We have had the most beautiful weather lately. So much so that we decided to all go hiking again at our favorite place. Here is a picture journey of our trip. NOTE: These pictures are not in correct order at first. We start with the end of our trip and go to the beginning.

Below is my two youngest enjoying a happy meal hat after the long day out and about hiking the mountain trails. We normally do not eat at this said establishment, nor do we eat inside, yet due to the long day hiking and the fact that I was tired we stopped and splurged. They had fun as you can see.


Below is all of us at my house getting ready to hike the mountain trails. This is our winter home and we enjoy it very much. It is a bit on the small side, but we make it work. :) I wish. This is actually Moses Cone Manor. It is a spectacular house with the most amazing views from the carriage trails that surround it. You can hike for miles and just enjoy the wonderful scenery and beautiful views of the surrounding mountains.




My camera does not due this place justice. Especially the views. You are in meadows on top of the mountain and the views are just so spectacular. It really makes you awestruck as you gaze at the surrounding beauty that God created in all His wonder and glory.



Here is my youngest studying something in the meadow. She looked so cute I couldn't resist a picture.


Can't you hear the theme song from "Little House on the Prairie" when you look at this picture below? I could almost see Laura and Mary running down the hill with their pigtails flying. The sad thing is that I never was able to get a decent pictures once we got to the top as the sun was setting and I could not get the right flash going. This trail continues on to a tower somewhere high above and through more woods. I am going to make it to that tower someday!


Below another view from the meadow. Again my camera does not do it justice. I need a new camera!



Another view from the meadow.


Here the kids were watching some college kids running down a steep mountainside hill. I had to tell mine that they could not try that as I just knew someone would end up breaking a leg.




Below you can see my baby girl climbing a tree. See that look of mischief in her eyes? She had cried and cried for me to put in the tree her up so she could do this. I just know she was thinking, "See Mom, I told you I could do this!"


Below is my other monkeys climbing another tree.


We are on one hill looking at that steep path I showed earlier that was on another hill.


That concludes are wonderful weekend. All the kids enjoyed this very much. It is our favorite spot to go. We have yet to climb the path all the way to the tower. That is a must do on one of these nice weather weekends. We just need to pack a picnic lunch to tide us over.

Halloween Weekend

Above is the covered bridge I refer to below in my post. < >

Above is my sister's middle child enjoying the train. Notice all the little ones in the background. < >

What did you do this past weekend? We had family come in and enjoyed going out and about. We were suppose to go to a corn maze but the weather was too messy for that. So instead we enjoyed a covered bridge (see above) that was in the area. We also visited a train which the children loved. All this happened Saturday afternoon before trick or treating. Needless to say that by the time we got home from our evening of candy gathering we were all extremely tired. Here are some pics of our excursions.< >
< > Above is my house. Isn't it pretty with the 3 stories and nice big porch. I have my teenager's room in the attic. See the little window way up high? The white picket fence was my final addition. I just love my house! (Just joking. If by chance this is YOUR house and you are reading this blog I confess to loving YOUR house, picket fence included!)

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Above you will see me balancing my teenager on my back in the covered bridge. She LOVES ME can't you tell!

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Above is the train pic. You may notice the "gang" stance of my sisters child. They reside in the "hood" and he has his "rep" to protect. (Just kidding sis.) She is the one that referred to his pose has a "gang" stance. I think he is just thinking he is Mr. Cool!
Above is the picture of our Motley crew. Notice we run the gammit of cowgirl (just some kid we saw on the street and decided to tag along, just kidding, it is really a friend of my teens), on down through the army man (my son) the two fairies (my daughters that you cannot really tell are fairies unless you see the wings), a ninja (my sisters little gangsta), the hulk (my sis's middle child) and then finally Buzz and Woody (otherwise known as the soggy bottom boys). Oh, and need I forget the mummy thing (my teen). They are all here and we gathered much candy on our adventure. Maybe we will all gather again next year for another rousing trick or treating weekend. < >