Ahh...Mountain Living

The kids and I were only able to squeeze in less than 2.5 days in the mountains, but it is always worth every minute of the 5 hour drive each way.  After all, Banner Elk is a little closer to Heaven.

 

 

Michael couldn't join us because of a work trip Monday-Tuesday, but he was able to check off a great, long hike in local mountains.  Beautiful views. 

 

 

We already have two GREAT playgrounds in the area complete with minnow streams, but now Elk River has its own - beautiful and so convenient. 

Handsome cousins - fun to spend time with Alex and Nicholas.

  

It happened to be the Kirkin' of the Tartans at Banner Elk Pres when we were there.  Dad was asked to carry in the Bible this year, so I carried the Ferguson Tartan while Mom held down 5 kids in the pew.  This little church where Michael and I married was PACKED with folks to enjoy the special ceremony (30 Tartans in all) and Jon Shell's beautiful piping.  Little Miss wore my old Kilt.

Mr. Shell, who piped me down the aisle 10 years ago, lead us in with Highland Cathedral.  I told my fellow Tartan carriers that if I cried walking the down the aisle, it was because I'd done this before!

Backwards light, but a cute pic of Mom and Dad

with 5 of the grandkids.

 

I keep waiting for the minnow catching in the streams to get old for the big kids, but it's the first thing they always beg to do. 

Margaret and  Nicholas have always had a special thing.

 

Dad's new rooster overlooks him at "his" spot on the deck. 

View never gets old.

Feeding the ducks is always a favorite. 

 

 "Bouldering" with Dody. 

 

 Our first visit at the Wildlife Center of rescues was a hit - they have a Peregrine Falcone.  With the ability to dive at 200mph, it is the fastest animal on earth). 

 
And they all "petted" the orange corn snakes, too. 

  Wildcat Lake with a brood of wild kids!

  They couldn't stop cackling at each other...not surprising as they routinely BEG to nap or night-night together. 

All decked out in golf-club shorts, just watching the big kids at their golf clinic from the patio where our reception was 10 years ago. 

The golf clinic was a HUGE hit, no pun intended.  We had to drag them off of the putting green to get to dinner in time. 

 

Matthew's "putting": collecting 4 balls at a time and plunking them into the holes. 

 

New this summer - Monday night food truck at the barn, with amazing food each week to rival the views!

Cousin pile-up....all 5 of them are in there somewhere!

 Heading home in Grandaddy's "top-down" car!

Mary Poppins - choice of the boys!

How May slipped into June

If only every Saturday would begin like this, with siblings cuddling in bed while Andrew reads...

 

The first jump of the season always takes a brief moment of courage, followed by reprimanding Mom for capturing it (only after asking for a video to be taken, of course.) 

 

#3 gets his chance for basketball drills, too, right?  Love his own commentary.

 

 

 

 

 

Because the hill in front of our house isn't steep enough, evidently, he's taken to the adjacent hill from the cul-de-sac, making the turn back to the sidewalk to climb back up very, very quickly.

 

Summer fun, or summer survival??? 

 

How to survive sifting through books and books and books at a fabric store...

Hope my music is all appropriate.

Surviving a week of swim team in 55 degree rain (gone are the days of just 1 daily practice---we're up to 3 this year.) JJ is ALL things to these kids!

Rowan helping us plant the "Margaretta" seeds that Dody sent (before Matthew dumped over all of our work-----RGH!!!!!) 

And why not swing in high heels??

Heading to the bus on the last day of school.  Apparently Matthew felt inclined to dress up for the occasion. 

Here we go! Margaret's second lax clinic....a sassy little playa.

Margaret's dolls all tucked in to the tiny beds my grandmother gave me for Christmas in 1987 - what fun to find the receipt in the box.

June 10 - There are smiles and humor daily in my house that were passed down from a man I was not able to meet in this lifetime. You've been missed the last 20 years, Dave Killian, but I look forward to meeting you someday and introducing you to some of your grandchildren:) I know you'll be cheering us on at tonight's meet!

Meet 1 - first breaststroke, as part of the medley relay.

 

Heat winner smiles!

Nice backstroke, before he stopped.  He mistook coaches cheering him on from the wall for the chaos that ensues to alert swimmers after a falsestart - oh, no!

Those summer beach days!  A quick 2 day trip was WELL worth it.  Andrew spent EIGHT hours in the waves until we plucked him out for food.  Margaret made friends with any other girl around, playing equally in the water and the sand.  Matthew was just cautious enough, enjoying our family swims out into the big waves (at which he kept "waving").  Mom and Dad actually enjoyed several 20 minute segment of quiet under the canopy....didn't think we'd be there quite yet, but voila! 

 

 No high-rises at Pawley's or Emerald Isle, but absolutely worth it for the quick drive and just 2 nights.

Matthew's been flirting with naptime this summer - not funny at all - but apparently the entire day on the beach and staying up until 10:30pm (because we weren't able to crate his excitement) did the trick. 

JJ invited Margaret to stand with him during the meet.  She enjoyed the best seat in the house for several hours and learned a lot based on the Q&A I heard after.  Oh, the lessons swim team provides.