It's our place. A few times each year, Josh and I sneak away to a friend's cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains. It's a reasonable drive for a long weekend, and it's a great place to unwind.
This time around we opted to take our bikes with us for the trip. We had great plans of getting up early on Wednesday of our trip and riding through Cades Cove, when it's closed to vehicle traffic until mid-morning. The weather did not cooperate with those plans, so we found a few other trails to try out like this one near Cherokee.
We spent several days relaxing, driving through the mountains, taking a few hikes and riding a few paths, and just enjoying the peace and quiet.
Grandma and Grandpa from the lake came up to our house to take care of the boys for us for a few days.
A good trip, a good break from the daily life.
Some additional photos are here.
Friday, October 11, 2013
Five Cousins
Our Labor Day weekend started out with Daddy's side of the family at the annual family reunion. It ended at the lake with Mommy's side of the family.
Though we battled some storms throughout the weekend (as the boys and I have done all summer long on our lake visits), we still made it out onto the water a few times. There was lots of swimming and jumping and snacking, all big things for my boys.
I LOVE this image of all five cousins. We were simply moving the boat back out into the middle of the water during a swim session. It was windy, and we kept blowing toward the bank. It's kind of hard to anchor the boat in over a 100 feet of lake water.
I have so many great memories of summers and holiday weekends spent at the lake. I hope that the boys have the same memories someday.
Special thanks to Grandma and Grandpa who put us up in their cabin, who take us out in their boat and who feed us really, really well every time we come to visit. Charcoal grills really are the best, and Grandpa knows his way around a great steak or burger.
Enjoying those last few moments of summer before it fades away for the year ...
A few other photos are here.
Though we battled some storms throughout the weekend (as the boys and I have done all summer long on our lake visits), we still made it out onto the water a few times. There was lots of swimming and jumping and snacking, all big things for my boys.
I LOVE this image of all five cousins. We were simply moving the boat back out into the middle of the water during a swim session. It was windy, and we kept blowing toward the bank. It's kind of hard to anchor the boat in over a 100 feet of lake water.
I have so many great memories of summers and holiday weekends spent at the lake. I hope that the boys have the same memories someday.
Special thanks to Grandma and Grandpa who put us up in their cabin, who take us out in their boat and who feed us really, really well every time we come to visit. Charcoal grills really are the best, and Grandpa knows his way around a great steak or burger.
Enjoying those last few moments of summer before it fades away for the year ...
A few other photos are here.
Family Reunion
Every Labor Day weekend, Josh's extended family has their family reunion. It's at a church camp just outside of town, so it's not too far of a journey for us to make. The boys are not particularly crazy about all the people, at least not the twins, but there's enough outside space to make the outing work.
And then there's the creek. It's a big draw for all three boys. Connor was the first one to jump all in (yes, shoes, socks, clothes and all). Xander quickly followed, and Sawyer eventually found his way in, too. It was a little messy on the ride home, but it was a happy few hours in the creek.
Connor also had a big time playing with cousins. First he got to see Ryleigh and Daniel, who are always good play friends at family gatherings. And then his more extended cousins, Jack and Paul, who he got to know really well during preschool and kindergarten. The boys attended the same private preschool for a few years together, and Connor and Jack started kindergarten together at the magnet elementary school on the other side of town (near our old house).
It was a good day. Food. Outdoor fun. Family.
A few other photos are here.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
A Hard Goodbye
Our lives changed last week.
And it's going to take a long, long time for anything to feel normal again.
When I come home from dropping the boys off at school, I expect him to greet me at the door. Or to come sit down by me while I eat breakfast at the dining room table, looking over his shoulder hoping for something good from my plate.
When I sit down at my desk to work, I still see the scratch marks on the wood floor near the front windows. It's where likes to lay, right by my side, usually staring out the window, waiting to bark at anyone who dared to walk on his sidewalk (or even the other one across the street).
When I get ready to leave the house, I want to check and make sure he's back inside the house just in case it rains. I want to say, "Bye baby, I'll be back later," just as I always have.
When I pull back in the driveway, I expect him to be sitting in front of the windows watching for my return.
As I come back home through the garage door, I still see his collar and leash hanging on a peg near the door, ready to take him on his walk around the block.
When I'm dressed up in nice clothes for work, I expect him to come up for a hug, to cover me in red hair and slime.
When there's leftovers from lunch or dinner, I want to drop them in his bowl and say "treats" so he'll come running into the kitchen.
