**read all the way to the end so you can hear a funny story** Last week we packed the truck and headed to the mountains. We got to our cabin around 1pm and unpacked. The owner left goodies and a note for the kids. They had to find a hidden Indian. They had so much fun looking for him!
The view was beautiful! The hummingbirds love those feeders on the porch too!
After we got settled in we hiked through the woods from our cabin to the Blue Ridge Parkway.
You can see in the picture above that the owner has painted rocks along a pathway, so AC and Charlie found rocks and painted some to add to her collection. 🙂 
That evening we went down the mountain for dinner.
And then we enjoyed some time in the hot tub that evening.
Y’all, the weather was wonderful. We had the doors open and the breeze was so nice! The kids watched a movie and we had s’mores before bed.
The next morning we got ready and headed up the Blue Ridge Parkway. We made a couple stops on our way to Waterrock Knob. We hiked all the way to the top! The kids were awesome! It is the 16th highest mountain in the Eastern USA.
Once we made it down the mountain, we grabbed lunch at Brick House pizza and then did some shopping.
After lunch we headed back to the cabin and of course the kids wanted to hop in the hot tub. 🙂 
A storm came through for about 2 hours, so the kids played and we sat on the porch and Devin grilled chicken for dinner. After the rain stopped, the sun popped back out.
That evening we definitely enjoyed a new adventure…we went to a rodeo! It was a BLAST! The kids got to ride sheep which was hilarious!
The clowns, barrel racing, bull riding…it was all so good! Charlie even got his picture taken with the winner of the bull riding contest.
We didn’t get back to the cabin until almost midnight! The next morning the kids and Devin did a little target practice. 🙂 
After that we went to Soco Falls. Last summer we were in Maggie Valley with my side of the family and we went here. It is so beautiful!
There were two bunnies around the cabin that were so cute!
We went to a playground close to the cabin. We created our own American Ninja Warrior course. It was fun. Let’s just say, it’s a lot harder than it looks!
Once we finished, we headed back to the cabin about 1 and had a late lunch. The kids played, watched some cartoons, and we packed up and hit the road around 4:30. We had a wonderful time away. We’re looking forward to our next visit! But before I end this post, I have to share a story that is funny now, but oh boy I was mad when it happened…
There are many elk in the woods around the cabin. One afternoon, the kids wanted to go looking for them. Devin was grilling so obviously I had to be the responsible adult and go with my kids so they wouldn’t be in the woods alone. I made it very clear that I didn’t think it was a good idea. Y’all, I was so scared. I mean seriously, if we ran into an elk, what were we going to do?! Anyways, we went out, down a path, where we saw big ole tracks. Then Charlie wanted to go further. We went down a different path and all of a sudden we heard a sound…it sounded like what we think an elk would sound like. We FREAKED out! AC was gone. She took off running so fast. I grabbed Charlie’s hand and started running up the mountain. When we got to the top and the cabin was back in our view, my husband was in stitches…laughing so hard because he had climbed down in the woods and that was him trying to scare us. Then! I realized my phone was gone. Somewhere in my madness of running away up a mountain from some imaginary elk, I had dropped my phone. Thankfully I had the walk back down the path to find my phone and cool off. I’m literally laughing as I type this story now, but it was SO not funny then. 🙂 I love you Devin!
This is what happens when you stay up late doing fireworks…she got up early then came and fell back asleep in our bed. 🙂 
After church on Sunday, we went to lunch with the Broadwells. Don’t all the kids look so cute in their red, white, and blue? 🙂 
After church this girl waited patiently until 4:30 for her sleepover with SA at Mrs. Kim’s house.
They had so much fun swimming!
While she was gone, we took Charlie to dinner at McAlister’s then to play tennis and then Momma cut his hair!
The girls had a tea party.
I should have taken an after picture…
Tuesday morning Cortney and I got up too early and did the Born in the USA 4 mile race.
After the race, my crew headed out to the peach festival. The weather was so nice during the parade!!
That afternoon we headed to Granny and Papa’s pool then to their house for dinner and fireworks. It was a fun day!
“We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.”
Tuesday, while AC was at gymnastics, Charlie and I took Daisy to the vet to get her nails trimmed (she HATES having it done and we just can’t do it.)
That night at VBS the kids brought M&M containers with quarters in them to go to those in need.
Wednesday, while AC was at gymnastics, Charlie and I headed to the library to see a magician. Charlie got to volunteer. It was so fun! That night at VBS was water night…they got soaked but had a blast!
Thursday we met my friend Jenifer and her kids, niece, and nephew at EdVenture. We had a great time before we headed to VBS that evening.
One nice thing about the kids being at VBS for 5 nights in a row for 2.5 hours is that Devin and I had several date nights. Two nights we cooked dinner at home and 3 nights we ate out. One of the nights we went and walked the 14 mile creek trail in Lexington. 🙂 
Sweet cousins at VBS:
Friday we headed to the Whittington’s pool to swim with them and the Broadwells. So glad we went early that morning before the rain came! We had a wonderful time. 🙂 
That afternoon the kids watched our wedding DVD with me. Can’t believe we will celebrate 13 years of marriage this month!
Singing and dancing the last night:
When we left there was a beautiful rainbow! A great reminder of God’s promise. 🙂 
I’m so thankful for Northside Baptist and the wonderful VBS where my kiddos learned more about Jesus and had a fun time!
Two Little Hensons 
