Adieu, Fall

Although I love the Christmas season, Fall is the season that will always hold my heart.  In honor of it's giving way to our holiday merry making, I thought I would share a few pictures from a day trip we took up to the mountains with friends over Veterans Day Weekend.  It is hard being so far away from our dental school friends who had become like family, but at least we are living on the same side of the country.  DC, North Carolina, and South Carolina aren't too horribly far away from each other. ;)  It was so fun to spend the day with the Lukers.  The only thing that could have made it better was if the Stephens could have joined in! 


Have you ever wondered what your Thanksgiving dinner looks like in transport?  We passed this on truck on our drive up:

Yummmm....maybe not.

 We met the Lukers at Chimney Rock.  The drive up was perfection.  Bright, beautiful leaves everywhere!  When we reached the top of the mountain, the view was spectacular.  Picture perfect.  So obviously a photo op was essential.

Since we had little kids, we decided to take the elevator up to the top of Chimney Rock.  26 stories in 35 seconds, all the way up through solid rock!  (The other option is 31 flights of stairs.  No thanks.) 

Chimney Rock

After we were done taking in the views, we decided to do a short hike to Hickory Nut Falls.  The Falls are the second tallest east of the Mississippi, and they were used in the filming of The Last of the Mohicans.  Which I have never seen, so I can't vouch for that.  Regardless, they were worth the hike.

I think these two missed each other.

London was a trooper, she walked most of the way herself, but I think she was pretty worn out by the end of it all.

First selfie (post-Myspace, that is).

After we finished up at Chimney Rock, we headed over to Asheville for dinner.  We drove through the Blue Ridge Parkway on our way over...but we were about a month too late for the leaves.  I can imagine how impressive it was during the peak season though.  Oh well, maybe next year if we are still around these parts.  In Asheville we ate at Moe's Original BBQ.  It was awesome!  Once we wrapped up dinner, it was getting pretty late, so we had to head home.  Thanks so much to the Lukers for letting us tag along on your trip.  Let's go again soon and check out Biltmore!! ;)

Even with a nose like a leaky faucet...

I'm still greeting Fall with open arms.  Yeah, maybe I only got a cumulative 3 hours of sleep last night (waking up to pee five times and then taking hours to fall back asleep because of congestion is not my favorite moment in life), but at least Dan was here this morning to take care of London--who also has cold!  But considering she had diarrhea most of last week, I'll take the runny nose.  Besides, I now have had two excuses to enjoy a cup of hot chocolate in the mornings: not only is it officially fall, but it's medicinal--to clear my sinuses, you know.  ;)  Now I'm just trying to decide if I really should bake a fall treat tonight, because I don't want to get my cold germs in it...but I really need to do something to celebrate the wonderfulness of Fall!! And plus, I could do with a pick-me up after a sick-day like today.

While I continue to rationalize my craving for pumpkin treats, I thought I'd finally get around to sharing some of my birthday with you!  Dan made me birthday waffles...I may have had to step in and help him a bit, but it's the thought that counts, right?  Plus, they were delicious, so I'm not complaining!

After breakfast, we decided to head to the beach with our friends the Stephens.  It was a PERFECT beach day.  Dan doesn't normally like the beach, and even he had a good time.  Perfect weather, not too crowded...days like that are why I'll miss Southern California. 

Not pictured is our delicious lunch at Cafe Rio, dinner at Cheesecake Factory with Dan's parents, the My Sweet Cupcake Melissa got me, or my brand new Petunia Pickle Bottom diaper bag (thanks mom!!), or my awesome, brand-new, just-exactly-the-one-I-wanted double stroller!!

24 is looking like a good year so far--and only 5 more weeks until baby girl #2 gets here!  Woop woop!!

Obessions

In the last year we've been through rubix cubes, reading The Princess Bride, Settlers of Catan, and of course, the ever-constant phenomenon of golf. 

...I think it goes without saying that we are not talking about me.  Dan has this tendency to discover something, usually something he stumbles across completely by accident, and then allow it to possess him in his non-dental-student-hours.  It's fine; it's one of his many quirks that I love, and let's be honest, I do the same thing.

However, this latest one made me giggle.  Dan recorded the movie 21 on tv and wanted to watch it tonight--I wasn't really in the mood for a movie, so I said he could watch it without me and I'd find something else to do.  After watching for a little while, he comes into our room to ask me where his playing cards are.  Dan's mind likes to figure things out, so I figure he's just been inspired by the movie.  An hour later, I walk out to the living room and see cards spread all over our coffee table.  Dan looks up at me, grins, and says, "We're gonna be rich, babe!!" 

So don't worry about us, if the whole dentist thing doesn't work out, Dan's got Plan B all taken care of.

Reasons why London already loves the South

1. Rocking Chairs.

She couldn't get enough of them at Cracker Barrel, and her favorite thing to do at Mimi and Papa's is rock in the rockers.

2. An appreciation for history. 

London loved riding this (still working!) antique riding toy outside a store in downtown Apex, NC.

Uncle Jack liked it too!

3. Being smothered with love by her southern relatives.

4. Ice cream joints that make a million flavors of slow-churned, home-made-style ice cream!

This place was happenin'!!

The outdoor seating...SOOO NC.  Or maybe as my siblings like to say "ratchet."

5. Lots of wide, open spaces to run hog wild!

Can't wait to show London more of this great state that I fall in love with more and more each time I come!

Meanwhile...

London was having a ball!  Even though she was being passed around from stranger to stranger, getting babysat by people she'd never seen before, and sleeping in strange places, she was on her best, most charming behavior.  I think London's biggest fans might be our Florida friends.  A few people offered to keep her forever.  But I think I would miss her sweet little self too much.

Hanging out at the West's home!

Making new friends at a baby shower with Miss Karie and Miss Becky.

I don't think you want this present...

Thanks for the new shoes, Mimi!

Beach day!

 Thanks to everyone who helped with London on this trip!  Especially the Wests, Karie, and my parentals.  We couldn't have done it without you.  And I don't think London can wait to go back!