What's Up Wednesday

Well, in yesterday’s post, I ended by saying I’d be back today with the second half of our mountain getaway recap, but I completely forgot about What’s Up Wednesday!!  I always love my WUW posts, so I couldn’t not do one, so for those of you looking for the second half of our mountain trip, it will be up tomorrow.  :o)

What We’re Eating This Week

Monday – Tacos

Tuesday – BBQ Chicken, garlic mashed potatoes, and honey glazed carrots

Wednesday – B has tennis, so I’ll likely whip up grilled cheese sandwiches with an assortment of fruit for the kids, and then B will grab Bojangles for us on the way home.  I always look forward to my chicken and biscuits on Wednesday nights… it’s like a little reward for having the kids by myself all evening.  Haha.

Thursday – Shay's Sausage & Vodka Pasta with broccoli… one of my all-time faves!

Friday – We will probably go out somewhere, and if we don’t, we will grab some take-out and bring it home.

Saturday – We’ll be settling in for a loooong day of football and our game is at 3:30, so we’ll probably be calling for a pizza or something… no time to cook and no time to go anywhere!

Sunday – Usually we have dinner at my Momma and Daddy’s house, but they will just be getting back in town from visiting my bro and sis-in-law in Texas, so I’m not sure if she will cook.  I’m sure we’ll do something with them, though, because at that point it will have been two weeks since we’ve seen them and I know the kiddos will want some Pop and Cokie lovin’! 

What I’m Reminiscing About

Our trip to the mountains!  Oh man, it was the trip that fall dreams are made of.  If you missed it, you can see my recap in numbers here and the first half of the recap of the trip here.  The second half of the recap will be up tomorrow.

What I’m Loving

Sweet emails from blogger friends that make me tear up. 

Eating the sweet and crunchy apples that we picked in the mountains. 

Videos of my little baby nephew that my brother and SIL are always sending to me.

That Jacob got a perfect report card and his teacher had nothing but great things to say about him.

That Olivia has pooped on the potty several times these last couple of weeks.

Salted Caramel Mochas from Starbucks.

Wine.

Walking on the treadmill at the gym a couple of times per week.

The gorgeous fall leaves.

The crisp fall weather in the mornings.

Foot rubs from B on Friday night while we catch up on our shows.

What We’ve Been Up To

Doing all of the #basic fall things and I don’t even care if I’m basic because it’s so. much. fun.  Pumpkin Patching, pumpkin spice latte guzzling, football watching, and aaaall the things we did in the mountains.  We even took Jacob to his very first Georgia game at the beginning of the month and it was a blast!

What I’m Dreading

We have our family pictures this weekend and Jacob still has two black eyes.  I’m praying for a miracle that they will be totally faded by then, but it’s not looking good.  Dang it.

Here’s our family Christmas card pic from last year!  You can see the rest here.

What I’m Working On

Christmas shopping!  Oh yes I am.

What I’m Excited About

Halloween on Monday!!  The kids are so excited and I think I’m almost as excited as they are!  I’m going to take off of work a little early so we will have time to get dinner and get them ready for trick-or-treating.  My parents are going to come over like they always do, and I’m sure we’ll turn on It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown at the end of the evening.  We’ll probably let the kiddos stay up a little later than usual as a special treat.  Here are the kids' costumes!

What I’m Watching/Reading

Watching – This is Us, Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, Shark Tank, and The Odd Couple.  We’re also still binge watching Friday Night Lights, but we only have one episode left and I’m torn between watching it because I’m dying to see the ending and not watching it because I don’t want it to be over.  Lol.  Somebody please tell me I’m not crazy! 

And Coach Taylor, please don’t go! 

Netflix, it’s time to bring back, FNL, do you hear me?!

Reading – I had just started The Nest by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney when I posted my last What's Up Wednesday post, and let’s just say that I’ve barely even cracked it open since then.  It’s SO boring, you guys.  I tried to read more of it in the car on the way to the mountains and I finally decided that it was dumb to force myself to read something that I didn’t really have to read.  Therefore, I have given it up. 

I just started Someday, Someday Maybe by Lauren Graham (yes, Lorelai from Gilmore Girls) and it is pretty good so far.  I’m only a couple of chapters in, so it’s hard to really tell just yet.  Who even knew that she had written a book, though?

And I’m also reading Balancing in Heels by Kristin Cavallari.  

