Tom Creek Falls Hike

Gray and Dad ready for our hike.  

After working two full days Monday and Tuesday, and a half on Wednesday, I decided to take off on Thursday and Friday (oh the joys of part-time work).  With all three of us home to enjoy summer we decided to head to the mountains and find an short hike for little man.  I found a gem!  I had never been to this spot before, but it is great for families.  It's only .8 miles, and it was really easy grade and terrain.  There were just enough rocks and roots to keep Gray entertained!
Once you get to the end you get a great vista of a 60 ft waterfall- Tom Creek Falls.  It was beautiful.  We had fun splashing around at the base of the falls, and found all kinds of critters.

Looking over the bridge @ the "Water"!  Water is such a little kid attraction.

Someone has been eating here.

Gray loved all the flowers.  He had fun throwing some in the water.

Cool mushroom growing out of log

Tom Creek Falls

Cool little click beetle

Cute little banded water snake soaking up some sun

Plenty of rocks to splash with

Hmmm, what's under here?

1, 2, 3. . .

SPLASH!

Looking for critters. . .

And, look what we found!  I think it's a Northern Dusky, but my salamander ID is not good.

Cool BIG mushrooms we found on the way back.  

Tweetsie!

We decided to purchase season passes this year for our train-loving toddler, and this weekend was the perfect first trip.  It was the Thomas the Train event, and Gray was in heaven.  He was thrilled (though he has no clue who Thomas the Tank Engine is) to see, hear and ride the train.  Steven and I were so excited the whole drive to Blowing Rock, just knowing how infectious his excitement would be.  Seeing that little man smile and burst with excitement is one of the best things ever!  

 

First time seeing Thomas the Train. . .it was all sinking in.

Wanted to ride all the "horsey's"

Sir Topham Hat?  We don't really know who this is, but it's the only family shot we have.  Gray love's trains, and Thomas is a train, but the kid is clueless about TV, and commercialism.  Hmmmmm, how long can I keep this up?

I love this picture, because this is the face Gray made when he first saw Thomas pull in for "our ride".  We had been there a couple of hours, and the whole experience was really soaking in for him.  He was so excited!

Need I say more?

Savoring every bit of the train ride

Not sure about the cowboys on the train. . .but by the time we were getting off, he wanted to high five all of them.

A week ago he wouldn't get near the goats at a friends farm. . .today he was feeding them.  

And petting them!

He rode the boat ride all by himself. . .at first we were worried.  Not because he would be afraid, but more like we never know what fearless stunt he might pull. . .swan dive from the boats into the water, try to get on the bow of the boat???  But all went well, he rang the bell. . .

And steered the back too.

Ice cream!

And last ride of the day was in the race cars with dad.

Gray did so good, but crashed of course on the way home.  Once we got home we ended the night with a bath, and while we were waiting on the bath. . .Gray went pee-pee in the potty!!!  First time, we were so excited!  Afterwards, once he got in the bath he kept checking things out and trying to aim. . .I think he was trying to figure out how to make it work again!  Funny kid.

Happy mothers day!

Asleep after his big day on Saturday

My mother's day gift!

What a busy past few weeks!  Steven and I have been attending MAPP classes twice a week with the county as part of our plan to foster to adopt.  The classes have been good, have opened our eyes and minds to all the possibilities we are about to open our lives up to, and have been good at making us stronger as a unit.  A few more classes to go, then a homestudy, then waiting.
We also have had some busy weekends, and they remain that  way for a few more weeks!  Always something going on.  This weekend friends that I used to work with were getting married, so we headed to Haw River for what turned out to be a beautiful wedding!  It was also great to see of my old co-workers that I had not seen in awhile.  Gray played hard with all the other little boys, and it was zonked out before we got to far down the road. 
We also celebrated mothers day.  Gray made me a beautiful garden, I received a beautiful charm with grays thumb print, and Steven made me my favorite for breakfast- French toast! 
Hope all the mothers out there had a great day! 

Gray got a new placemat, he was growling to the dino!

Playing in the rain

Puddles!

Surrounded by artists

This weekend Steven participated in the annual Art on the Avenue event in Hickory with the Hickory Museum of Art.  It's always a decent show for him, and one of the few he selects to do every year.  This year they expanded it to the unity festival, and it was complete with more vendors, music and a petting zoo!  Gray had a great time.  

Dino walk. . .or run!

Proud mama!  He ran right up and petted the snake!

 Steven has also been very busy in his studio preparing for a show he has coming next month (if you are local, go check it out)!  Gray loves to be out there with him.  Usually I am trying to keep Gray from going out there so Steven can have time to focus, but I was able to catch a few shots of quality father-son bonding time. 

Part of the collection that will be shown next month. . .a tribute to his dad

Gray loves my camera (and I have to admit I love supporting this), and this is one of the shots he took over the weekend.