Nashville, Tennessee

Ainsley and I just got back from a fun filled weekend in Nashville. Ainsley did amazing for the four hour drive. We went down to meet up with my mom and Aunt Linda. They work for a scrapbooking company called Imaginisce who was invited to teach classes at a CKU convention held at the Opryland Hotel. It is a convention put on by the Creating Keepsakes Magazine. Presenters from multiple companies teach participants how to do layouts, make albums, demonstrate new products, etc. The ladies who attend these conventions are die hard scrapbookers and they get really into it. The first night they had a pep rally and skits. It was a lot of fun and reminded me of Girls Camp:)

Linda and my mom Shauna-teachers at CKU

Mom teaching women how to do a two page layout

Mom demonstrating how to use her company's newest tool the I-top. It is used to make your own paper or fabric covered brads.

Mom showing women how to use the new tool

Since my mom and Linda had to teach classes for about 8 hours, 3 days straight-Ainsley and I had lots of time on our own to explore the elaborate hotel. We never even went outside because the Opryland Hotel is so big! It was like it's own little city or resort in there. We had plenty to do while they were teaching classes. The Opryland hotel has four different atriums. The Cascades which has a giant waterfall and several restaurants, The Garden Conservatory (where our room was) which is like a botanical garden with waterfalls, ponds, and tons of flowers, the Delta Atrium has three big plantation houses built inside it that have restaurants and tons of shopping, and the Magnolia has more shopping and the Convention Center. There were three pools, tons of walkways, shops, and things to explore. In between naptimes, Ainsley and I explored the hotel and went swimming in the outdoor pool. It was fun because it had a kiddie pool that was shallow enough for Ainsley to walk around in. She loved it!
The Delta Atrium
The Cascades waterfall on the way to the pool

Ainsley and I entertaining ourselves in the room-Here Ainsley is sporting her skirt on her head.

Our room was in the Garden Conservatory...this was the view from our balcony

One evening, we walked next door to the Grand Ole Opry. It is the oldest continuous radio program in the United States-running since October 5, 1925. On Friday and Saturday nights they have a live broadcast featuring different artists. We wanted to go on Saturday night but were unable to make it because we didn't get out of dinner in time, but Steve Martin was performing that night. We did walk over and take pictures of the building though. Then we went shopping at the huge mall next door. We also drove downtown to see more of Nashville.

Mom and I in front of the Grand Ole OpryMe, Mom, Linda, and Ainsley at the awards ceremony on the last night of the convention. The participants won tons of prizes worth hundreds of dollars in scrapbooking supplies.

On the last night at the hotel, we went to a seafood restaurant with all of the other CKU teachers. The small yellow canopy in the background is the restaurant where we ate.
Ainsley favortite part of the weekend was hanging out with Grandma again.

On Sunday before Mom and Linda had to fly home to Utah, we drove around Nashville. First we went to the Hermitage Plantation. This was the home of Andrew Jackson, the seventh President of the United States. He had a huge cotton plantation with about 150 slaves. His family is the only people to live in the mansion and it became a museum shortly after his death and so it has all of the original furtniture, bedding, wallpaper, etc. It was so interesting to see how people lived back them. We toured his home and surrounding farm.

The Hermitage
One of the many slave cottages

The tomb of Andrew Jackson

Next we drove to Franklin which is a nearby town. On Nov. 30, 1864, Franklin was home to one of the bloodiest battles in the Civil War. First we visited the Carter House where more than 1500 bullet holes remain from the battle. Next we drove up to the Carton Plantation, a huge home that was turned into a Confederate field hospital after the battle. Five Confederate generals died on the porch and the wood is still stained with blood from the hundreds of soldiers who died there. The McGavock family who owned the plantation donated two acres of their own land to help bury 1,481 Southern soldiers killed in the battle.

Carton Plantation
The Confederate Cemetary built on the Carton Plantation. Each stone had a number and initials of the dead soldier. But there was also a large tomb honoring the 255 unknown soldiers who died there.

After our day in Franklin, I had to drive Mom and Linda to the airport. It was a great weekend and it was hard to say goodbye. Ainsley loved hanging out with her Grandma Butler again. It was so fun to spend the weekend with them. Thanks for everything Mom! We love you and can't wait to see you again in a few months!!!