Christmas Lights at Dollywood

We went to Dollywood this weekend and I must say we had a terrific time.

The drive was long but we stayed entertained by listening to Christmas music most of the way and playing charades. It was really exciting when we got to the mountains and the tops were white with snow and we drove through flurries and a tunnel. The condo we stayed in was beautiful, I could have lived there. They also had an indoor pool that Joshua loved.

We went to Dollywood on Friday night so that we could see it decorated for Christmas. They boast having 4 million lights and I believe it. I just wonder how many man hours it takes to put them up and take them down! It was cold and we were bundled up but it was beautiful. We ate dinner, watched The Polar Express 4-D thing (part of the train ride in 3-D plus a seat that moved) which Joshua said was awesome, walked around until they closed.

Saturday morning, we went on a helicopter ride. Scott had never been in a helicopter and had always wanted to go, Joshua thought it would be cool, and I hadn't been on a helicopter since I was about 4 years old. We took the short ride, only about 4 minutes, I thought we could only look out the window for so long before someone would start getting bored. It was a great morning to go for a ride, sunny, clear, not windy. We all enjoyed it and Scott even managed to look out the window 3 times!

After the helicopter ride, we headed back to Dollywood. If you buy your tickets after 6pm, you get to use the tickets to get in the next day. We ate breakfast and then headed for the bumper cars...Joshua had seent he bumper cars the night before and was determined they were going to be the first thing he did. We did bumper cars, swings, teacups, flying elephants, roller coasters (the kid one), ferris wheels, mini antique cars, the train, shops, corndogs, lights, games, whew!!! The longest line we waited in the entire day was the line for the corndogs...and I must say they were worth it...While Scott waited in that line, Joshua and I sat down, well, I sat down, he laid down with his head on my lap. I knew then that we were not going to make it to any shows that day. It is hard to fit it all in in one day.

Saturday night, Scott and I went out to dinner while Mimi and Joshua stayed in playing games and swimming. After dinner, we cruised the strip in downtown Gatlinburg. I don't think I had been to Gatlinburg since high school (for those of you who do not know, I grew up about an hour and a half away from Gatlinburg and we made the trip several times a year), but it was just as I had remembered it. Of course, there are some new things, but it was still just bumper to bumper on the road with cars and shoulder to shoulder on the sidewalk with people.

Sunday morning, we had to head home.

The Only Thing We Have to Fear

Is fear itself...FDR
Unless you are a 4 year old.

Joshua has recently displayed a lot of fears, all valid fears, not likely fears, but fears just the same.

A few weeks ago, there were some tornadoes in the area. After seeing it on the news, photos in the newspaper, hearing us talk about it, Joshua became scared a tornado was going to come to our house. Just a few minutes after seeing a destroyed home on tv, he climbed in my lap and whispered in my ear Is a tornado going to come to our house? He has since asked this many times, along with Where will we live if a tornado comes? What if a tornado comes down our driveway? What if a tornado comes before Christmas? There was also a big discussion about Caitlin's family coming to stay at our house if a tornado goes to their house. We also drive by some delapidated barns and sheds daily. Joshua always asks if a tornado knocked it down, did the people get out, are the people ok, did the people get their stuff out.

And hurricanes. If a hurricane comes to our house will our house go into the ocean? OK, we live 200 miles away from the ocean but I didn't bother explaining that one.

Last week, we watched Home Alone. I thought Joshua might enjoy some of the humor...Kevin getting the bad guys is right along the same lines as Spongebob and the Three Stooges, both of which Joshua likes. But, instead, he becomes worried that I am going to leave him and that burglars are going to come to our house. What if burglars come? Will they take the money from my piggy bank? What if they take my toys? What if Buddy gets scared and runs away and doesn't come back?

And the hardest fear to dispell, what happens if I die and go to heaven and Joshua gets lonely. He finally decided that he, daddy and Buddy would just have to come with me so that we will all be together. He actually asks a lot of questions about God and Heaven and angels How to people get to Heaven? Are they scared? Do angels have tattoos? Will my toys be there? How will we find each other? Will we live in the same house? and I try to answer them the best that I can.

Several months ago, Joshua had gone through an extra clingy stage and I had mentioned it to my doctor. She told me that around 4 years of age, kids become more aware of their surroundings, there are bad things in the world and sometimes bad things happen. It is all normal to fear these new things. I'm glad to know that it's normal but sometimes it doesn't make it any easier convincing him that a tornado probably will not come to our house, hurricanes normally do not come this far from the ocean, we would call the police of burglars came and if I go to heaven first, I will visit him often and he will not be alone.