Swim meet number 2

 Getting ready to rumble!  This meet Hunter raced all 25s---the free, fly, breast and back and then one 50 free.

Buddies getting ready to swim together!  So proud of these guys and all they do in the water.  It is so much fun watching them improve at practice and in the meets.  In a year....maybe two they will both be swimming circles around me!

Linville Falls Camping, Gem mining, Grandfather Mountain and some Tweetsie Ghost Train

This was our coldest camping trip yet!  I think it was the coldest weekend of the year.  The highs were in the 40's but the wind made it feel much colder and the lows were in the 30's!  Burr!!  We camped at Linville Falls State Park and their was NO electric or water hook-ups.  No worries, the R-Pod rocked another great camping trip and we stayed warm as toast in our little camper. The above picture was taken from inside the tilt a whirl at Tweetsie.  We took the boys to ride the Ghost Train!  It was a whole other side to Tweetsie we had never seen before.  It was lots of funny and just scary enough for the boys.  The train took on a whole other look and the ride was all about catching these wolf like creatures that were loose in the woods.  The boys loved it!  Although, one little side note here, when Lucas was walking toward the park entrance he saw the train, took his hat off and threw it to the ground while saying, "I am NOT riding on that!" In the end, he loved it.

Hiking up to the falls.  Only Kona made this trip.  Ibis wasn't doing well and wouldn't have been able to hike and it was too cold to leave him in the camper.  He was boarded for the weekend.

This pictures are out of order but that's Okay.  We went to Linville falls and Tweetsie and the first day and on the last day we went to Grandfather Mountain and somewhere in between we managed to squeeze in some gem mining.  These two pictures were on the hike up to Grandfather Mountain and the Mile High Swinging Bridge.  It was FREEZING!!  The temperature was around 28 degrees with wind gusts up to 30 miles per hour.  By the time we were on the bridge you couldn't see anything but the whites of our eyes.

When I posted these pictures I had to do a double take and make sure I had the right pictures and the right year! Lucas looks just like he did when he was a baby in some similar photos we have of him.  He is 5 years old here, but he still has that sweet little baby face and chubby cheeks to boot.

The boys made it to the top.  You can drive to the top or you can park in a below walk and take the milesh or so hike to the bridge.  It is a strenuous hike as well.  Very steep and rocky with several switch backs.

Nana and Uncle Larry arrived at the campground a day or so ahead of us.  It was nice to camp with them again and this time show them our R-Pod.  They have been camping for over 30 years, have lots of experience and plenty to teach us.  Nana makes some delicious meals with the dutch oven and the boys love Uncle Larry's biscuits in the morning.

Our home for the weekend.  The camper did great in the cold and we stayed snug as a bug...well, except Hunter.  He had the window by his head and complained of being cold some through the night.  We had some solar panels that we were using to help keep our battery charged but we didn't use the heat like we really could have.  By the end of the weekend and our power levels still nearly fully charged, we could have warmed it up a bit more inside.  Lesson learned!

Now we are back at Linville and hiking to the falls.  It was so busy this weekend.  The State Park parking log was full!  It was peak leaf changing season and people had traveled from all over to see how beautiful the Blue Ridge Parkway can be in the fall.  We even ran into the Rhem family from Sullins!

The power of the water rushing through the falls is breathtaking.

Some views from the lower falls.  This park is simply amazing and a must see if you haven't been before.

A really nice lady offered to take our picture.  Despite Uncle Larry in his shorts, it was so COLD this weekend.

Some beautiful views up the river gorge.

This was at one of the hike summits.  You could look down and see the lower falls from up here.

Gem mining at it's best.  Apparently, this area is known for its gems.  We asked one of the park rangers where the best places to go was around town and they sent us here....and I can't remember the name!  The boys have been begging to go for about a year so we caved and went on this freezing fall weekend.  We had a 20 pound bucket and nothing but time to find us some jewels.

The boys thought this was the greatest thing ever!  Like a treasure hunt and they were excited about every colorful rock they found.  Lucas really like the tiny ones.

Here was a list of all the raw gems you could find and what they look like.  I think the boys thought we would pull out polished and shiny gems.  The owners of the store could polish your gems and turn them into some fine jewelry but it took several weeks to do this.  Thankfully, the boys were happy with their bag of extra special rocks and weren't interested in leaving them behind or having a necklace!

Lucas and I on the other side of the Mile High Bridge.  I have to admit, I was a little nervous way up there and I din't like the boys walking around at all!  There are no safety nets, no guardrails, but plenty of steep edges and dangerous drop offs!

View from the middle of the bridge.  The visibility was incredible.  It was cold but and extremely clear day.

