Where I belong...

So in my perfect world I would never be behind on blogging but my world isn't perfect. So here I am a month behind. October is just one of those months that is packed full with things to do. We can't catch a break in October it seems and then most of November is spent recovering from October and then BAM! it's time for Thanksgiving and forget resting up after that because it's Christmas. I can't believe it's been a month since Ivy turned 3! Or a month since we went to the mountains for a visit with Chris's family. And Happy 1 month anniversary to Chris's Uncle Randell and Libby Ward who got married on October 23rd! Chris was the photographer and I was his trusty assistant...pictures from the wedding in a later post (hopefully - no promises). With all that being said I'll get on with it...

I was born and raised right here in good ole' Augusta, GA. I like it here for the most part, but I can't say that I don't hate it sometimes. There are some days when I would rather be anywhere but here, but...I'm rooted. The majority of my family is here, I have a good job here, Chris has a good job here, and so we'll probably always be here and I'm okay with that.  But as rooted as I am to this place sometimes it doesn't feel natural. Chris is from the mountains and I love it there. I feel that is where I belong. The air is different, the scenery is different, the sky is different, and even the people around the town are different. It's a very natural environment and when I'm there...I feel like I'm at peace.  Beautiful is the only word I can really use to describe it.  Spring, Summer, and Fall are all beautiful and Winter is beautiful with all the snow.  Well I guess I say that because I'm the still the kid that jumps up and down with excitement if I even think I see a piece of sleet in the the air here.  Truth is...it's colder than a witches tit in a brass bra up there in the winter and snow or not I bet I wouldn't last a week.  But....I still feel like it's where I was meant to be.

I think fall is especially beautiful up there when all the leaves are changing colors. We wanted to plan a trip this fall and well when Randell decided to get married that kinda helped us out a bit.  Ivy's birthday was Thursday the 21st so we spent the night at home to be with her and got up and left Friday morning after parent teacher conferences at Ivy's school.  When we got to Wilkesboro (almost Boone) we decided to jump on the Parkway and go for an impromptu hike.  Our first stop was Jeffress Park and it didn't really qualify as a hike but more so running around and laughing, admiring the beauty of the place, rolling in leaves, and searching for extra large acorns.  We missed the peak of the leaves by a few days but they were still beautiful in patches.  But the thing that I found the most amazing was when when Ivy let out a gasp and said "Oh the leaves are soooooo booteefool!"  I was shocked!  Chris and I had not been talking about it at all.  Of course she is going through a spell right now where she says "booteefool" a lot but I think she knows what she's talking about.

I love this place!  It's somewhere we visit regularly.  I love how blue the sky always looks, how crunchy the leaves feel under my feet in the fall, and how soft the grass feels under my feet in the summer.  I love the little house and the huge twisted tree behind it.  I love the smell and I love the way I feel when I'm there.

I especially love it when we have the place to ourselves.  I use to love the way I felt when I ran across the big field with my dog and now I love the way I feel when I run across it with my daughter (I would still love it with my dog too but he has become quite a pain to travel with lately -  he is not happy when we leave him home and he lets us know this).

When we left Jeffress Park we headed to the Cascades...which are technically part of Jeffress park but a little ways down the road or a hike down the road if you don't have a 3 year old.  When we got there we really did go on a small hike down to the waterfalls.  It was Ivy's first hike so we wanted to be a little cautious and not hit anything rugged with her.  We weren't going to go all the way to the falls because there are some pretty steep stairs but if you know my head-strong-I-can-do-it-myself-don't-you-dare-touch-me little girl....well we made it all the way to the falls.  It was only about a mile or so round trip but it's not the easiest thing with a 3 year old that thinks running is the new walking and along with her wanting to stop and pick a flower if she saw it (federal offense on the parkway so if it ever crosses your mind - don't do it) or play with random rocks.  We did finally make it down to the falls and we got some great pictures along the way.

See...can you guess how many times we heard "No! My do it myself!" or "Stop Mommy! My do it!"  Yeah she puts "my" in front of everything.  And it's hard to make a 3 year old understand - if you fall forward you bust your face and if you fall backwards emanate death.

