Countdown to Christmas 2012

Dec 1. Started Santa Claus beard countdown. Painted Christmas ornaments for family. Played in backyard. Alex ate half of the advent calendar chocolates! Ezra played "golf" like a pro in leaves. Mommy raked all day. Daddy came home early & watched football....Bama vs Georgia.

Road Trip 2012

Day 1. 10/6/12
Left North Augusta at 5:15am & met family at GMC dealership in Birmingham at 10am. Loaded up RV then stopped for Subway. Arrived at Shiloh battlefield 4pm with chilly cloudy weather. Kane & I rode bikes through battlefield. Ezra loved exploring the woods & Alex wore her new rain boots, puppy fleece, & coon hat. General thought the battlefield was very pristine. Mom & Alex were having fun in the Shiloh Church singing songs. Allie was on the ball & found a Mexican restaurant in the middle of nowhere. The kids stayed up until 9pm & slept in a cabin Nana got us. It was raining so we didn't tent camp at Cherokee Landing. The cabins looked EXACTLY like the ones at Indian Lakes we used to stay at when I was a little girl. Alex woke up 5 times asking, "can I sleep in RV with Nana?" Ezra, right before we went to sleep, pulled down the heavy trundle bed on top of him. He busted his lip & had a bloody nose. Poor guy! Allie (& her casted leg) & Alex shared a floppy bed & Kane & I had a queen. We were a little spooked being the only ones in the huge, dark campground. Kane & I watched the movie "Role Models" then crashed.

Day 2. 10/07/12
Woke up at 6:45am to little Alex whining she wants to be in RV with Nana. Drove through rain in Arkansas and stopped at Fort Smith, Trail of Tears, Whiskey Wars, Civil War. Stayed in RV at Comfort Inn in Oklahoma City, OK.

Day 3 10/07/12
Yukon, OK saw Garth Books Road & Chisilm Trail Crossing. Cherokee Trading Post bought Alex a spirit pouch necklace and saw Indian mural & buffalos. Stopped at Route 66 museum in Clinton, OK & bought postcards for Klint & Uncle Curtis. In Groom, TX we saw the big cross. For a late lunch we stopped in Amarillo, TX at Big Texan Steakhouse. I had the best pork ribs ever! Family loved the shooting gallery animal heads. We stayed at Best Western & Alex swam with General.

Day 4 10/09/12
Left Moriarity, NM & stopped west of Albuquerque at the Petroglyph National Monument & hiked the Boca Nogra trail. General bought the kids Junior Ranger hats & I bought an authentic necklace. We even saw 2 coyotes. We had salads from Denny's to go then the RV had problems & needed some minor repairs. We barely made it to the Petrified Forest...had to race to a trail, jump out, & snag a picture of the old logs. The park was closing so we headed to Holbrook, AZ for a hotel.

Day 5 10/10/12

Day 6 10/11/12
Woke up in tv nice & toasty very early. Body still waking up for body pump! Got everybody free breakfast at hotel then took kt back to her rental home. Headed for Grand Canyon at 830am. Started raining on the way. Saw elk at entrance & took picture next to sign. Saw movie at visitor center then took bikes out because there was a break in the weather. Ended up taking shuttle to ...Point and stopping along way.. It was chilly out & rainy. The canyon had shadows but was still breathe taking.Ezra flirted with old ladies. We missed sunset because kids were hungry & it was drizzling. Checked in at Yavapai Lodge & ate dinner at the cafeteria.

Day 7 10/12/12
Woke up at 5 & super excited to see sunrise. Kane stayed back with kids. Went back to lodge & packed up at 8am & headed for desert drive road. It started to snow! Climbed tower. Ate at route 66 diner in Williams. Ezra had cherry shake. Visited Sunset crator & Wapukati NM. Saw snow on Flagstaff mountains.  Arrived in Sedona after dusk & checked inn Days Inn Friday night in our 2 room suite. A family of Halacabra? were spotted outside room.

