Balsam Mountain Preserve

Hello friends!  We've just returned from an almost week-long trip to Balsam Mountain Preserve in North Carolina.  It was absolutely beautiful and about twenty degrees cooler than sweet home Alabama.  Add that to the good company of Bryant's family and you've got yourself a successful trip.   I got to see this precious face a lot and soak up some baby lovin'.

 

Although it was cooler than Alabama, it was still pretty hot.  The big boys spent a good bit of time playing golf and the girls and babies spent a fair amount of time at the pool.  They had the coolest baby pool with a waterfall, fountains, and best of all... a fence.  Miller loved it!

He also loved the big pool.  It is crazy to see the difference in how he acts around water since our beach trip just a few months ago.  He had so much fun playing with "Stott" and "Tate".

 When we were at the pool he looked like this a lot of the time:

Sweet Scott and Daddy got a good workout and must have thrown Miller a thousand times.  As soon as he came up for air he'd shout, "More!"

This little cutie spent a little time in the pool, but preferred the shade.

 Miller tried out Daddy's lollipop...

 and we think he liked it a little :)

After playing so hard in the pool, Miller tried out this new thing called "resting" and "cuddling" while he dried off and warmed up.  I enjoyed it thoroughly.

 Our attempt at a family pic.  Apparently I need to work on my posture.

 These two got along great...

 It was all fun and games until Malley went for Miller's sippy cup.  He wasn't too sure about that one.

He forgave her by the next morning though and decided to teach her about the "stars", "cow", and "moon" on her blanket.  Malley kindly shared her car in return.

The house that we stayed in had an unbelievable porch with comfy chairs, a beautiful fireplace, and a gorgeous view.  We spent a majority of the trip out there reading, drinking coffee, talking, making s'mores, and building "bidges".

Frank, Bryant and I hiked to the highest point in the preserve one day.  It was a pretty intense hike, but the view was well worth it.

Miller was a little whacked out sleep-wise on this trip, waking up two nights in the middle of the night and getting up uncharacteristically early.  The last day we were there he decided not to nap at all.  After two hours of playing in his pack n' play, I gave up.  When I brought him outside, he climbed straight in Nana's lap and fell right to sleep.  I don't think you understand how bizarre this is.  This child has only let someone rock him to sleep a handful of times and he NEVER falls asleep outside or out of a dark, quiet room for that matter.  He slept for an hour and I'm not sure who was happier, him or Nana.  {I was pretty happy too since I wasn't looking forward to taking a tired toddler out to eat.}

If he hadn't have had that nap, Mama might not have been able to enjoy this...

I think I earned it after that hike.  At least that's what I'm telling myself.

Thanks for another wonderful trip Papa and Nana!  We had a great time and appreciate it so much!