Take 13 adults and 5 kids 4 and under and cram them all into VRBO. Throw in a visit to a big, crowded theme park – something that must be coordinated around toddler naps and baby feedings and weather and wildfires. You’d expect chaos and crying, right? We sure did. What we got instead was a real-life Hallmark channel Christmas movie. I’d love to pat us all on the back, but mere humans don’t get to take credit for real Christmas miracles.
As all the kids in our big, blended family have gotten older, it’s gotten harder to get everyone together. The holidays are a crazy challenge now. Two of Kevin’s kids are married and have children of their own. The big twins have jobs and lives. My two are away at school, both with a couple of jobs of their own. Last year the holidays felt hectic and stressed – like a pile of obligations. Made me sad to see the strain and fatigue and so many faces. Like, this isn’t how it should be. Kev’s two oldest, hauling their babies from house to house to house…the holiday more of an endurance trial than a celebration. We came up with an idea: a shared family adventure. We’d do something special all together and then let the official holidays unfold in whatever way was easiest for everyone. No hard plans, no hurt feelings. And so, last February we posted an invite on the family group chat: Dollywood, November 2023.
We found a rental cabin with 8 bedrooms, and a backyard play area that turned out to be heaven for little kids. A tiny climbing wall, a zipline, a pair of bouncy horses on springs. The place was 2 miles from the entrance to Dollywood. It looked perfect – and it was. The family who owns it nailed every single detail. It’s called The Emory House, if you ever bring your giant clan to the Smokies, and you can find it on Homeaway or VRBO or Summit Cabin Rentals.
We all piled in: me and Kevin, his first wife, Joni – who I love like a sister and am thankful for every single day – Uncle Sparkles, most of our kids, their kids and spouses, a couple of significant others, a fleet of toddlers, and one incredibly easygoing 7 month old baby boy. We were missing Olivia who couldn’t get away from school, and Rachel and John, who couldn’t get away from work. Joni, Sparkles, and I coordinated groceries and cocktail ingredients. We knew restaurants were a hard no with that many little ones.
Wildfires closed Dollywood temporarily – but the park reopened in time for us to take the kids. They rode the Busy Bees and the Flying Elephants. Ada, now 4, won toys for herself and all her little cousins on the midway. When she wound up and threw a ball and actually hit the target – the amazement and joy on her little face! We made it aboard the sunset trip for the Dollywood Express, a real coal-fired steam locomotive that winds its way along a 5-mile route while Dolly sang Christmas songs and the engineer played Jingle Bells on the train whistle. The baby twins, now 2 years old, about lost their minds to be on a real choo choo train. As we chugged back into the depot at twilight, the whole park twinkled with lights. More than 6 million lights, turning Dollywood into a wonderland. The kids danced at Dolly’s big Christmas tree, and when the artificial snow began falling, Ella – who turns 2 on Christmas day this year – threw up her arms and shouted, “again again again!”
Y’all, it was magical. It was the kind of family stuff that I thought only happened to other people. Because for most of my life, it did only happen to other people. Or on the Hallmark channel. Listen, we even took a group photo with all of us in our 2023 Christmas jammies. Shut up! It was Pinterest-level wholesome. The best of all possible gifts.
Everyone agreed that we should make it a tradition. The plan is to try for a repeat next year. Realistically, Kev and I know that magic like this may happen just once. That’s okay. Better once than never. Even if, on the inside, I’m with Ella, hoping for again, again, again.
Hello, Boy I’m proud of you for your dedication and hard work going to Dollywood. You and Kevin are great people for doing this. Sounds like a great time with a stress factor in there. Have a great Christmas
This makes me SO happy! I can’t imagine the joy on the kid’s faces, but even more, the joy all the adults had seeing everything go so well! This is truly a miracle and something that you wll never forget.
♥️♥️♥️
OMG! We stayed in that exact same house Thanksgiving 2020 with basically the same idea! I have pics of all the family all on the merry go round. LOL So glad you all had such a wonderful time! Merry Christmas (:
Hi Sheri, my family and I love Dollywood at Christmas. We were there Friday after Thanksgiving this year. We have Season Passes and it is the best park ever. I’m thrilled to hear you and the family has such a magical experience.
For several years we have taken our kids and grandkids on a trip for their Christmas present. Last year we did Dollywood and at the end everybody asked if we could do it again this year. So we are packing up again in a couple of weeks and heading to the hills. I hope when my grandkids are grown they will remember our trips and do the same with their families.
Reading this makes me so happy for all of y’all! An early Christmas miracle for sure. Hope to see some pictures posted. Merry early Christmas 🎄
I love this! Holidays are a stressful time for many. What a wonderful idea! I’m so glad that everything worked out except for the few that couldn’t be there. Merry Christmas to you all!
That was the most wonderful narrative and so great to hear that things went beyond well. Much much more than you had hoped for, and every bit of it well-deserved. I hope your batteries are a lot fuller now. And you are such a good writer–ending on Ella’s “again, again, again.”
GIRL, you SO deserved this! Happy for you. Precious memories.
I’m so excited that your Dollywood adventure was a huge success!! You and your family deserved a great trip. Annual tradition in the works….
Merry Christmas! 🎄
I have to admit that this brought tears to my eyes!! What a wonderful gift you gave to each other! Holiday MAGIC!!
Wishing you and all of the crew Christmas blessings 🎄
I’m glad you all had a great time, family is everything! Thank you for sharing!
Nobody deserves this more than you! I am so happy you and your family got this opportunity to spend some quality time bonding with each other and making special memories. My husband died on Christmas Eve 2018 and it is just my son and me now. We are all the family we have left now and we are creating our own traditions and memories together. Enjoy every moment you have with your loved ones. You never know what life has in store for you and everything can change in the blink of an eye.
It was truly amazing ! I love you Sheri!!
Sheri, your family adventure is what wonderful family memories are made of…. toys and presents will be gone one day but those memories will last forever. You’re gave everyone a priceless gift. Thanks for sharing your special family story.
Wow, I’m so thrilled for your families and the great time you had!! That took a lot of planning.and I’m so glad it was everything you had hoped for. Merry Christmas!
Your story just made my entire day, tears and all. I am so so happy for all of you and pulling this off so beautifully! Well done! Would LOVE to see the family Christmas card photo!