Finally, a PSA for Nicholas Sparks lovers – he has a new book!!  Eek!  This will be what I’m reading next!

What I’m Listening To

Since we were on vacation for the last few days, I’ve been listening to a whole lot of Frozen coming from the backseats of the car.  Other than that, I’m getting ready to download Michael Buble’s new album that just came out this week (so exciting!), and I’m also gearing up for… Christmas music!!!!  November 1 is the official day that it is acceptable to start listening to Christmas music in my book, so t-minus six days until I’ll be riding down the highway blasting “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!”  And guys, Pentatonix has another new Christmas album coming out… I’m all over it!  Have you heard their version of Hallelujah?  It gives me chills.  I love them.

What I’m Wearing

Well, in the mountains, I was wearing a whole lot of this:

But now that we’re back from the mountains, I’m wearing a whole lot of this:

Y’all, seriously, what the heck is up with the weather this year?!?!  Our 10 day forecast shows highs in the mid-80s every. single. day.  It’s the never-ending summer.  I think we’re breaking records.  And it’s sure not going to feel very Christmasy rocking a sleeveless shirt and open-toe shoes.  Sigh.

What I’m Doing This Weekend

As previously mentioned, we have our family photo shoot this Saturday.  We are doing a sunrise session so I can’t wait to see what kind of gorgeous shots our photog gets! 

Aside from that, we’re doing a whole lot of relaxing – football watching, maybe a little bit of pumpkin carving, and just… hanging out.  Sounds like heaven after our busy vacation weekend last weekend.

What I’m Looking Forward To Next Month

Christmas music.

A Saturday with my girlfriends and all of our hubbies and kids for my friend’s housewarming party.

A day off from work to spend the entire day with just my babe.

Attending another Georgia game, this time with our sweet friends.

Lots of time with all of our loved ones.

Christmas music.

Thanksgiving.

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Decorating for Christmas.

Snuggly socks and fleece pajama pants.

Christmas music.

Christmas movies.

And fingers crossed for our first fire in the fire place if the weather will cooperate.

So much to look forward to, and so much to be thankful for.

Like… Christmas music.  :o)

What Else Is New

Nothing earth shattering, but I sure am loving this season of life right now.  It’s crazy and it’s stressful and it’s messy, but it’s also wonderful and beautiful and oh-so-sweet.  I’m so thankful every single day for my wonderful hubby, our two beautiful babies, and this life that we have built together.  So thankful.

*Linking up with Shay, Mel, and Sheaffer for What’s Up Wednesday and Jessi's Design and Going the Distance for What's Hap-"Pinning" Wednesday.

Mountain Getaway – Hayesville, NC Days 1 and 2

We arrived back home on Sunday from quite possibly my favorite fall trip of all time.  We spent lots of time taking in some of the most gorgeous fall leaves that I’ve ever seen, we made lots of family memories, and I checked several things of my personal bucket list.  It was seriously one of the most perfect long weekends and I could not have asked for more… well, except maybe to not still have this lingering cough ;o)

Thursday morning we got up early, packed up the car, and hit the road.  Maui was sad that we had to leave her behind, but she was in the best of hands while we were gone. 

On the way out of town, we stopped by Starbucks because how could I not get a hot treat while driving toward colder weather on vacation?!  I tried my first ever Salted Caramel Mocha, and ladies and gentlemen, I may have found my new favorite Starbucks drink.  We also grabbed a couple of cake pops for the kids, but halfway through they both informed us that they didn’t like them.  Ummmm… OK.  

The drive up was smooth and uneventful.  Thanks to a five year old with a bladder of steel, a two year old still in diapers, and a whoooole lot of Frozen, we drove the whole way through without stopping.  #Winning

We grabbed a bite to eat for lunch at Zaxby’s before heading up the steep and winding mountain roads to my aunt and uncle’s mountain house.  We quickly unloaded our suitcases and we showed the kids around the house since they had never been.  The kids found their favorite spot – the master bed! – while B found our favorite moose head that was still there from six years ago, the last time we stayed.  

Once we had settled in, we stepped out on the back deck to this view.  Absolutely breathtaking.  

