wayside!  G-mom & G-dad hooked the kids up with a pool, so everyone was happyJ!

Excited to go to the Grandparents

One last swim!

Opry Land

Virginia!  We've come full circle...

Daddy!

Pool time, mountain style!

Rose Hill Martini

Granddaddy, you wouldn't believe where she made us go!

Audie & Uncle Lance