Mountain Trip 2.0.

Remember when I said last year that I wanted to make our mountain trip an annual affair? We did it! And version 2.0 was just as much fun. We went with our same fabulous friends to Highlands, North Carolina this past week. While we were worried about the threat of rain, we totally lucked out with great weather save a rainy car ride up to Highlands. Our rental cabin was located right in Highlands and was so convenient to activities. While we lacked the panoramic mountain views we had last year, the pond (and paddle boat!), great deck and location more than made up for it.

We arrived before our friends and hiked to Sunset Rock. It was a great first activity.  It's an easy walk to the top on a gravel path so Fawn was able to do it with ease.

At first, Small Fry wanted nothing to do with the backpack carrier. In fact, he walked the half mile to Sunset Rock all by himself. That's a long distance for those short legs!

Fawn declared that the foggy mountain view in the background was a volcano. According to Fawn, the volcano was about to interrupt us and cover us with llama. No sense in trying to correct him.

This little guy was a tired mess after romping in puddles. He more than welcomed a return trip in the backpack carrier.

Our kiddos were so excited when our friends arrived. The boys were bouncing off the walls! After finally getting them to bed we enjoyed great food and wine and fellowship on the deck, followed by some guys versus girls cards playing. 

The next morning, wanting to take advantage of the non-rainy weather, we set off for Whiteside Mountain. It's a 2.5 mile hike, which the boys handled with no complaints. They did great! The views from the top are well worth the effort -- 180 degrees of God's magnificent creation.

Fawn and his best buddy T. So thankful for this sweet friendship.

The three "big boys" during snack break at Whiteside.

Handsome daddy, handsome baby.

My little monkey.

Family shot.

The wildflowers and butterflies were amazing -- even capturing the attention and wonder of the boys.

After naps for the babies and some paddle boat/fishing time for the boys, we headed to Glen Falls to check out the waterfalls.

Love this family shot -- it might be my Christmas card.

Blessed by this friendship and our ability to travel together with complete ease -- no small feat with little ones! With this sweet family, everything is so easy on top of being so much fun.

After a long, action-packed day, we tackled dinner, baths, and bed and enjoyed another awesome grown-up evening of great food and great fun playing cards.  The next morning, we headed the few miles to Cashiers where we let the kids play on the playground before heading to a nearby waterfall.

Happy campers.

Awesome site.

This child defines outdoorsy -- he is his father's son.

Small Fry figured out that the backpack carrier was pretty awesome after all.

We topped off the morning with delicious Carolina BBQ. As if that wasn't enough activity for one morning, we headed back to Sunset Rock so our friends could also enjoy it. Even the energizer bunny Fawn was tired and took a turn in the backpack carrier.

Now that's a pack mule.

After another afternoon of good old fashioned fun by the pond and in the yard, we headed to the Highlands playground for some play time and a picnic dinner. After dinner, we headed back to our cabin for s'mores. Shockingly, the children were not impressed. The only ones eating s'mores were the grown ups. Not a bad deal for us! We followed our pre-dinner treat with our last night of great food and great fun. And, in the interest of full disclosure, the girls third consecutive defeat in Spades. (We held our own in Buck's made up, but highly entertaining, game of 2's and 10's, though.)

When we woke up the next morning, it was time to head out. We squeezed in a trip to Dry Falls and a short hike on Scaly Mountain on our way. I am already looking forward to next year! The mountains are a perfect destination for little boys, and the company makes an already great vacation even better.

One Year Countdown.

One year from now, I'll be dropping this precious one off at kindergarten:

Unbelievable.  

I can honestly say that at the one year countdown neither of us is the least bit ready. Fawn has declared that he doesn't like "going to school squished together".  Translation: he does not like going to school on back-to-back days.  Monday-Wednesday-Friday he can handle; he'd just like to be home on the "in between" days. And while I've tried to talk up the upcoming start of his 4K year, and how fun it will be to see his friends four days a week, he is not excited.  

I've got mixed emotions about the upcoming year of preschool.  Ready for some structure and consistency in our days.  Sad to leave the carefree days of summer behind.  But, I have nothing but anxiety and sorrow at the thought of Fawn starting kindergarten in a year.  Seeing all of the "first day" Facebook posts this morning made my stomach churn.

I love all the fun things we can do together as Fawn gets older -- it's not that I want him to be a baby.  I am just so sad at the thought of all the time he will spend away from this nest and from Small Fry and me.  I know it's a perfectly normal -- and wonderful! -- part of growing up.  I absolutely loved school and hope the same for him.

