Growing up in the Nashville area, I had many opportunities to visit Opryland Hotel and even stay there for several conventions. My friends and I (and later on, Tom and I) would enjoy walking around the ginormous atriums, indoor waterfall, and beautiful lobbies; it was fun and FREE. While the convention center has grown exponentially in the twenty years since I graduated high school and moved away, they've always been known for their Christmas decorations. It's always amazing.
A week before Christmas, we decided to go spend a couple of days in a condo very close to the hotel. My family lives about an hour away so they were to come over and we'd exchange gifts and all of us would go to Opryland, see all the Christmas lights, and take in a free show featuring Shrek and friends.
The hotel was packed (and we were there on a Monday), and seating was very limited. I had to stand Andrew up on a chair, have one arm around him to keep him steady, while taking pics (which is why I got none of him actually watching the show-no biggie). My boys got to see the show despite the cramped conditions--I made sure of that--despite one gentleman's grinchy attitude. It was impossible to be in such an atmosphere and not be filled with the Christmas spirit, even for him. :) I mean, at one point, it was
SNOWING in the hotel!!!
**MAGICAL**
I really hope to make this an annual tradition, and take in even more of the sites and activities.
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| Gingerbread man |
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| Kung Fu Panda |
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| Why I actually thought I could photograph the snow coming down, I have no idea, but I was so excited, I wanted to try! |
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| Penguins from Madagascar |
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| Shrek and Fiona |
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| Puss 'n Boots! |
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| My boys |
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| Tom and the boys |
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| My dad and Karen |
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| My mom |
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| Walking behind the waterfall |
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| Boat ride--Tom and I went one year for our anniversary--hopefully next time we can take the boys |
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| A s'more shack--they sell the goods..... |
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| ...you toast the marshmallows and assemble! Fun idea! |
