Mountains

What an amazing week we had in our beloved North Carolina mountain community. Absolute bliss. Last week we left the Houston heat (108 degrees) behind us and jetted off to NC. I have blogged about the mountains a few times before. Mt. Mitchell is the tallest peak east of the Mississippi and where my grandparents have called home since 1985. My "Pema" still resides in her beautiful little mountain home. I have spent every summer since childhood with at the very least a few weeks in the mountains. It is a place that has always been very close to my heart. And to see my children now enjoy and savor this little slice of heaven on earth? Well... it is really wonderful. It was a whirlwind trip with tons of fun activities packed in. As well as my parents and John's mom, (some of) my aunts, uncles, cousins and , of course, Pema were there. We ate, laughed, hiked, breathed deep, and played a lot of cards. Ashton discovered an immense passion for fishing and Emory was successful in leaving very few creek rocks unturned. Ashton celebrated his third birthday on Saturday and, let me tell ya, this mama cannot believe that her baby is THREE.

Amazing how quickly that big, eternal clock ticks when you become a parent.

There were lots of nature hikes and blackberries picked.

The well seasoned fisherman.

The very, umm, refreshing creek. Amazing how undeterred children are by freezing cold water.

Emory stayed this dirty the entire duration of her mountain visit. And I let her.

Ashton picking wildflowers for his mama.

I've felt for awhile that Emory was a "Papa's girl" and that was cemented this trip. She rarely left his side.

Peach picking on the mountain beside Pema's house.

After the second face, her eyes got huge and she exclaimed, "mmmmm!!"

My gorgeous mother in law (memaw) with her Millie and the matching trio!

Ashton's birthday surprise. We visited a farm complete with egg gathering and cow milking! Mr. Louie, the farmer, is one amazing man. He left me with a very profound statement that I can't seem to shake. As we were leaving, he pulled me aside. He told me that John and I were doing a great job with our children and then said, "Keep exposing them to everything you can. Life is hard. The more they know, the better off they'll be."

Wheat being dried out in preparation for weaving and Tony the horse. Tony had the most beautiful mane I have ever seen. Wild and striking. Reminded me of my sassy girl.

Speaking of sassy pants... I love these two images side by side. Portrays the fine line she walks. The pic on the left is her hiking up her dress in annoyance from the high grass itching her legs. The pic on the right is the result of begging daddy to throw her higher in the air.

Sassy tomboy???

Hanging out with Grammie in the hayloft and gathering freshly layed eggs. Grammie is cracking up because Ashton felt like he was so far away from us, he needed to cup his hands around his mouth to talk to us.

Ellie Mae. Ellie Mae produces two gallons of milk, twice a day. Wow! Louie told us that an organic milk company comes by every few days and collects the milk.

Ashton helping Grammie and Memaw shuck corn for the big birthday party. My adorable little cousin, Jared, and THE one and only Pema!

The big bday bash. Emory thoroughly enjoyed Ashton's cake and

Ashton thoroughly enjoyed his all of his millions of presents.

Recapping his fishing endeavors with papa and releasing a trout back into the creek with daddy.

The sassafras with Laura and Jared. Jared is my cousin and Laura is his too, too adorable girlfriend. John and I are ready to buy them one way tickets to Houston to become our live in nannies. Their skills with the kids were impecible. I don't think the Va Tech swim team would miss Laura that terribly much.

We capped off our mountain excursion with a trip up the blue ridge parkway and a hike to the peak of Mt. Mitchell. Well, Ashton and daddy hiked to the peak;)

Counting down the days until we can return to our beautiful mountains...