I'm glad we've got this one last year of no-pressure school.  My prayers for him are that he learns to love and thrive in his time there, that he continues to grow up and mature so next year he can embrace "real" school.  My prayers for me are that I can cling to the promise that God is taking care of Fawn and that He is making straight Fawn's paths.

San Fran: Day 3.

Buck had meetings all morning, so I headed back to the Ferry Building to check out the artists' goods and the Saturday farmers market.  I had a great time, and found some fabulous jewelry for sweet babysitters back at home with the boys (Buck's mom and sister).

Around lunch time, we met up at the hotel and put on our exercise gear for our afternoon at the Golden Gate Bridge.  We took a bus to get to the bridge, and got to drive through other areas of the city we hadn't seen yet -- namely the Marina.

Pictures absolutely do not do the Golden Gate Bridge justice.  When we rounded the corner and saw it, it took my breath away.  We opted to get off the bus instead of riding it across the bridge. I'm so glad we did!

Amazing sight!

The weather was perfect.

I was in awe.

Selfie while walking across the bridge.  We didn't go all the way across -- maybe about halfway.  It was frightening up there.

Then we walked to the Pacific Ocean side of the bridge.

We took a walking path through Golden Gate National Recreation Area which led us back underneath the bridge.

All the way under the bridge is an old military Fort (Fort Point), dubbed as a Civil War era military fort.  We went up inside and it was so cool.  Though Buck pointed out that he doesn't remember much Civil War action out in California.

Last selfie, I promise.

Truly a wonder of the modern day world.

We grabbed lunch at the snack shop in Golden Gate National Park.  Nicest national park I've ever been in.  I thoroughly enjoyed my organic turkey sandwich inside the national park ... only in California!

Then we had to figure out how to get home.  We examined the map of the bus routes back, then Buck made the executive decision that we would walk back.  Please note: (1) San Fran is extremely hilly, (2) we were a bit tired from our trek through the city Friday, and (3) we'd already walked all around the Golden Gate Bridge and through the park (logging more than three miles).  AND...it was 6.7 miles back to our hotel.  But we did it -- the weather was glorious as we wound our way through Crissy Field, the Marina District, Fisherman's Wharf and Nob Hill.  We really got a sense of the city not to mention plenty of exercise.  We made it back to the hotel just in time to shower and get ready for dinner at The Zuni Cafe, which came highly recommended by a high school friend of mine and a local chef friend of Buck's.  The meal did not disappoint...Pacific oysters, shrimp, squid, tomato salad, halibut, and duck.  I did convince Buck to take a cab to dinner, but he insisted that we stroll back down Market Street after dinner to get back to our hotel (a mere mile, but still!).  He does not love cabs or public transportation.  He would much rather be on his own two feet.

Our last night in San Fran.

It was a great trip -- the city is beautiful and the views, oh my!  That said, I was not sad to come home.  I missed my boys something fierce.  And, I missed the loveliness that is the south.  I think I take for granted how kind, hospitable, and friendly southerners are.  San Francisco may have the architecture, the scenery and fabulous food, but I'll take Birmingham every day.  Home is where the heart is...and I left my heart in Birmingham.

San Fran: Day 2.

We were up with the sun, still operating on Central time, which was great because we had a nice, long morning to enjoy the city.

First, we took the historic Powell-Hyde cable car ride.  We were at the front of the car and Buck stood up hanging off the side the entire way.  Brave guy!  It was foggy and misty, but the views were still pretty good.

Riding the nation's only moving historical landmark.

Views down Hyde Street -- Alcatraz is in the distance.

We got off the cable cars and wandered through Fisherman's Wharf and the piers.  Because it was still early, we were able to see the sea lions on Pier 39.  They were hilarious to watch!

Checking out the boats.

The sea lions.

View of the city from Fisherman's Wharf.

Then it was time for a walk to Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill.  

See that tower in the center?  That's where we were headed.  It was a long, steep walk.

Buck in front of a statue of Christopher Columbus by Coit Tower.  We were both a little perplexed as to what significance Christopher Columbus has to San Fran...but it was a good place to rest our legs.

Coit Tower up close and personal.  The views looking down were amazing.  And, instead of going back the way we came, we took the 400 stairs down Telegraph Hill.  Very neat.

Then we walked through Chinatown, the largest Chinese community in the United States.