Day 8 10/13/12
In the morning I got coffee & got first glimpse of rocks. Sedona is magical. Tons of hiking & cute shops. Dropped Kane at Courthouse Butte to mountain bike for the day. The kids & I went to Chapel on the Rocks. It was pretty. Bought a Christmas ornament. We then ate our picnic snack at Bell Rock Trail. Alex wanted a "treat" so we went into town & shopped. Alex picked out a puppy dog named Sedona with a pink dress. Met Kane & brought lunch but he lost bike when he hiked. The kids slept while he retraced trail. After relaxing at hotel we planned to hike to Devils Bridge. It took us 40 minutes longer to hike & got back at dark. Kane took a wrong turn! But, luckily Devils Bridge was awesome. I was shaking as I crossed.

Day 9
10/14/12
Shopped on Scottsdale at Gap outlet & Columbia. Dropped Kane at Phoenix Airport. Went to Sheraton Hotel with family. Ate lunch at a Mexican grill & had yummy shrimp mango cilantro quesadillas. Swam in rooftop pool. Shopped in gift shop. Hiked with Ezra to downtown Safeway to buy groceries. Watched Sherlock Holmes with Allie & ordered room service!

Day 10
Woke up & swam with Ezra & Alex then left for Prescott to visit Katie. Shopped at Columbia outlet again where Ezra wiped out & got a bloody lip. Made Katie dinner then hung out at her rental place while Ezra played. Bought her alcohol as a thank you gift.

Day 11
Ezra slept horribly in rv. Went on hike with Katie in The Dells at 7am. Prescott was beautiful, surrounded by mountains. Went to mall & shopped at jcpenny. Looked around World Market store. Katie fave us a quick tour of Embry Riddle & we met family at student union to eat lunch. We hung out at Katies rental house & chatted in the afternoon after het class.

Day 12

augusta market on the river

What a beautiful Saturday! A&E had so much fun at the market. Alex got a handmade flower ring & split a fresh lemonade with Ezra, while I picked up a $2 kitty spoon rest & mixed cherry tomatoes. We also saw some new ghsu housestaff auxiliary friends.

Splashpad Fun

We just adore our north augusta splashpad! Especially when we have it all to ourselves on a sweet sunny day.

Figaro (Or is it Gilbert?)

This week we adopted a pet. I briefly asked Kane if it was alright to get a kitty kat; & he said "ya, sure, that's fine." So naturally, the next day after our playdate at the Moore's home, we drove waaaaay out to the Columbia County Animal Shelter & adopted a kitty. He is black & white with a black freckle on his nose. He was already fixed. And de-clawed front & back. He was the LOUDEST older kitten at the shelter; literally, meowing like crazy so I wasn't drawn to him first. Until, I learned he was dropped off the day before by an elderly women on her way to be hospitalized. So, we visited with him & I was in love. Since he didn't have any claws, Ezra & Alex would be pretty safe. I totally don't believe in de-clawing, but if its already done then, hey, why not? The tuxedo kitty was between 3 and 6 months old. We adopted him for $20, took a quick picture, then was on our way home. Actually, we had to make a stop at Petco & get food & litter.

I took some pictures of the kids playing with the kitty. Alex initially named him Figaro, but the next day started calling him Gilbert. You know, the kitty off of the pbs show, Caliou? Well, I keep calling him Figaro, & Alex keeps calling him Gilbert. She will probably win!!

Ezra loves him...he chases him around and pets his soft ears. He wakes up & looks for the kitty. I am sooooo glad I got him. I forgot how much I miss a little furry friend. Alex has already had Figaro ride the princess pony, sit at her make up bench, play in the tunnel, chase a ball, chase a feather, pretend to be a baby wrapped in her blanket, & sit on her bed while she reads a book. Maybe Alex will watch less Netflix & play with kitty more!!

