Nashville Christmas Fun!

The Grinch Ice Show (Yes, that is ALL ICE!!)

November 15, 2008

We have two days left in Nashville, and I must say, this has been one of the best trips we've been on! Nothing tops our Honeymoon, and we had a wonderful Anniversary trip, but this one is right up there with those. So far, we got to see (AND MEET!) the Radio City Rockettes, attend the Grinch ice sculpture show, attend the Grand Ole Opry, view the lighting ceremony at the Gaylord Opryland, and still have two days of shows and events left. We are here with my parents and sister Tiffani, and the first night here, my dad surprised Mom, Tiffani, and I with Swarovski crystal pieces he got here at the Gaylord. Mom's was two foals (baby horses), Tiffani's was a grand piano, and mine was Winnie The Pooh. They are so gorgeous! Then today, Ryan got me a set of 3 pearl neckalces (they stagger in sizes so you can wear them all at once, I love them!!). I've got a pearl necklace from my grandmother, one from Ryan's parents two Christmas' ago, and Ryan got me a set of pearls on our Honeymoon. I guess tradition carried itself on here in Nashville. I wore them today with a Christmas sweater I got. They looked so pretty. :)

To give a brief run-down for those of you thinking about visiting the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, TN this year (or any other Gaylord, for that matter) on our first night here, we got to attend the lighting ceremony. It was great. They had a Rockabilly Christmas band there playing, an Elvis impersonator, Robin Meade (who is the host of CNN Headline News) and Louise Mandrell host the lighting ceremony. We were surprised when the Radio City Rockettes came out and did a special dance at the lighting as well! It was so beautiful to see. Being the Christmas nut that I am, it brought tears to my eyes. I turned to Ryan and said "Now THIS, is my kind of vacation!" lol

The same day, we also got to meet Christmas book author Harry B. Knights. Tiffani and I got his books and he signed them for us, and he was even nice enough to take a picture with us. One of his books, "The Boy With A Wish" is one of the only religious and Christmas themed books that is approved for both school and church children's readings. He was such a great author and wonderful to talk to. I would highly suggest to anyone looking for children's Christmas books, to look his way!

The next day we went and toured the Belle Meade Plantation. They were all decorated for Christmas, it was really pretty. I learned a lot about Victorian Christmas Tradition as well. I'll have to post when I get back home, the Christmas traditions they shared with us there. Very interesting.

That night we got to see the Radio City Rockettes. This was probably my favorite event of the entire trip so far. They were outstanding. I wish I could've taken pictures but they weren't allowed at the show. If you EVER have a chance to see the Rockettes, please do! They are so great! We also got to meet two of the Rockettes and get their autographs today. That was VERY cool. The two Rockettes we got to meet were so very sweet. They weren't uppity at all, which is nice. Usually, people with such talent and who are performers, are on the snobby side. Not these girls at all!

Today, we went to the Grinch Ice Sculpture Show. It was so impressive! It was 9 degrees in there (COLD!! lol) but they gave us Parkas to wear so we were able to keep fairly warm. All the sculptures were made of ice, and they did such a good job on them. We were told this is the last year Gaylord Hotels are hosting the Grinch Ice event, so if you can get a chance to go to one, it is VERY worth it!

We went to the Grand Ole Opry tonight. It was fun. It had a lot of older artists I didn't know, but we did get to see Diamond Rio and Jamie O'Neal, both of which I really like so that was fun.

A funny story, at supper, we had Hard Rock Cafe to eat, and our waiter was asking me why I was wearing a Christmas sweater so early in the season, so I told him I prepare for Christmas year-round, not to mention run this blog and am a member of several Christmas lists, namely, Christmas To The Max, that all have people who love Christmas year-round like me. So he goes "Well maybe I've been a scrooge then! Hang on, I'll be right back!" so he runs to a back room, and comes out with a Santa hat and puts it on so he could "Be In The Christmas Spirit too!". It was so funny! :)

I will be posting several more pictures thruout the week, especially when we get back home, but I just had to give you all an update on what had been going on this week. It has been great and I am having a blast. I'm so thankful to be here with Ryan, Tiffani, and my parents. We are having a great time and I hate to see the trip end. We've most definitely got to go back again! I would love to go see the shows in Grapevine at the Gaylord there this year too. We're not but about 3 hours from there, from home.

Please let me know what you think of the trip pictures! I've got probably 200-300 more I will be putting in a photo album soon!

Keeping Christmas In My Heart,

*Heth*

Angel Ice Scuplture at the Grinch Ice Show

Nativity Ice Scuplture at the Grinch Ice Show

The Radio City Rockettes Santa

One of the lobby trees at the Grand Ole Opry House

Inside a corridor of Gaylord Opryland

Ryan and I in front of the lit tree at Gaylord Opryland

Inside a corridor of Gaylord Opryland

A beautiful sleigh at Belle Meade Mansion and Plantation in Nashville

Inside a corridor of Gaylord Opryland

Inside one of the corridors of Gaylord Opryland

Nativity and Lit Trees at Gaylord Opryland

The beautiful lit tree outside of Gaylord Opryland

Tiffani and I with the Grinch

Peter Weinen, Senior VP and GM of Gaylord Opryland, CNN Headline News Host Robin Meade, Louise Mandrell, and an elf helper.

Louise Mandrell at the Gaylord Christmas Lighting Ceremony

Radio City Rockettes at the Gaylord Tree Lighting Ceremony

Tiffani and I with author Harry B. Knights