A very Vera whirlwind trip

John and I went to the Vera Bradley outlet sale when it was in Atlanta a couple of years ago. We got lots of stuff for me as well as a lot of presents for other people. We went on the 3rd day of the sale, walked right in, leisurely browsed the tables, made out purchases and left. I didn't know what I had missed! My adventure to the Vera Bradley Outlet sale this year with my daughter Jill was a totally different experience!

I like Vera Bradley stuff, but my daughter, Jill, is absolutely crazy about it. After the sale in Atlanta she started following the Vera Bradley website to see when the next outlet sale was coming to the Atlanta area. Only then did we find out that the spring outlet sale is always in Fort Wayne, Indiana (their home location) and the fall outlet sale travels all over the country. Not being able to tell where the fall sales were going to be, we decided that we would make the trip to the spring sale this year. We were going to drive, but luckily Delta put some tickets on sale at a decent price that made flying irresistible! So, we flew in to Indianapolis, Indiana and rented a car for the 2 hour drive to Fort Wayne. We ran into several ladies at the hotel that come to the Vera Bradley sale every year. They were telling us that in years past they have gotten to the sale right when the doors opened and had never had to wait in line to get in.

Well, all I can say is that I'm glad we didn't listen to those ladies. When Jill and I got up at 5:30 AM, the news stations were already covering the line that was forming outside the Fort Wayne Coliseum where the sale was being held. People had slept in their cars in the parking lot all night! We had already planned to leave the hotel at 6:30 AM which would put us at the coliseum right around 7:00 AM. We got there about 6:50 AM and there were already about 1,000 women (there may have been a couple of men) in line. By the time 8:00 rolled around, there were about 3,000 more women behind us! We stood outside in 44 degree weather until the doors opened at 8:00. After the doors opened, it took us 20 minutes to reach the entrance.

The sale is very well organized. On the first day, the selection is the greatest and the prices are the highest. As each day of the sale goes on, the selection, as well as the prices decrease. While we were in line we were given a map of the layout of the sale. All the rows were numbered and different colored balloons were above the tables. So, you could look for the item you wanted on the map and know exactly where to go once you got inside. As you walked into the sale, you were given a pink garbage back to put your stuff in. We had listened to some of the ladies in the line saying that they just grab stuff, put it in their bag, then sort through it later.

So, Jill and I did just that. Jill had a long list of requests from her friends. I only had a few. Shortly after we got into the sale area, we separated so we could make sure we found as many of the things we were looking for as possible. After all, were were on a time schedule - we had an afternoon plane to catch and a 2 hour drive to the airport. When our bags were so full we couldn't even drag them behind us, we decided it was time to go to the sorting area and go through our loot.

We picked out the things we really wanted to keep and put back the things we decided we weren't crazy about. Then we hit the floor again, filling our pink bags back up! After sorting two more times and checking our lists of requests from our friends, I think we were finally satisfied with all of our stuff.

We headed out of that room to the checkout room where we encountered another long line. There must have been 50 checkout registers with 3 ladies working at each one. The first lady organized all of our like items together and made sure the price tags were showing. The next lady rang up our purchases and the last lady bagged everything. It made getting through the checkout line very quick. They even had a mini post office set up so you could ship your purchases home!

When we left the building we were shocked by what we saw. The line that we had stood in and thought was long was now snaked through the parking lot all the way out to the street. The estimated wait time to just get inside the door was 4 hours! A lot of the ladies in line came to our car to look at what we had bought and wanted to know how much was left inside. We told them they didn't have anything to worry about because the tables were being restocked as fast as they were emptied. There were at least 15 tractor trailer trucks full of merchandise in the parking lot, too. I don't think they were going to run out!

We stuffed all of Jill's purchases into our two basically empty suitcases. There was no more room so I had my stuff mailed home. We made it to the airport and safely back home. It was a whirlwind trip but it was so much fun and nothing can replace the experience and the memories! We are planning to do it again next year but will probably plan to stay a couple of days next time.

Big Sky, Big Snow, Big Family and Big Fun!

For spring break, John and I took the kids and grandkids to Big Sky, Montana for them to snowboard. We planned this trip almost a year ago and it was going to be the last week of ski season at Big Sky. It was a little scary planning a ski trip so late in the season - would there be enough snow for the kids to have a good time? Well, as the week drew closer and closer, the snow in Montana kept getting deeper and deeper. The week before we went they got about 18 inches of new snow. The day before we left they got another 12 inches! It snowed twice while we were there and was snowing the morning we left! It was all powder - perfect snowboarding conditions!

This was the first trip we have taken with the grandkids. It started at 5:30 AM with our trip to the airport. We had someone pick us up in a 15 passenger van so we could get all the "stuff" in one vehicle. We had 6 adults, 2 kids, 2 snowboard bags, 2 car seats, and several pieces of luggage. That van was packed!

