Boone Saves the Summer

I haven't blogged about this yet, but we were having a boring summer. I think it's because I was planning on selling our house, buying the 20 acre one, remodeling it, and having plenty of projects in the barn and workshop to keep my busy. Then when we decided to wait until they came down on the price more so that we would have more money to use for the remodeling, it seemed like there was nothing to do this summer.
We've had family come visit and we participated in the pageant, so really I shouldn't say it's the most boring summer ever. When Nathan forgot to ask for the week off we always get to go to Boone, I knew this was going to be a dull summer. So that's how I've been feeling until last Wednesday night when Nathan told me he wasn't scheduled patients like he thought he was and had a longer Fourth of July weekend than we expected. I jumped on it and quickly convinced him we needed a family vacation to Boone. Thursday I took him to work, took the kids to music, and while they packed I tried to find us a last minute cabin rental. They packed all the clothes and food and had it in the car while I was still trying to decide between two places. We finally left at 4 to pick up Nathan and head out. The week-end wasn't without problems, but it was certainly wonderful and just what I needed!!

Unfortunately I left the camera charger at home so I didn't get many pictures.

Our rental cabin was right on the river and we loved playing in it. Nathan dropped the 3 oldest off at the bridge and let them float down the river to our cabin all by themselves. They had a few scares (a rock that looked like an alligator) and we were scared waiting for them for an hour before they finally came!

Alexis, Kaitlyn and I watching for them to come. We had no idea it would take so long.

Thomas on the bridge down the road from the cabin.

Madalyn was a good marshmallow roaster!!

Yum!

A great firepit!

Seeing the animals on Grandfather Mountain

The swinging bridge on Grandfather Mountain.

Kaitlyn loved the bridge so much that she screamed when we took her off it. I forgot the baby backpack so that made it difficult. It's a dangerous place for a 14 month old to toddle around.

Kylie and Alexis were actually really scared on this bridge, but Kaitlyn loved it. We were just afraid she could fall through the bars or off the rock cliffs on either side.

Madalyn

Spencer

Kylie and Alexis

Madalyn wasn't afraid of anything.

Thomas on the hike back down

To show you how big the rocks were

Alexis was trying to get out of the car carrying Kaitlyn and fell on the rocks. It looked worse than the picture so Nathan cleaned it up and butterflied it. She got a pretty good bump and bruise.

Picnicing on July 4th before heading home.

Sparklers!

Kaitlyn strapped in so that she doesn't get into the sparklers.

Go Daddy go!