Highlands + G's 6th birthday

We had a fun day celebrating Grayson on his 6th birthday. It was great that it fell on a Saturday, and since he wanted a party in Durham this year, we decided to have a family adventure day on his actual birthday. He's always asking to go to the mountains, so we planned to go to Highlands. We sent him on a scavenger hunt (he loves stuff like this!) around the house to find tickets to use during the day on our adventure trip... and Bowen got a bag too :) 

After breakfast, we hit the road. We enjoyed walking around downtown, hot chocolate, walking in and out of stores, window shopping, lunch at our favorite little local grocery, a beautiful overlook, waterfall, and a beautiful drive. 

We are thankful for 6 years of Grayson's life!  

Beech Mountain 2018

We had the best time with our dear friends at Beech Mountain the last weekend of October. This was our third year doing a mountain weekend and it is a wonderful get-a-way for all of us. A couple days of the best of friends, pajamas, talking, coffee, good food, games and we all leave feeling so refreshed. All the guys are in ministry, so it's a great time for them to encourage one another, share ideas and talk church. Thankful for these friends and this weekend!

and a huge thanks to my Mom for coming to keep the boys while we were away!\

Highlands

We spent the day on Friday in Highlands. We love being able to escape to the mountains for even just a few hours! Highlands is great for the age of our kiddos. An easy hike to a waterfall and mountain overlooks all within minutes of downtown is a win for us!

 Loved being there with all the Christmas decorations!

 peppermint lattes and donuts for a treat!

Beech Mountain 2017

We were able to get-a-way to the mountains with our friends last weekend.

These friends are so dear. They are truly lifelong friends. We have been through the highest of highs, and the lowest of lows. We have walked through world history class, proms, college, engagements, trips around the world, weddings, babies, surgeries, and moves. We have laughed and laughed as we bathed one another using a bucket and tiny bit of water in the jungle of Peru, remembered running from a crazy lady at the Silk Market in China, watched chorus videos from high school, and reminisced over how ill/mean I was in labor as they sat by my bed in the delivery room. We have cried together through the loss of babies, at the funeral for a parent, over skype after my scooter accident in India, in the waiting room of a spouses brain surgery, and as we sat on the couch in prayer at a beach house asking the Lord to work through the adoption of a precious boy in Ethiopia.  These ladies know me. And the best part is their husbands are my husbands best friends too. Their friendship is a good gift from our gracious Father. And I'm so, so thankful for them.

This was our 2nd November mountains trip to Adam's parents cabin. What a gift to get so much quality time together. We missed the Harpers this year. But hopefully we can all be together next time!

We worked in a date on the way to and from Beech Mountain. We stopped for dinner on Wednesday in downtown Asheville at Mamacitas.

 On Thursday night, we ate on the porch at Banner Elk cafe.

 the babies hanging out by the fire on Friday morning

 this... all. day. long :)

 the boys left to go do a little exploring, fishing, hiking

 and Adam took a few pictures for me... like I said, they just know me :)

 Boone and King Street on Friday afternoon/evening

 Stick Boy Kitchen with the Browns on Friday evening

 Miller and Anna are exactly 3 months apart.
Miller at 6.5 months and Anna at 3.5 months

And we had a late lunch on Saturday in Asheville at our favorite Asheville restaurant... 12 Bones Smokehouse!

 Our bigger boys had a ball with Nana and Papa. They enjoyed the museum, playgrounds, an afternoon date, bike riding and are already asking when they are coming back. 

Thank you, Nana and Papa, for making this weekend possible for us!