Blog to Print OR Blog to Book

I just discovered I can literally create a blog, then print it in book format later on. How cool! I wish I could count on myself to post regularly so that I could print a book off for each of my children, instead of creating two separate Shutterfly photo books. hmmmmm.....

blog 2 print

Blurb.com

Just me & my son

Alexandra is with her Nana & General for Spring Break 2012 in Orlando, Florida. My two youngest sisters are enjoying special time with their niece & are relishing in her cuteness! I, on the other hand, have Ezra all to myself. He is a handsome bundle of baby boy love at 10 1/2 months. Below are some activities we have done while big sister Alex is out of town. (Which is bitter sweet because I miss her dearly, but I love having quality time with Ezra)

Thursday - Grocery shopping, organizing toy room, playing outside
Friday - Savannah River Rapids walk with Emily & baby Henry,
Saturday - Augusta Living Green Day at the Augusta Commons, Augusta Mall with Marie & her children, baby Cormac & Cierra, hanging out on sun porch during rainstorm

Sunday - Worked in yard, watched Blue's Clues, bike ride on Greenway, dinner at the Soy Noodle House in Augusta on Broadway with Daddy

Monday - pulled weeds, shopping at Lowe's, built trellis, planted pepper, eggplant, & better boy tomato plants, shared a smoothie, walked Greenway

Tuesday - pulled weeds, played on sun porch, The Pizza Joint for dinner

Wed - played at North Augusta Library, lunch at Summerfiield Park

Thur - Play date with baby Henry & Emily

Fri - Road trip! Headed to Atlanta to check out The High Art Museum,

Sat - Fro Yo with cousin Katie, Easter egg hunt at Uncle Dan's home,

"If anything matters... everything matters."

The Shack on Amazon.com 

Okay, so last night was incredible.

After reading an incredible book, & meeting an incredible author, & listening to his incredible heart wrenching as well as heart warming journey, I realized LIFE IS INCREDIBLE.

Truly.

Incredible.

Let me start from the beginning! I was at the North Augusta library a few months back and noticed a flyer for a book event sponsored by the Friends of the Nancy Carson Library Foundation Inc.. William P. Young (or Paul as he prefers) would be a guest at a book event in North Augusta at Grace United Methodist Church. He apparently wrote, The Shack, which I had never heard of at the time.

Silly, I know, since the book has sold MILLIONS of copies in 40 different languages, & has been loved by many & critiqued by many more. I asked my book club members (Book Lovers R US) if our next pick could be The Shack. (Check out http://www.bookmovement.com/) Since a few had previously read the amazing book we agreed it would fit perfectly with Easter around the corner. I hurriedly bought it at Amazon.com (oh how Amazon Prime has changed my life haha) and started reading it immediately.
 I loved how the book made me stop to wonder.
And think.
And think some more.
Then read a little bit & look deep within my heart.
Then smile from the inside out.

For starters, the book blew me away! I savored every conversation I read, & easily applied it to my life as well as those I love and care for. Immediately I wanted to share it, as most readers have declared, because it is a FRESH way to look at the holy trinity.

(This post it about to get deep. Just a warning. I want to remember how I feel at this moment.)

So, as my mind tried to wrap itself around the VAST & COLOSSAL topics The Shack presents in a truly exceptional story fashion, I found myself in total life bliss.
My children never looked so amazing.
My husband was so handsome, inside & out.
The sunshine was brighter.
The wind was sweeter.
And the space within my heart was wide & deep, ready to be filled with grace again.
I found myself more ALIVE & able to cease the constant chatter of my ego & just BE PRESENT.

Which is the most difficult thing I have ever yet to do.
Awareness I learned from another book, is very, very powerful.

(Hello Stephanie's ego, I know how to keep you quite now.)

I finished The Shack a few days before the book event, & my anticipation grew & grew. I have never listened to an author speak, yet alone meet one! Thursday, March 22nd arrived & Kane picked up a pizza & promised the monkeys a good time at a park. I was honestly nervous leaving Ezra from 6pm to 9pm. How on earth was he going to fall asleep without me? Or my milk producers? Kane said he would be fine, & I wanted to believe him. At least Ezra was 10 months old & could probably cry a little before falling asleep without his mommy.

I got ready then hurried to the church a bit early to save seats for us girls. When I arrived and choose seats I heard a voice behind me I truly recognized. Was the radio on? Where have I heard that voice before? Then I turn around & directly behind me I see a tall gentleman chatting with a short smiling man. It was the author himself, Paul, & radio announcer Cleve Walker from 88.3 WAFJ! Right behind me!

