Post-school day nap for both boys...
And again another day. Being a big kid is exhausting!
Mr. Smiley!
It's a baby shower!
And a wedding shower!
VOTE!
I really enjoy our morning car rides...
He loves his dogs.
Anytime I curl up on the couch, these two are right beside me.
Mr. Hawk has expanded our garden. It's about three times the size it used to be.
He loves to watch GA football games, but he can't hang when it's a night game.
Morning sunrise out our bedroom window...
Ellis disguised his turkey as a candy jar. He LOVES candy.
I sent this to RA and he said that it was absolutely accurate in our case..
Why I do what I do...
She's obsessed with laying in front of the fireplace...
Working hard at Cub Scouts...
He's becoming a pretty good little artist...
Mr. Shaggy had to get a hair cut. Mama couldn't stand it anymore.
All cleaned up!
He destroys my kitchen when he cooks...
But his creation was really good - a whoopie pie!
And the dogs were super jealous of RA's whoopie pie. They know not to beg from me - I don't share food.
Pajama Day!
Such a cool dude with his mustache...
GA sunset ahead of Friday Night Lights...
Beautiful beginning to a football game...
Lake Blackshear! We traveled down to attend a family reunion and had gorgeous weather for a day on the banks of the lake...
Shells were everywhere...
He's my person...
We celebrated RA's grandmother's birthday and Ellis was determined to get a piece of cake. He demanded that I cut him a piece. Sugar-a-holic!
Tanks! Mama stayed in the car and enjoyed a little piece and quiet...
So RA had this bright idea for us to drive to the mountains for the day and be there (three hours away) for sunrise. YAWN. So, we left at 4AM. Yes, I picked up two sleeping kids from their warm beds and placed them in their car seats for a three hour drive to NC. Luckily they (and I) fell back asleep and slept for 2.5 of the 3 hours in the car.
Sun starting to peek out over the mountains...
We arrived in Nantahala Gorge right at sunrise and our first stop was a suspension bridge across the Nantahala River.
It was freezing, so the boys set off to explore while I snapped photos...
Somebody was happy to be in the mountains. He loves the mountains.
Drinking his "coffee" --- milk at breakfast.
He had to have some "coffee" too --- orange juice.
Everett Street Diner in Bryson City for a warm breakfast...
And coffee...
A big breakfast to give us energy to handle the day!
Pancakes for E!
It was delicious!
Driving a train...
Silly boys...
They love Bryson City!
And so do we!
They could have stayed and played on the train car all day...
Our next stop was Clingman's Dome in the GSMNP...wild turkeys!
Wandering the trails at Smokemont...
This makes them happier than anything...
ICE!
And we found some snow, so Ellis had to throw some snowballs!
Absolutely gorgeous view...
RF tried to hit his daddy with a snowball and took off running before RA could hit him back with one...
Ice everywhere on the way to Clingman's Dome...
What a view...
This is why we love the mountains...
Time to hike up to Clingman's Dome...
They love adventures with their daddy...
Taking a little break on the way up...it was pretty steep...
View about halfway up to Clingman's Dome...
We made it!
Stunning...
It was a perfectly clear day to see miles!
And miles away...
Typical Ellis...if he doesn't want to do something, he's not doing it.
The trail to Clingman's Dome is on the Appalachian Trail!
RF walked the Appalachian Trail...about 25 feet of it...
A good hike calls for lunch, so we headed back to Bryson to grab lunch at one of our favorites - Nate and Nicks. Spaghetti for E - he was in a better mood by this point.
And a small pizza for RF...
More train photos!
RA bought an antique checkboard, so we had to drive to NC to pick it up and decided to make a small pit stop to entertain the boys on our way.
E panning for gems...
RF loved it!
E and his finds...
RF with his finds...
This boys can't not walk along a little stream when they see one.
When you see a Kilwin's, you stop...
Ice cream for everyone! Ellis got Superman - not even sure what all flavors it had in it.
Classic chocolate for RF...
And of course, we stopped to mail a postcard about our fun day.
Sun going down as we headed back to GA.
Sunset...
A little over 16 hours after we left, we arrived back home.
One day of Thanksgiving Break involved this little buy being on the couch as he had a rough case of bronchitis.
They are so excited to have a tree in their room this year!
Words and stories of Christmas is our mantle theme this year.
An impromptu photo shoot yielded some super cute photos of these two boys...
We love the Polar Express!
And The Christmas Story! RF told the story like it is told on the movie The Star.
Little hands...big story...
Prepping for Thanksgiving!
Checking out the tree selection this year.
I love his smile.
And his too!
My little family.
Isn't he handsome? I think so.
We found our tree and they started dancing. I'm a little concerned with the moves Ellis broke out...
That's Ellis having a meltdown. So many emotions in a small four-year old body.
Daddy loaded up our tree!
So excited!
Beautiful sunset over the Christmas tree farm...
A snowman and an elf...
A Christmas tree and an elf...
You gotta ride the train at the tree farm...
Having the time of their life.
Home to have potato soup, grilled cheese, and watch a few holiday movies...
Christmas mantle and Christmas tree...
Table is set for Thanksgiving!
Sweet beagle babies climbing all over the logs in the side yard.
Four generations.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Wine (in a mason jar) and a roaring fire to celebrate a successful Thanksgiving meal.
RF fell in love with Mama Ditty's dog, Miss Daisy.
I don't do the Black Friday hecticness, but I did venture out to a local antique store.
Warm coffee and a roaring fire is nice too.
Her favorite spot.
Christmas stamps!
Gus loves to sit on the back of the couch right behind me...
I love our 2018 Christmas card!
Sweet boys snuggled up for family movie time.
RA's antique checkerboard and homemade checkers. RF is becoming quite the checker-player, too.
The month ended with an amazing trip to Chicago for me and four days of solo parenting for RA!
A full post of that trip is coming soon!
