university of tennessee

This one’s gonna be pretty image-heavy, so make yourself comfortable! ;) So here’s the story- For almost a year (I believe), Lorie and I were planning a surprise trip for our guys. :) Nathan had never gone and stayed in a cabin before, or seen east Tennessee, let alone in the fall, so we knew where we wanted to go immediately! The whole trip was full of surprises (more than Lorie knew, even), so when we put the guys in the car, they had no idea where we were taking them! Our first surprise for them was a day at Dollywood, which none of us had gone to before. :) Being a total Disney snob, I thought we’d be laughing at it, but I looooooooved it!!

This was the front entrance:

Dollywood had to be the most beautiful amusement park ever. I mean, even waiting in line was gorgeous. :)

While part of Dollywood is rides and attractions, the other has an actual chapel, and a lot of craftsmen making furniture, guitars, brooms… A little of everything. It’s kind of like a permanent crafts fair.

Santa’s brother talking with a scarecrow.

I loved the gift shop up front. :)

Prettiest parking lot ever!

So after that surprise was done, we threw the guys in the car and headed to secret spot #2.

Ta-da!! Well, turns out we didn’t get a photo of the front of our cabin, but this is the bedroom Nate & I stayed in.

It was absolutely gorgeous- I can’t wait to go back. :)

The view from the kitchen window…

… And the view from the 3 back porches. (Yes, 3!)

Another view from the back porch- I love autumn leaves when they’re soaked. :)

The view looking down from the top porch.

I didn’t include photos ’cause we didn’t take any, but we also surprised the guys by taking them to the Dixieland Stampede that night. (Yeehaw!) After the show was a big moment for me- It was the first time in about 5 months that I had just sat down to watch a movie. Lorie and I watched Stepmom (one of my favorites to watch around Autumn), and the guys went downstairs and played pool.

Nate and Jon went for a hike around the cabin the next morning. :)

I loved taking these roads!

What it looks like from a car window. :)

The NEXT surprise was on Halloween, actually… We went to the University of Tennessee, where Lorie, Jon, and I went to school for a while. The 3 of us hadn’t been back since, and I loved having the chance to show Nate around my old stompin’ grounds. The next 2 photos are the most meaningful- The bench Lorie and I are sitting on is the VERY spot where I begged her to do the Walt Disney World College Program with me! I wouldn’t have done it without her, and she would never have met Jon, I never would have met Nate. How crazy! I thought the bench deserved a photo. :) The one on the right was my dorm, South Carrick. :)

The Quad where I spent most of my time. :)

Neyland Stadium!

We’d purposefully picked Halloween week to go because this was the only game Nate and I didn’t have a wedding booked. :)

I loved that it was the black out game on Halloween! The Pride of the Southland Band performed a Halloween medley. :)

Jack from Nightmare Before Christmas!

That’s better. :)

After the game- I can honestly say I’d never been so cold and wet for such a long period of time. I was miiiiiiserable, but we had fun, regardless. :) Oh, and UT won, too!

I love this photo of Lorie and Jon… It’s extra special, because while she and I were planning this surprise trip for the guys, she had nooooooo idea Jon was planning on proposing the next day! :)