By then, Olivia was long overdue for her nap, so we put her down, and then we all relaxed while she napped.  The boys did a whole lot of puzzle-building and they also played Life:

And I spent most of my time out here:

When Olivia woke, we ventured out to a vineyard and winery just a few miles down the road… the first of my three bucket lists checks for the weekend!  Crane Creek Vineyards is located high in the Blue Ridge Mountains and it was the quaintest little place!  B and I each tasted six wines – three whites, one blush, and two reds.  We both agreed that the Mountain Harvest Red was our favorite so we purchased a bottle, poured two glasses, and settled in on the back deck. 

The weather was absolute perfection and the view was just stunning.  There was a back deck under several massive old willow trees that gave way to a sprawling green lawn for the kids to run around on, and just past the lawn were rows and rows of grapes.  It was quiet and peaceful and I think I would have been perfectly happy staying forever.  We all plopped down in oversized deck chairs on the lawn, and we set the kids up with fruit pouches and fruit snacks to keep them occupied for a bit.  When they were done with their snacks, they chased each other around and they also played with the Cornhole game there on the lawn.  It was such a relaxing time, and I didn’t want to leave!  

We bought another bottle to bring home, and then it was time to head out.  By the time we left, it was dinner time, so we drove back to our little town square and had pizza at a little hole-in-the-wall pizza joint called Angelo’s.  Then we stopped by the grocery store to grab some milk, water, and ice cream sandwiches to keep at the house.  Ya know… the essentials.  Haha.

Overnight a cold front came in, and Friday morning we awoke to temps in the 30s!  After being stuck in temps in the 90s for the last six months it felt coooold.  We all bundled up in jackets, scarves, and boots, and headed out for our first outdoor adventure – gem grubbing!  

Gem grubbing is something that B used to always do with his family when he was little and he has been dying to take our kids since probably before they were even born.  He even surprised each child with their very own divided storage bin to house their gems… a red one for Jacob and a little pink one for Olivia.  I told him it was quite possibly one of the sweetest – and dorkiest – things that he has ever done.  Haha.

Olivia enjoyed the gem grubbing for the first few minutes, but after that she was pretty much over it, so she kept herself content by soaking up the sun and sitting on a little rock.  Jacob was all into it and he got really good at being able to tell the regular “ugly” rocks apart from the gems.  After about an hour, the boys had gone through all of the rocks and they had two Ziploc bags full of gems.

We took them back inside, and the lady quickly sorted them all into piles so we could see what we had come away with.  We had a lot of emerald and moonstone, some amethyst (Brian and Olivia’s birthstones) and some rubies (Jacob’s birthstone) as well as many other different kinds of gems.  We didn’t find any of my birthstones, but that was expected since mine is a diamond.  ;o)

After gem grubbing, we stopped in Helen, GA for lunch and to do a little sight-seeing.  They have their Oktoberfest going on right now, so the city was packed with tourists. We had lunch at the cutest pub right on the Chattahoochee River (where the kids spilled their drinks simultaneously – haha) and then we did a little bit of sight-seeing.  The kids each picked out souvenirs – a jet for Jacob and a stuffed penguin for Olivia, and I bought a frame to add to our travel gallery wall.  

We got back to the mountain house mid-afternoon where we put Olivia down for a late nap, and then B and Jacob and I played Life.

Once Olivia woke up, we bundled up and hiked up the mountain to scope out the rest of the neighborhood.  It was cold and the sun was shining and the trees were bursting with reds and oranges and yellows and greens in all of their fall splendor.  It was truly the quintessential fall wonderland. 

Jacob got a kick out of the size of some of the leaves… he found plenty of leaves the size of his head!  We also saw a Christmas tree just growing naturally on the side of the mountain.  Definitely not what we’re used to ‘round these parts!

After our nature walk, we loaded up in the car, and set out for dinner.  We found a cute little Mexican restaurant called Anejo Grill where we dined on margaritas, cheese dip, and all of our other Mexican favorites.  

After dinner, we tried to find a good local place to have dessert, but the only place had already closed for the evening, so we took the kids to McDonalds for McFlurries!  When you promise the kids ice cream, you have to deliver!

When we got back to the house, we gave the kids baths, and then we all snuggled up in the king size bed for a bit before calling it a night.  It was such a wonderful two days!

To think that the last time we were here six years ago, I had just had a miscarriage and was terrified that I might never have kids of my own, and now here I am enjoying fall in all of its splendor with my two perfect babies.  God is so good.

I will be back tomorrow for the second half of the recap!  

*Linking up with Our Pretty Little Girls for Tuesday Talk.