Michael has been on several airplane rides in his short life, but this was Kennedy's first airplane ride. Both kids did great. We had a very short layover in Salt Lake City before we boarded a very small (32 passenger) plane from there to Bozeman, Montana. Kennedy was so funny as she was looking out the window while we were taxiing away from the gate. We were evidently a pretty good way away from the runway and it took a while for the plane to reach it. Also, the plane was so small it had to get up a lot of speed before we actually took off. Kennedy looked out the window and asked "Is this a car airplane, 'cause we're not flying!" Then when we finally took off, she starting saying "We're going down, We're going down" (I think she meant up), but it was so funny to hear her say that. David immediately started telling her not to say that!

We stopped for groceries in Bozeman before we started our 1 hour drive up the mountain. We were packed to the gills after the grocery stop! The drive up the mountain was beautiful. This was our first view of the Big Sky ski area.

As we got closer, you could see a couple of the ski runs that run right by the road. It was amazing to see people skiing right beside where we were driving! Some of those objects on the path are trees, but most of them are people.

We arrived at the condo we rented and got settled in. The kids started familiarizing themselves with their surroundings so they could get out and get started on the slopes bright and early the next morning. Jill got her snowboard waxed, David and Summer got their boards rented and even rented a pair of skis for Kennedy. She wasn't too keen on skiing. Hopefully she will like it when she gets a little older.

After a good breakfast (David even cooked breakfast for all of us one morning!) the big kids hit the slopes while John and I took the kids out to play in the snow. Jill and Summer were usually done with snowboarding by lunch time. David even came in to eat lunch before going back out for the afternoon. But, not Sam. Since we were in a ski-in-ski-out condo, Sam asked Jill to just bring him a couple of sandwiches out to the area outside the condo, he grabbed them and ate them on the ski lift on his way back up to the top of the mountain. Sam didn't come in until the lifts stopped running and the slopes were closed. That boy loves to snowboard.

Sam went up to the very top of Lone Peak, the highest peak at the resort, topping out at 11,166 feet. From the top of this peak you can see Montana, Idaho and Wyoming's Grand Titons mountain range! Then, he actually snowboarded down from there on double black diamond slopes! Later, Jill, Sam, David and Summer all went up to the top but did not snowboard down - they rode the tram and ski lifts back down. Sam said he was glad he snowboarded down the slope but that it was the scariest thing he has ever done in his life and he would never do it again. I think that is a smart decision!

On the last Saturday of the season, Big Sky has a silly competition called "Pond Skim". Crazy folks dress up in even crazier costumes and come down the mountain and try to either ski or snowboard across a man made pond and come out the other side without falling in the freezing cold water! Believe it or not, several people made it across the pond but more fell in it! It was a lot of fun to watch.

On the last day we were there I tried to snowboard using Jill's snowboard. I wanted to use the little slope where the ski run ends but Sam didn't think it was sloped enough for me to even try to snowboard. He wanted to put me on the beginner slope. I insisted that the slope I wanted to use was enough for me. After Jill helped me get the board on and got me standing upright, Sam tried giving me some instruction on how to snowboard. The one thing he didn't tell me was how to stop! I started going down my very tiny slope and the snowboard started doing a 360 degree turn. I had no idea how to control the board nor how to stop. Luckily Sam got to me right before I crashed into someone's skis that were planted upright in the snow! It was fun, and it was enough to last me a lifetime! I think I'll keep my feet planted firmly on the ground.

Crazy Sam! I wanted to stop to take a picture of this frozen lake right as we entered the resort area. Sam jumped out of the car and ran to the bridge where the sign "Danger Thin Ice" was and acted like he was going to jump in. He is such a comedian! The frozen lake was beautiful.

There were outdoor fire pits all over the village area. They would keep them going during the day as well as the evening. One evening we were walking back to the condo and stopped to warm up a bit on the way.

I think we all had a big time and big fun in Big Sky!

Easter Eggs and Bubbles!

We had family and friends at our house for Easter lunch this year. Of course, that included the kids and grandkids as well as our future daughter-in-laws parents and brother and sister. It was so much fun to have a house full of people. I love to have family and friends around and just celebrate life and have fun!

It was pretty warm on Easter Sunday this year. All the eggs were filled with chocolate and I was afraid that if we hid the eggs outside it would take so long for the little ones to find them that the chocolate would be melted. What a mess that would have been. So, we decided to have an "inside" Easter egg hunt. The little ones really didn't know the difference - they just enjoyed finding the eggs.

Summer's brother, Cole, even joined in on the fun. Sam went kind of crazy hiding one of the eggs and it is still "hidden" hanging from a glass chime hanging from my ceiling in the sunroom. Next time Sam gets over here, he's going to have to get it down!

After lunch and the egg hunt, we went outside with the bubble machine. Kennedy and Michael love bubbles. They spent about 30 minutes outside chasing bubbles. The machine worked great because you can't blow bubbles fast enough for the two of them. This way, we all just sat back and enjoyed watching some of the wonders of childhood!

After fun with the bubbles, it was time for some chocolate!

Happy Valentine's Day

I know it is past Valentine's Day, but I wanted to post a couple of pictures I took of the grandkids for their parents for Valentine's Day. It was a real challenge to get these and they aren't the best, but it was the best I could do being the only one working with them while trying to take the pictures. I can't wait till they get older and can really enjoy posing for the camera!

Happy Valentine's Day Sam, Jill, David and Summer.

