Haunting Halloween Weekend!

On Thursday, the girls got out of school 1/2 day and were out on Friday. Perfect timing to go with friends up to the cabin at Ridgecrest that First Baptist owns. MaryClair and I love it up there and so do the kids. We came back today in time for Halloween preparations! Before I show you mountain pictures, just wanted to show my sweet little monsters dressed up for the big night of trick or treating.

Camryn...dressed as Swine Flu. She has piggy ears and a piggy tail...just couldn't do the piggy nose....a little like her mother..DO NOT TOUCH THE NOSE -I CAN'T BREATHE! Oh yeah, and the wings for the flu/flew part!!!

Whoa...serious about dressing up. Georgia is a fortune teller and Brookie is a vampiress. I think she just got through biting somebody's neck!!

Ready to go collect the goods!

........Soooo, for two nights and three days, we were spoiled by the beauty in the mountains, not to mention the scrumptious cooking by Mom! We actually got to see and get spoiled by her all three days, and everybody loved it!

At the top of Rattlesnake Mountain!

Brookie took this at the top of the mountain. Notice the string for the whistle. Them thar bars should FEAR me.....NOT!!

On our way up the mountain....we've never seen water coming over this fall, but it surely was this time. So beautiful. Below is a small lake about a fourth of the way up.

Noah was the only rooster around for the trip. Bless his heart, if he didn't learn how to deal with hormones and losing a battle on this trip, he surely missed his chance! Just kidding, he was a great sport and seemed to have a good time with all of us chickens! He was also the fire master...kept us warm all three days!

Twins!

Carly, Madi, and Cammie on the upstairs balcony looking down.

Getting ready to play a round of spoons, a card/spoon game that's suited for lots of people. Oh, so much fun, even if you're really bad at it like I am. Possible reason.....orange cups!

Swingin' and smilin'.

Autumn Perfection

Oh my goodness, I just cannot get enough of this fall weather. It has been such a lovely day. We have some great leaf color around Lake Norman. Had to get out in it for a while, after teaching PE again today, but at the elementary school this time.

Hangin' out in the neighborhood....

Playing in the backyard.... Brooke's feeling so much better after several days of Swine Flu.

Angellic.....

Right up until I walk her...but she loves it. She's just enjoying the weather too.

Some neighborhood trees and the rainbow that appeared right before dinner.

Fifth Grade DC Trip

Brooke and I left early Thursday morning (4:45 AM) for her fifth grade field trip to Washington, DC and surrounding areas. It was freezing in the high forties and very wet, but we had a ball anyway. We saw so many museums, memorials, etc. that it's hard to list them all. But, Brooke's favorites were the Natural History Museum, the National Aquarium, and the Korean War Memorial. My favorites: WWII Memorial, Korean Memorial, Mt. Vernon, and Monticello.

At the Aviation Museum....

Freezing in front of the White House......

The Capitol Building.....

Rainy and high 40's the whole trip....but we had a blast anyway!

Brooke and her teacher, Shannon Alamina, with "Life Is Good" hats on!

Arlington......

The Washington Monument.....

Tracy, Teresa, Savannah, Brooke, me, and Carly in front of the Natural History Museum...

Savannah, Brooke, and Carly in the Reagan Building....

Brooke and Savannah at Mt. Vernon (and still raining on the last day).....

The COOL CREW.....Brooke's closest buddies.....

Brooke and me at Monticello....

The back side of Jefferson's Monticello home......Jefferson's garden area and estate...one of my favorites and incredibly beautiful.

Our trip was great. We missed Cammie but her social calendar kept her busy. Her sweet Nana and Daddy were also here to keep everything running smoothly.

My Angel

Two years ago today, my Daddy earned his Angel wings.

I miss him.

There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

(Daddy's favorite verses)

Day Trip to the Mountains

We decided to ride up to the mountains today to hike and view the leaves. It was questionable at first, but it turned out beautifully. I knew the color should be good because Cotton Ketchie had already been there last week and photographed the daylights out of the place! We started in Linville where we hiked for most of the afternoon. Cool air and overcast skies made for perfection. The girls enjoyed taking some of these pictures.

Leaves.....yellow was the dominant color!

Climbing the mountain! (or the tree, rather)

At one of the look-overs!!!

The mighty Falls..........

Headed up to the last peak.

Checkin' out the view.....It is so sad how many everygreens are dead or dying...so many more than last year.

Heading over to Boone and Blowing Rock.

One of our favorite places to eat in Blowing Rock...The Mellow Mushroom. Great pizza and the crust is awesome. Inside the restaurant, there's an Elvis statue....uh huh, uh huh!