Trip to Boone

Last year Nathan and I went to the Blue Ridge Mountains for our 10th anniversary and I loved it so much (since I grew up in the Sierra Nevadas) that I decided we'd go back every year. My body just craves hills, big shady trees, and cool mountain air. I think it's so beautiful and I could never get tired of looking at the mounains.
Since Nathan isn't working right now, we have plenty of time so we planned to take the kids and spend a week in the western part of the state. I was really excited to show them the places we went last year and see a few new things too. Last Monday after our hour of work we surprised them with their "work like a beaver" award of getting to go to Boone, NC. They cheered like never before. We packed the rest of the day and left the next morning.

WE'RE OFF!!

Waiting in the car while Nathan fills up.
Back seat young'uns

The handsome driver

We drove 3 hours and stopped at a park with a free sprayground so that we could eat lunch and nurse Kaitlyn. And have a little fun too. Too bad we don't have one around here.

The girls in their matching suits.

I had to help Thomas not be afraid since he hasn't even been swimming since last year, which he doesn't remember. So a sprayground was definitely a new thing.

I think Madalyn was playing some leapfrog game.

WE'RE THERE!

After playing for 2 hours and driving another 2 hours we made it to the mountains. We rented a beautiful little cabin in the woods and I loved having so much land to ourselves where we could be as loud as we wanted and didn't have to worry about neighbors or cars. Kylie and Madalyn slept upstairs in a queen bed, Nathan and I got the main floor bedroom, and Spencer, Alexis, and Thomas slept in bunk beds in the basement. There was also a ping pong table in the rec room down there that they really enjoyed. Their favorite thing though, was this awesome swing that was tied way up high and on a hill, so you swung way out over the tall weeds.

Tom Tom

Nathan is 6'4", so this give you an idea how high the swing was at it's lowest point. Nathan would walk the swinger up the hill and then let go and he'd go flying over the brush and small trees. What a thrill!!

Madalyn

WEDNESDAY: HANGING OUT AT THE CABIN

Thomas relaxing on the porch

Me reading outloud to the girls. We're reading "Gone Away Lake" and it's sequel, two perfect summer books.

Spencer reading to Alexis and Thomas.

Kylie and Kaitlyn love hanging out.

Nathan fixing taco salad for dinner.

Attempting to get a campfire going.

Yummy s'mores!

Oh yeah!

THURSDAY: HIKING AND CAVING

Beautiful wildflowers along the trail at Linville Falls.

Nathan and I have pictures of us on this tree last July when we came here for our anniversary.

Getting ready to go inside Linville Caverns. We'd studied caves in May, so we were excited to see a real one. (I've been in several in the west, but the kids haven't.)

I thought Kaitlyn was cute in long-sleeves and pants. It was 50 inside the cave, so I was excited to dress her warmly since she won't be fitting the winter clothes we have when it's winter. :)

I loved the scenery. It looked so much like where I grew up that I could have built my house right here and been happy forever. It was gorgeous and I just loved the perfect summer temps. No heat and humidity.

FRIDAY: TEMPLE TRIP

Friday was our anniversary so that afternoon we drove to Raleigh and some close friends watched the kids so that Nathan and I could go out for dinner and to the temple. The 3 oldest kids spent the night there and we took the 3 younger ones with us to the hotel (so that we'd only have to get one room). It was super fun watching Thomas and Alexis carry their duffle bags down the corridors and giggle in bed and eat their breakfast in the morning. What a breeze it was only having 3!

Saturday morning Nathan went back to the temple to do baptisms with the youth (he's in YM) and we hung out at the park. Here's Nathan with Kaitlyn when we came back to pick him up.

It was a great family vacation. We had so much fun together and the mountains are what really revives my spirit. I wish I could spend all summer there.