Snow in Atlanta - It Finally Happened!

The weather forecasters have been forecasting snow for the Atlanta area for about the past 4 weeks. We hope and hope but it never comes. It hits all around us, Alabama, the North Georgia Mountains, Tennessee, even Florida got some snow! Well, we escaped the snow as long as we could and it finally hit us on February 15th. I had gone to the Mall of GA to pick up Kennedy because John and I were taking her to the Big Apple Circus at Stone Mountain that night. As we were walking out of the mall I looked out the glass doors and could see nothing but pure white. It was really snowing, and snowing hard! I haven't seen it snow that hard in a long, long time. Kennedy and I got to the car and I called John to let him know we were on our way home. He said our entire front yard was already covered in snow!

Luckily I didn't have any problems making it home. It snowed harder and harder and the traffic on I-85 south was moving at a snail's pace. We were going about 30 miles per hour. There was a lot of traffic, too. I think everyone decided they should leave work early in order to make it home safely.

I talked to Kennedy on the way home and tried to explain to her that we might not be going to the circus that night because of the snow. She was totally okay with that. Thank goodness, because I didn't want to have a crying, disappointed little girl on my hands for the entire evening! When we got home, Kennedy told me she didn't feel good. She had eaten a good lunch at the mall and was acting fine, playing with Michael during lunch, and talking and laughing on the way home. We had been home about 15 minutes when she got sick. So, as it turned out, it was okay that we didn't go to the circus that night!

By the way, the Big Apple Circus has an awesome exchange policy on tickets. They don't care why you couldn't make it to your performance. They will exchange your tickets for a performance on the same day of your original ticket (week day or weekend day), no questions asked. We now have tickets right across the aisle from our original seats for another Friday night. Hopefully we will have better weather and no sickness!

When Kennedy woke up Saturday morning she was feeling much better. We got all suited up and went out to play in the snow. Kennedy didn't have any gloves with her so we put some of my gloves on her tiny little hands and kept them on with rubber bands. They looked kind of funny but at least her hands stayed warm. We tried to make a snowman but our snow was like sugar. It was so light, dry and powdery that it wouldn't even stick together. But, it made some awesome snow angels! We had a fun morning playing in the snow. Luckily, when it snows in Atlanta, it doesn't last. Unlike our friends in other parts of the country that can't dig themselves out of the snow, our streets were pretty clear by Saturday afternoon (luckily the water that re-froze overnight melted my mid-day) and all of the snow was pretty much gone by Sunday afternoon. It was pretty while it lasted. That's the kind of snow I like - that's why I live in Georgia!

Kennedy ready to play in the snow

Making snow angels

We got 4 inches. The snow completely covered my boots!

Our house with the sun coming up over it

Winter wonderland - it was so beautiful. Thankfully it only lasted 48 hours!

Fun with Friends

John and I met the Mashak's and the Schodt's in Branson, Missouri for a fun weekend in early December. We met these couples on our tour in New England in the fall of 2008. We all enjoyed each other's company and decided that we would like to get together once a year, so this year we all met up in Branson. What a fun trip!

John and I were lucky enough to get a flight from Atlanta right into Branson's new airport. I have never seen an airport so small! We were the only plane at the airport and when we arrived at the gate, all the employees came out to greet the plane and welcome us to Branson. The airport has 4 gates which are really just 4 doors in a large room about the size of a football field - maybe even smaller than that!

Looking across the entire airport from the gate we came in!

I realize this is a little dark, but you can see the 4 "gates" and our lonely plane outside!

The Mashak's live in Arkansas so they drove up to Branson. They picked us up at the airport and gave us a quick tour of the main part of town where all the theaters are. The weather was very cold. It was in the teens at night and the warmest it got all weekend was 41 degrees.

We saw some great shows while we were there, including Debbie Boone. Most young people don't even know who she is. Debbie Boone is Pat Boone's daughter and RoseMary Clooney's daughter-in-Law (If you don't know who I'm talking about, ask your parents!). She performed a wonderful Christmas concert and ended by singing her most famous song "You Light Up My Life". She's still got it!

We also saw a show on the Riverboat Branson Belle. Todd Oliver, a ventriloquist, was the main entertainment. He uses his own personal dogs as his "dummies". He was really good and we enjoyed his show a lot.

The most awesome show we saw was on Saturday night. We went to see "SIX". This show is described as "the showbiz spectacular filled with the powerhouse vocals and high-octane energy of six brothers who take musical entertainment to a whole new level using only their voices". This group of men can make sounds that will amaze you. They are the drums, trumpet, guitar, and about any other instrument you can think of using only their voices. It was so entertaining - an orchestra of human voices. I didn't want to leave when the show was over. John bought me 3 of their CDs as well as their DVD so I can continue enjoying them at home. If you ever get a chance to see this group perform, you must go. If you want to check them out online, I'm sure they are on you-tube somewhere. They do have a website thesixshow.com.

Of course, we enjoyed some time socializing, eating, and shopping. It was a wonderful trip and I can't wait to see where we go next year!

John and Kay, Alan and Jan, Santa, Betty and Ron at the Kris Kringle shop.