I giggled quietly in my seat thought "if only he could sign my hardcover copy of the shack". But I was NOT going to be a silly fan and ask him then & there.

My luck changed, a few others near me figured out Paul was right there chatting with people and they decided to discretely ask him for an autograph. He greeting each individual with a huge bear hug, & listened to their personal story. I picked up my new dslr and gathered around Paul too...I was not going to miss this opportunity! Besides, he wouldn't have been out there with us unless he wanted to mingle.

Paul greeting me with a big hug and huge smile, then asked my name & how I was that evening. I smiled and said thank you for coming to North Augusta. He reached for my book

"If anything matters... everything matters."

For more information, check out   www.theshackbook.com

rare color photos

Check out these rare color photos from The Library of Congress


These vivid color photos from the Great Depression and World War II capture an era generally seen only in black-and-white. Photographers working for the United States Farm Security Administration (FSA) and later the Office of War Information (OWI) created the images between 1939 and 1944. 


My favorite one depicts commuters, who have just come off a train, waiting for the bus to go home, Lowell, Mass. (LOC). It has class! The women are dressed nicely...why isn't fasion like this anymore? Everyone has a hat; I wish hats were common again!

I also adore this one with a pretty sky & home in the country, it has that great vintage feel.

Negro tenant's home beside the Mississippi River levee 

I like the colors in this one taken in Natchez, Miss in front of a store in 1940.

Pause..drink Coca-Cola 

Instagram for Android Devices

Does anyone love Instagram for iphone? I think I may try out Instagram for android soon!

Instagram for Android Devices

Italian Nite

From The Pizza Joint Website

Okay, not necessarily authentic Italian cuisine, but pizza counts right? Kane texted me from the hospital and asked if we wanted to have a late dinner at The Pizza Joint located in downtown Augusta. (Late dinner equals 7 pm here!) Initially I didn't want to go; Ezra goes to bed at 7 and I figured he would be cranky at the restaurant. But on second thought, why not try it? We never take our kids out for dinner. Mostly for the sake of the other dinners; who wants to relish in good pizza & beer with fussy kids in the background?

From The Pizza Joint Website 

Then I remembered we are young parents who deserve to get out on the town even with kids in tow. So I bathed the monkeys & buttered them up with promises of gooey cheese & crispy crust. The Pizza Joint has a great eclectic atmosphere perfect for friends and family to gather over some good grub. We got a table near the back doors where all the server action is. Ezra was the perfect audience; he ogled over commotion around the ice machine and pizza assemble line.

From The Pizza Joint Website 

We knew before we arrived Tuesday had great specials... dollar drafts & two dollar slices. Usually the dollar drafts specials are not premium beers at most restaurants, just the run of the mill American beer. But not at The Pizza Joint, nope, I ordered a pint of Guinness. Yup, this girl fell in love with the Irish stout when she visited Ireland in 2008. Men around the world should be happy. Here is a mom who likes her dark beer.

from beerhelps.com

When the waitress brought our drinks, she immediately gave Kane the Guinness. He was like, "that's, my wife's..." I blushed and took the "meal of a drink". I promise, if you have never had Guinness on draft, give it a try, its magically smooth. (From the bottle its blah) 

The night was wonderful, Ezra happily gnawed on everything in sight since he is teething, the table next to us couldn't stop smiling at his goofy expressions, and Alex busied herself with her must-go-everywhere bag of "goodies" she calls it.

Oh, and the pizza? It was super yummy. My favorite is the crispy crunchy thin crust. My slice had chicken & peppers. Kane swears his meatball & green olive slice was to die for as well. The Pizza Joint...we will return!

Spring Artists' Market and Festival

Spring Artists' Market and Festival | Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art, Augusta, USA | Whatsonwhen

I think we are going to go check this out!!!

Super Fun Weekend

Saturday we decided to pack the kids and browse around the Augusta Library for the first Augusta-Richmond County Literary Festival. I love living in cozy North Augusta & having cool events just across the river. A little bit of culture is a fabulous thing!

Here is the old library...

And here is the new library just across the street..