So, since it took us about 45 minutes to actually get to the falls we decided we had to pick up the pace on the way back. And despite her many protests Ivy had to ride on Daddy's shoulders to help speed things up.  She eventually loved it and would get really excited if her head hit a tree branch.

When we eventually made it to Jamie and Heather's house it was really nice out but starting to get cool.  We let the kids run around a bit because they were so excited to play with each other.  They ran around crazy outside with the Daddy's while us Mommy's went inside.  Heather whipped up dinner while I....well, I just watched her make dinner.  It was yummy!

After dinner we should have gave the kids a bath and put them to bed so that we could enjoy some adult conversation but instead we had quite an epic dance party in Charlie's bedroom.  It got them really worked up but it was worth it.  They had a blast dancing and we had a blast watching them.  They learn from their mothers....they had some really SWEET moves.  The best part was watching them get cracked up while they were watching their reflections in the window.

And despite the late night we still managed to get them up and ready for the pumpkin patch the next morning.  It was cold but the sun was shining extra bright so it warmed up nicely.  We got some cute pictures I think but it was hard with that sun.

Little Charlie wandering in the wrong direction.  I think he must have wanted some corn more than he wanted a pumpkin.  And if you remember this post then you know he loves his corn.

Ivy really tried hard to move this pumpkin but it wouldn't budge.  Eventually she did give up though...

...and went for a smaller pumpkin...

...that she gave to Charlie.  Such a sweet girl.

Oh and these kids melt my heart when they are together and I love Charlie's pose here, such a little man.

The rest of our Saturday was spent just laying around waiting to get ready for Randell and Libby's wedding.  But we headed out again Sunday morning for some family time with just us three.  We went up to the Linn Cove Viaduct because Chris and I haven't been there in a really long time.  We climbed up to what Chris and I refer to as "Our Rock" because back when we were first dating we went up there and took a picture of ourselves with the Viaduct in the background.  Note-to-self: do not attempt this again with a 3 year old.

We couldn't get a picture of the three of us together because we didn't have a tri-pod and there was no safe way to rig up the camera.  We still wanted to get a picture of us with Ivy so we each took one.  Chris's picture of me and Ivy is obviously better...that's whey we call him the photographer.  He actually thought  it out - picture of Marti and Ivy on the rock with the whole viaduct behind them.  Me on the other hand...picture of Chris and Ivy on the rock with the viaduct without falling and killing myself or dropping this camera that costs a much as a small car...no pressure Marti.  I'm trying, one day I'll figure it out.

And after the catastrophe of us trying to get off "our rock" - Ivy got in a hurry and decided she could try and go with out us and then Chris lunged to keep her from falling and he fell and just about busted his head open trying not to smash the camera.  Didn't I make a note-to-self earlier about not doing this again with a 3 year old?

Well after we got back to the car without anyone bleeding or breaking something we drove over to Valle Crucis Park before we headed home.  Seriously, this might be our favorite place on earth.  And there is no shortage of love for Ivy because her sweet Aunt Heather had another birthday party planned for the family in N.C.

That's right...a third 3rd birthday party.  Hey, you only turn 3 once!

Thanks Heather for everything you did!

So there was lots more cake, balloons, and presents.  Ivy got to hang out with her Paw, Uncle Zach, and her cousins too.

Girlfriend racked up some serious cash and Paw got her some Little People so Ivy thought she had hit the Jackpot!

This picture was taken right before Charlie's vicious balloon attack on me.  Seriously...see that sneaky smile, if it had been anything other than air in those balloons it would have looked like Mike Tyson had gotten a hold of me.

Ivy loves her Great Papaw and Mamaw Ward...and they love her right back!

Ivy and Lily love each other so much and Lily was so sweet looking after her on the playground.

See that face Ivy is making?  That's because she was just given her first ever skittles by Sherri...thank you Sherri, whenever Ivy sees a bag of skittles in the store she FREAKS!

I know, I know...Mother of the Year award.  I let my kid have coke right after I complain about skittles.  But hey there was only about half a sip and it was caffeine free and considering that we were trying to convince her to go to the car for a 5 hour ride back home...well you know, I pick my battles.

How ya like that back drop for your swings?  Not too shabby!

Happy Thanksgiving!  Until next time.