Lots of food markets.  Buck got a bit anxious when he passed a man carrying brown paper sacks THAT WERE MOVING out of a market.  What live creature was in there?

There were also tons of souvenir shops ... think all the little shops in New Orleans with an Asian twist.

The Grant Street gate of Chinatown.

After that we headed to the Ferry Building -- a historic building right on the bay.  It was surrounded by all sorts of artists selling their goods.

The clock tower of the Ferry Building.

Then, thankfully, it was time for lunch.  We'd certainly earned it after our trek through the city. We had reservations at Wayfare Tavern, one of Tyler Florence's restaurants.  It lived up to all the accolades -- the meal was fantastic and the atmosphere was so cool and right up our alley.  Buck had meetings all afternoon, so I headed to Market Street for some shopping.  

Buck planned Friday night and he picked the Giants game.  We got a pre-game drink at MoMo's (apparently it is a famous sports bar) and ventured around the stadium to the Marina Gate.  What a gorgeous setting for baseball!

Buck in front of AT&T Park before the game.

We had great views from our high seats.

Buck with the Willie Mays statue.

We headed home from the game in the 7th inning and called it a night!

San Fran, Day 1.

Buck and I went to San Francisco for a long weekend in August.  Buck had a work conference there -- but only about seven hours of meetings.  So though he was there for work, we had plenty of time to explore the city together.

It was my first ever trip to California.  Buck had been twice before -- once for a baseball tournament as a teenager and once to LA for work.  It was actually only the second time we've flown together -- the first being our honeymoon ten years ago.  That shocks me!  I feel like we go and do things but it's usually pretty close to home (the lake, the farm, the beach, the mountains). In fact, while waiting in the Birmingham airport, I realized it was the first time I'd flown since before I was pregnant with Fawn (five and a half years ago!).  It truly has felt like I blinked and the time "post-children" has absolutely flashed before my very eyes.  How can five years pass in an instant?

Enough with my musings on the passage of time, back to our trip to San Fran...

We arrived in the late afternoon, and between bad traffic (the 49ers had a pre-season game and the Giants were also playing in town) and having to get Buck registered for his meetings by the time we got settled we really only had time for a quick drink before our dinner reservations.  We stayed at The Palace Hotel...a gorgeous, old hotel that is one of the oldest in the city.  The original Palace burned down in the fires following the 1906 earthquake and was said to be even more grand and ornate.  It was a gorgeous building!

The roof of The Garden Court -- in the middle of The Palace Hotel.  The photo does not do it justice -- the ceiling and chandeliers were magnificent!

We headed to The View for a drink, a bar on the 39th floor of the Marriot.  Though it was foggy and cloudy, we still had pretty good views of the city.

The View had these amazing windows to look out of.

Welcome to San Fran -- Buck found this local beer (Anchor Steam) and drank it all weekend.

The Bay Bridge.

Our dinner reservation was at 8 pm -- so we were exhausted and starving because of the time change.  We went to Town Hall, which serves fancy southern food in the heart of San Francisco. We enjoyed our meal, and headed back to the hotel to crash and get ready for a fun morning of sight seeing.

Bye Bye Girly Hair.

Upon our return from San Francisco, my first order of business was a haircut for the boys.  Fawn likes his hair super short.  He also loves his barber, Mr. Eddie, and the goodies that come along with a trip to the barber, namely a lollipop and Matchbox car.  He wasn't in desperate need for a cut, but it was time for a good back-to-school hair do.  And, Small Fry...wow that child had some long hair.  At eighteen months old, while it was cute it was just a bit too much.  Plus, he's such an active, messy child that it was becoming quite the hassle.  So off we went.

Fawn, as typical, was a perfectly compliant angel for Mr. Eddie.  He tried to "talk" Small Fry through it so Small Fry would know what to expect.

Mr. Eddie: Fawn, is Small Fry going to be as good as you?
Fawn: Not a chance.

100% accurate prediction.

Stoic Fawn. 

Pre-cut locks.  Easily fit in very cute pigtails.

Things did not start off well.  We removed the robe and put Small Fry on my lap.  We also gave Small Fry a lollipop.

I gave Fawn my iPhone to take pictures.  Fawn was way more interested in his new Matchbox car than getting good pictures so most are a blurry mess!  

What a transformation!

I sent Buck a picture text.  His response: Who is that impostor and where is my little boy?

It is a bit sad to see him looking so grown-up.  And he looks like a different child!  But, it's growing on me and so much easier than the curly locks.  Hopefully next time will be much less traumatic for all involved.