The festival was rumored to have sixty plus authors ready to talk about their books & sign. When we arrived, I noticed lots of empty tables. Bummer. The children's department had the old school showing of The Lorax so Alex & Ezra were quite entertained for awhile with other little kids. In theater's now, the NEW Lorax is making his debut with Danny Devito as the Lorax! I really want this to be Alex's first movie at the theater. 

How cute is he??? Maybe I can talk Kane into going along with me. I think both my monkeys would sit through it. When I taught 7th grade Going Green at Seminole Middle school, I incorporated The Lorax into our curriculum at the end of the school year. The kids enjoyed watching the film in class & writing an essay about it. 

I miss that class. Teaching middle school kids about the environmental was super fun!

Anyway, back to the literary festival, I found a table with an author by the name of Bob Young. The book jacket caught my eye because it had a train depicted on the front. Titled, The Treasure Train, it looked like something my Dad would enjoy. I have fond memories of us setting up his model trains in our Michigan City, IN basement together. After speaking with the author & learning it is a book about trains & confederate civil war history, I thought it would be the perfect birthday gift. I had the author sign it "General" too!

Boy did he get a kick out of that grandpa name. Who wouldn't?

I didn't find anything interesting for me particularly at the festival & neither did Kane. We stopped my Publix & picked up some tasty subs for lunch and that was that!

Sunday we visited the Morris Museum of Art in downtown Augusta. I noticed in the Augusta Family Magazine a posting for the monthly Artrageous! Family Sunday event. The Super Fun Show was making a stop in Augusta, with its award-winning performance of songs, stories, and interactive good times at 2 pm. 

Was it worth skipping nap time to make the show at 2 pm? YES!

The little performance was soooo cute! Alex had a ball grooving and shaking and singing along. Ezra was content to sit in stroller in the first row and take all the commotion in. Totally geared for toddlers, a peppy young girl (probably college age) did a fantastic job entertaining a bunch of kids for 45 minutes. 

And that is not an easy task! Here is the The Super Fun Show Song...

 Here is a video of Alex not sitting down during the alphabet song:

Apparently the creator, Shawn Brown, has a ton of super fun music for little kids to brush their teeth to, dance, clean up, etc. Needless to say, we had a super fun time :)

The Super Fun Show CD by Shawn Brown

Happy Valentine's Day!

Alex and I created these little sweet heart pops together. I shared them with my girlfriends on Galentine's Day when we met up at Dichickos, an organic Peri-Peri Cafe in Augusta off of Washington Road. I learned Peri-Peri sauce is to South Africa & parts of the world what BBQ sauce is to America.

By Steph's cell

These roses arrived today from my one & only.  He is so cute, orders them online since he worked the evening shift & could not give them to me on Vday in person.

I give Kane almost every year Very Sexy For Him by Victoria Secrets. Its not very special, he just seems to run out about this time every year so it seems fitting. Plus, didn't I hear Valentine's Day is REALLY about the ladies anyway??

by Victoria Secrets

We didn't go out for a sexy dinner or anything since Kane worked the evening shift on the 14th, but we did have a GREAT family outing on the 15th to Columbia, South Carolina's capitol. On the way, we stopped for a buffet lunch at Hudson's Smokehouse in Lexington. Its a true Southern BBQ joint, with many accolades for being the best of the best. They like to say, "Taste the South in your Mouth!" I am not a buffet lover, but who can pass up all you can eat pulled pork, beans, greens, & banana pudding?

When we arrived at noon, the restaurant was slammed. No wonder, I could practically smell the heavenly meat a mile away. For eight bucks each, Kane & I loaded up our plates while Alex ate for free. Little Ezra turned 9 months old the same day, and he was belly up to the table eating crackers & yogurt drops. Not long after I started eating, Ezra kept eyeing my plate full of southern love. So, I scooped him some un-sauced pulled pork and some corn fritters. What happened next was so amazingly great. Ezra turned into a wild animal and devoured all the pork I put in front of him. He would take handfuls and shovel it in his mouth! Kane & I could not believe our picky eater was actually eating! I honestly think he could eat the men out for lunch sitting at the table next to us under the table! I was very impressed. Then he followed it with a big ol portion of banana pudding. I explained to Kane I plan on catering Hudson's Smokehouse every week, just feed Ezra a few times a week some succulent pork. All in all, the comfort food was amazing & we plan on going back again one day.

