Merlefest

This past weekend we were lucky enough to score some great tickets and head to Wilkesboro for the 25th annual Merlefest.  We were excited to bring Gray this year, since last year we kept thinking how much he would have enjoyed it.  We were right!  Friday- Sunday was full of music, family, friends, cold weather, HOT weather, crafts, bubbles, sand, running around, and a great time!

Bracelet little man made for me :)

Playing in the sand

All the people- little man entertained this whole row (and a few others) running around hanging out with different people.  He really loved spending time with Ms. Nicole though!

It was hot!  Steven finally left us to go hide under a tent.

Nita and Mike

Notice we all had on hats?  It was so hot Sunday, the hat dealers were making a fortune!

Annual Hokie-Katz trip #6

For Spring Break this year we headed to meet our best friends William and Anita for our annual camping trip.  William had a rain check on his birthday hang gliding trip from a couple of years ago, so we decided to combine the trip.  So we packed up and headed south to Mentone, Alabama.  It is in the southern most section of the Appalachian mountains.  It is a beautiful section of Alabama, just south of Chattanooga, TN. We rented a cabin (I know, not really camping, but maybe next year we can get back to our annual tent camping trips), and had a pond out back. . .and even a hot tub on the back deck.  We joked the whole time about our "camping" trip- which included WiFi, a hot tub, and a full kitchen!  

We had a great time though, and the boys had a blast together.  They are a year and about three months apart, but the age gap is closing in, and they now have so much fun playing.  I love it!  

Fishing with Dad in the pond

Little River Canyon National Preserve- this was a scenic drive with hiking and overlooks.  We stopped and had a picnic lunch, hiked around a bit, then drove half of the drive, getting out at several of the overlooks.  Beautiful!

Gray couldn't get enough of the rocks on this trip!

My little monkey climbing trees!

Just the guys.

Every year we try out a new 'smore recipe.  This year we tried strawberries, and dark chocolate.  Yummy!

We also celebrated Mikey's third birthday!  Anita made cookies and we opened gifts.

My little dunker.  He loves dunking his cookies in milk!

These two had so much fun together!

I am pretty sure these two built a dam just from all the rocks they kept throwing in the pond.  They had so much fun!

Gray caught his first fish!  Dad helped him of course, but he was so excited!

We went on a wildflower hike at DeSoto State Park.  Saw Azalea and Indian falls.  Beautiful place.

On the way home we took 64 into NC, the more scenic route.  We stopped at the Ocoee white water center.  We'll have to go back with Mam-moo, neat place.  Gray of course loved the water and the rocks.  If they had a train he may have thought he was in heaven.

Gray's 2nd Easter

We had a wonderful Easter weekend.  On Saturday we headed to Stone Mountain state park for an Easter program on natural egg dyes, and to camp.  This was Gray's 2nd camping trip, and he did great.  He was pretty worn out from the hiking, and running around come night time.  In the morning we woke up and he followed the Easter egg trail to his basket- full of books!  He was so excited.  

Later we came home, and Gray had a package waiting from Mam-moo.  Mam-moo sent a shirt, a 3-D crayola and wipe off coloring/game pad.  He loves it, and colored all morning.  Thank you Mam-moo!

Yellow onions used to dye eggs yellow

Dad and Gray, the iconic Stone Mountain in the back drop

Playing on the boulders at the base of Stone Mountain

Being silly with Mommy 

Easter Morning getup

Easter at Maw-maws
Thank goodness no more candy!  New toys for the beach- thank you Maw-maw

First egg on our hunt!

Running for the next one!

Excited over all the eggs (I don't think he even realizes or cares about what is inside)

Checking out his loot!

This little outfit was actually Steven's when he was a babe.  How sweet, that Gray was able to wear it too!

 Now we get to look forward to spring break!

Rawr!

Like most little boys I guess, Gray has fallen in love with Dinosaurs.  He has several Dino books, and they are often at the top of his reading list.  So when the science center moved the Dinosaurs to town, I knew we had to go visit.  We are grateful that they offer free Fridays, twice a month, and today just happened to be one.  So for Good Friday, with all of us off, we decided to head over.  We started with breakfast at one of the local restaurants.  Were even lucky enough to run into our wonderful neighbors (Gray's grand-neighbors) and have them join us before heading on our way to see the dinosaurs.

They even had toy dinosaurs to play with!

Digging for fossils

Horseshoe crabs

 

Playing with the boats in the outdoor waterway

Heading down on your tummy apparently is more exciting!