When we go outside to play, I expect him to come running. He loves to be part of the family, to chase the balls or dig in the dirt while the boys are bouncing on the trampoline.
When I walk into the sun room to help the boys clean up toys at the end of the day, I expect him to be laying there on his big, blue bed.
When I sit down on the couch at night to watch television, I expect him to come lay by my corner of the couch, so I can rub his back with my foot, just as I always do.
When I'm watching a favorite show, I expect him to come stand at the end of the couch just looking at me, telling me it's time to go outside right now, just as the good part is about to begin.
When it's time for bed, I expect him to want to go outside and bark at the wind, just because that's what he always does. And once he comes back inside, I want to pull some pepperoni out of the drawer in the refrigerator, to bribe a little love and snuggle time.
Everywhere that I look, everything that I do, makes me think of him. The house feels so empty now without him. It's so hard to believe that he's not here with us anymore. He was the first baby. And he always will be.
Everywhere that I go, everywhere that I am, he'll still be with me, even if it's only in my heart now.
Rest in peace, my sweet puppy. You were very much loved, and you will be very much missed. I am so glad your last day with us was a happy one. You stayed at my feet while I worked, and you barked at the other dogs who walked down our street. You had your favorite bone in the back yard, and you got Daddy to take you for a walk around the block. You even had special treats for your dinner. And we were right there by your side as you said goodbye.
Buster Brown, March 12, 2003 - October 2, 2013
Music: The Dance, vocals Garth Brooks, songwriter Tony Arata, producer Allen Reynolds (1990).
And it's going to take a long, long time for anything to feel normal again.
When I come home from dropping the boys off at school, I expect him to greet me at the door. Or to come sit down by me while I eat breakfast at the dining room table, looking over his shoulder hoping for something good from my plate.
When I sit down at my desk to work, I still see the scratch marks on the wood floor near the front windows. It's where likes to lay, right by my side, usually staring out the window, waiting to bark at anyone who dared to walk on his sidewalk (or even the other one across the street).
When I get ready to leave the house, I want to check and make sure he's back inside the house just in case it rains. I want to say, "Bye baby, I'll be back later," just as I always have.
When I pull back in the driveway, I expect him to be sitting in front of the windows watching for my return.
As I come back home through the garage door, I still see his collar and leash hanging on a peg near the door, ready to take him on his walk around the block.
When I'm dressed up in nice clothes for work, I expect him to come up for a hug, to cover me in red hair and slime.
When there's leftovers from lunch or dinner, I want to drop them in his bowl and say "treats" so he'll come running into the kitchen.
When we go outside to play, I expect him to come running. He loves to be part of the family, to chase the balls or dig in the dirt while the boys are bouncing on the trampoline.
When I walk into the sun room to help the boys clean up toys at the end of the day, I expect him to be laying there on his big, blue bed.
When I sit down on the couch at night to watch television, I expect him to come lay by my corner of the couch, so I can rub his back with my foot, just as I always do.
When I'm watching a favorite show, I expect him to come stand at the end of the couch just looking at me, telling me it's time to go outside right now, just as the good part is about to begin.
When it's time for bed, I expect him to want to go outside and bark at the wind, just because that's what he always does. And once he comes back inside, I want to pull some pepperoni out of the drawer in the refrigerator, to bribe a little love and snuggle time.
Everywhere that I look, everything that I do, makes me think of him. The house feels so empty now without him. It's so hard to believe that he's not here with us anymore. He was the first baby. And he always will be.
Everywhere that I go, everywhere that I am, he'll still be with me, even if it's only in my heart now.
Rest in peace, my sweet puppy. You were very much loved, and you will be very much missed. I am so glad your last day with us was a happy one. You stayed at my feet while I worked, and you barked at the other dogs who walked down our street. You had your favorite bone in the back yard, and you got Daddy to take you for a walk around the block. You even had special treats for your dinner. And we were right there by your side as you said goodbye.
Music: The Dance, vocals Garth Brooks, songwriter Tony Arata, producer Allen Reynolds (1990).
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
At the Club
A few weeks back, Grammy and Pappy invited us out to their club pool for the afternoon. The weather in our part of the world finally started to feel like summer. Never mind that it was August pushing into September. So we packed up after a baseball and soccer game, and headed out to the club.
And the boys swam. And swam and swam. And slid down the slide. And jumped off the diving board. And ran back and forth between the three different pools and the snack bar. In other words, they had a great time.
Soaking up the last days of summer vacation at the pool. My boys can't think of a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)