Next stop, the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia. We planned to check out some of neat exhibits housed in the historic 1893 Columbia Mill textile building, the "biggest artifact. Overall, the museum was fun, but it got a little boring after so, so, so many history exhibits.

Shark Attack!!!

Digging for dino fossils

lounging on the "sack"

STILL lounging on the sack! Kane desperately begged for one...but where would it  fit in our little home?

To the Moon!!

Tree House for the Monkey

Kids Art Display

Found this awesome Little Ones Showcase Art Show on Amazon. Alex naturally asked me also put up tiger zoo pictures! I think I will purchase one more to go above it. It can work on glass, sticky tap, or be screwed to wall. Where has this been all my life? Totally takes me back to kindergarten art class.

Which makes me very happy.

5x7 Folded Card

We Love Daddy Father's Day Card

Turn your family into a holiday card this season.

View the entire collection of cards.


Daddy Monkey's 27th Birthday Card! Shhhh, don't tell him :)

Over the hills & through the fog, to Banner Elk, NC we go!

DAY 1 (Wednesday)
It's finally here! After a rainy week in South Carolina we are headed for peaceful  Blue Ridge mountain relaxation for 4 nights. Ahhhhh, I can hardly wait to dip into the hot tub holding a glass of wine after our monkeys go to bed.

Ezra napping while we cross
into North Carolina by Steph

Kane's brother Klint drove up from Pensacola to join us on our snowboarding vacation in Banner Elk, North Carolina. We left this morning at 7am. It's a 5 hour drive to the rental mountain cabin. Alex got carsick within the first hour, poor girl, she is just like her mommy!! Ezra is currently napping, & we are listening to an audio book....The Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson. And I just downloaded the Blogger app!


We are headed straight to Sugar Mountain Ski Resort, trying to beat the rain. Looking outside there is no snow cover, high of 50 degrees today. Kane plans to snowboard and Uncle Klint wants to ski. The next two days have a chance of rain, then snow Sat.

We are winding through the mountains, gazing at the snowless cold ground. There are lots of little cabins tucked away and little shops. Alex wants to go "skiboarding" with her Daddy. We drop off Uncle Klint & Kane at Sugar Mountain and watch them for a bit. Hopefully next winter I will be able to try out snowboarding once again as well as Alex. Maybe she could ski?? I paid $4 for a popsicle for Alex which is crazy I know, & Ezra munched on his yogurt drops. Poor baby eats way to many of those while we are out & about. On our way back to the truck, Alex slipped under the railing & found a flat patch of snow. Despite hearing me say, "please come back here Alex", she continued to the middle of the patch & attempted to make a snowball out of the slushy white stuff. A few onlookers were chuckling since I could not chase after her with Ezra strapped to my back in the baby carrier. So again, Alex wins. As usual.


She finally came stopping back to me, & found out snow is cold without mittens.

Daddy & Uncle Klint before their 
Sugar Mountain adventure by Steph

So now its up to me to drive & find our cabin. Banner Elk is not even a town really, but a collection of real estate offices, cafes, & ski rental shops in a picturesque backdrop with dainty cabins tucked into the mountain rock. I found our cabin online at bannerelkmtncabins.com.  We are at the top of the ridge, at the end of a scary state maintained road. I swear if there were icey snow on the ground our GMC truck would not make it! Thank goodness their is a snow chain shop just in town just incase.

Here are some pictures I took in the evening. Isn't it lovely???

Mountainview Cabin, Banner Elk, North Carolina by Steph 2012

Sunset back deck view by Steph 2012

Beautiful fireplace by Steph 2012

Around 8:30 pm after I unpacked ALL of the totes from the back of the truck (totes = water proof luggage) I head to the grocery store near the slopes. I have never taken my monkeys shopping at this time. Let me repeat, never. Needless to say, they were excited to be out, & Alex even picked out the milk and put it under the cart while I was grabbing eggs. What a helpful sweetheart!