Walking back across.  Yes, Kona make this hike as well.  Poor thing was scared to death of the bridge and David had to carry him across and then back again!  Another successful camping adventure for sure!

Thanksgiving Feast, Grandparents Day and a Seussical! Love Sullins Academy!

For Thanksgiving at Sullins the Preschool, Junior K and Kindergarten classes all have a feast in the cafeteria that they help to prepare.  The Preschool gives a little performance along with Kindergarten and the Junior K participates in a very importance naming ceremony presided by Chief Rhem.  The morning is crazy but the kids love every minute of it!

The kids could choose to dress as an Indian or a pilgrim.  Most dressed as an Indian, but we did have one or two pilgrims.  You see what Lucas chose to be and he is showing off his card telling what he is most thankful for.....his brother.  Those two love each other to the moon and back.

Gaga came up for Grandparents Day!  Yea!  A super special day for the kids at Sullins and their grandparents.  Earlier in the month the students write a letter to their grandparents asking them to come to the special celebration.  My mom really like getting the invitation in the mail.  For the day at school the kids can have their picture taken with their grandparents, they have crafts prepared to do with them in their classrooms, they take them to the book fair, they take them to the bake sale, they have a delicious brunch with them in the cafeteria and in conclusion the whole school puts on a big performance.  This year it was a Seussical, written by a former Sullins student and directed by our extremely talented music director.  This was the best performance I have seen from the student body to date!  Hunter was a tree and wasn't very happy with his second grade outfit.  I wish I had more pictures from this presentation but I was too entertained (and too far back) to get any good shots.  You will just have to go next year and see it for yourself!  The boys were very proud of themselves for the success of this program!

Each class was a different character from a Dr. Seuss book.  Kindergarten were fish and we all worked hard on making their hats!

I purchased this extraordinary cake at the Grandparents' Day bake sale.  A big thank you goes to Unique Cakes for making such a beautiful and delicious cake!  It was HUGE.  We hosted Thanksgiving so it didn't last that long in a house full of people.  It was so good!  They bake the best cakes and my mouth is watering just remembering how great it tasted!

Eat Mor' Chiken!

David and I were out for one of our last long rides before the madness of the holiday season was to begin.  Not too far from Alvarado station you have to cross a farm where the cows can be loose on the trail.  This was the first time I've ever seen them just lying on the trial like this.  I made David scoot by them first.  I was afraid one of those big, smelly things was going to kick me!  We made it by them and decided it was too funny and needed to pose for a picture with them.  They were unamused with us and they were actually a lot closer than this picture seems!

Visit with great friends!

Hello Seahawks!  April and Amanda and their families came up and over to visit us the first of November.  We hadn't seen each other in a few years and a visit was well overdue.  Upon college graduation we talked about how we would get together at least once every year.  It is amazing how hard it is to do that with families, jobs, endless responsibilities.....we were younger and clueless apparently.  Anyway, we put a weekend together that we hoped would stick back in the spring and we made it work!  So thankful they made the long drive for a short trip.  It was so fun and well worth it!

Wolfhills!  We took a minute to sample some of the beers at the brewery.  My boys were at tennis so Jed and Amanda and even little Johnny checked out the locals scene.  After the flight I with I could tell you which was their favorite but I have forgotten.

Johnny on the random old school exercise bike at Wolfhills.

The next day the husbands and daddies played 18 holes of golf at GCC.  It was a chilly weekend, but at least sunny so they were able to get out and see the course and have some fun.  It was a little too cold for the little ones so we did an art class instead.  A big thank to Lyndsey at Papermoon for hosting a private art party for out little group.  We each made a couple of Christmas ornaments to kick off the celebration of the season and at the kids got to play in the art room and the playroom together.  I think everyone had a great time.

One of my artists!  Hunter loves to paint and draw.

Little Johnny was able to paint too.  Lyndsey was great to include the little guy!

Kiley and April.

Adam and Lucas were two peas in a pod.  I think they managed to ruin a big bucket of white paint.  These two were into everything.

Next stop was lunch at the Hardware Store.  BBQ all around please.

So sweet.  Kiley, Adam and Lucas are so close in age and were fast new friends.  Look how sweet they are holding Lucas's hand.

Always fun making new friends.  The last time the kids were together it was just Hunter and Gianna's little girl, Rose.  Now they have multiplied!  I can see them staying friends as they get older.

Next stop Anthony's for some ice cream!

A great weekend with great friends.  We are already looking forward to the next one!

 I love these girls!  Thanks to Lyndsey for making this trip memorable too.  She took this photo and we decoupaged it to the back of the ornament we made.  She did the same for the kids as well.