Upon paying for our goodies, I went to Sugar Mountain to pick up the cold & sore men. They both had big smiles on their faces from the fun day in the snow. GOOD. Daddy really needed it. He has been stoked to go snowboarding all winter & wishes to end up one day close to a slope so he can go out on a whim with his kids since he expects his ER schedule to be cushy. Plus, he was excited to try out his board again, the one he received from his mom in Alaska last April.


Back at the cabin I cooked up some white chicken chili, cornbread, & Daddy tossed a salad. Ezra & Alex were quite entertained by the new roaming grounds. Ezra is so quick & mobile now, he cruises all over the place. Once the babies were put down, we hopped in the hot tub outside the master bedroom. The fog had really start to set in with a little chill in the air. Weather forecast was right, the next day or so was going to be nasty. Uncle Klint had picked up a bottle of blueberry wine in Augusta which was AMAZING I will have to purchase some more of the liquid dream drink.


Did I mention the hot tub was the entire purpose for the trip for me? I couldn't snowboard with the monkeys around so relaxation was my anticipated activity. 
Or lack of activity. 
Which ever you prefer.


DAY 2 (Thursday)
Woke up to a little sunrise through the fog. Today is going to be a ski bummer of a day. Alex ended up in bed with us in the loft, apparently the air mattress is not good enough for our lil monkey. Ezra slept horribly as well. We slid his pack n pay in the bathroom so the fan could lull him to sleep. It worked for the most part except he hardly nursed the day before while on the road, so he took the opportunity last night to "catch up" on calories. Mommy bear is soooo sleepy.
Where is the instant coffee I packed? 
And the sugar/creamer packets I swiped from Subway?
Most of the morning was spent playing with the monkeys & figuring out our plans for the rainy day. We ended up visiting the Pink Gorilla Souvenir shop & Alpine Ski Shop. Too icky to snowboard, so Daddy & Uncle Klint tagged along.  I picked out a cute snowflake ornament with Sugar Mountain on it to add to our family collection. I swear its the best idea; no tshirts, no clutter, no tacky gifts, just a sweet ornament to pull out and admire on the tree once a year. The rest of the day was very, very, foggy. 
Then came the rain.
Then came more fog and wind. 
The boys didn't hit the slopes at all. In all seriousness, they were popped from yesterday so it didn't seem to bother them. It did bother me, I wanted nice weather so we could enjoy some local shops. Oh well, time to sit by the cozy fire!


By the way, Alex and Ezra have been following the VACATION schedule. 
Which I now know translates to NO SCHEDULE. Its been rough. I expect both of them to be completely wacky the entire trip.


Daddy cooked up some Italian moose sausage his mom mailed down to us. Here is a picture of the poor creature. I can't believe I had him for dinner, mixed with red sauce & spaghetti.

Grandma Jean's first moose 2011

Outside the weather was crazy. Like in hurricane windy crazy. I guess on top of a mountain that's what is expected. If it were only 15 degrees cooler, the rain would have been beautiful crisp snow. Oh well, at least we have a fire to cozy up around. We found a deck of cards & uncorked some wine for a good time. Kane & I ventured into the hot tub despite the gale like winds. 
Worth it. 
I love water jets. Especially after carrying monkeys all day.


DAY 3 (Friday)
Weather was horrible again. Super foggy & windy. Its too bad the temperature couldn't have dropped so it could snow a bit. Gotta find something to do instead. Alex was dying to hop into the hot tub so Kane brought her to me. (Naturally, I was already in it, the exact moment after Ezra went down for his morning nap) She grinned & grinned & thought the jets were so cool. My little monkey kept saying, "I love vacation!". Uncle Klint managed to make a fire (takes him awhile but he always gets the job done) & so we spent the morning having breakfast & dips into the hot tub.

We all wanted to visit Grandfather Mountain & cross the swinging bridge, but the office stated it was truthfully too foggy. So instead, we headed to a nearby town called Valle Crucis to visit the old timey Mast General Store

Original Mast General Store

Grilling
Hot tub


DAY 4 (Saturday)
Clear Crisp Morning
Banner Elk Winery

DAY 5 (Sunday)

Grandfather Mountain