mountain weekend

For five of the past seven years we have gone to the mountains in October with friends.  It started with an awesome trip with Matt and Leslie when she was pregnant (I believe) with Isabella and has continued with all different combinations of folks.  This year just the Moons and us were able to go and we stayed at a friend's gorgeous mountain lake home in North Carolina.

Anytime you stay in a house with five kids there are bound to be some interesting moments and this trip was no different but it was a G.R.E.A.T and funny time with three crazy big boys who definitely let their boyhood run wild, one little baby boy, one smiley little girl and two awesome friends.

A lot of time and I mean A.L.O.T of time on day one was spent throwing rocks in the lake.  I mean there's a pile of rocks, water and boys sooooo obviously this is the only thing that could happen.  It reminded me of that quote from Parent Trap when they're on the camping trip and Vickey says "Oh only part of the fun.  What's next going down and throwing rocks in the lake?"  Why yes Vickey yes it is!  

I spent the majority of the time making sure Connor didn't completely submerge himself in the water and making sure Logan didn't fall off the dock.  Bless his heart he can't wait to be able to hang with the big boys.

Logan was ecstatic to have so much time being able to "play" with Evie.  His favorite things to do are to touch her, grab her, lay on her, pat  her and throw things at her head.  It would be highly inappropriate if they were 15.  She is a precious trooper and a half and actually finds it amusing.  She's either super patient or has a weird sense of humor ;)

Friday night we roasted marshmallows by the fire.  It was somewhat terrifying because it was pitch black and there was an 8 foot drop off onto sharp rocks.  However eventually the boys figured out how to just stay still and roast away.  They were practicing scary faces with their flashlights.  Connor didn't want to do a scary face.  He wanted to do blood hands by putting his hand in front of the beam and making it look red.  After eating a couple marshmallows they decided it was cooler to throw them into the fire whole and we all watched them puff up and ooze and turn into charcoal.  It was pretty cool.

After all the kiddos were in bed the big boys had fun getting a boston butt ready to go on the smoker.  As you can imagine there were lots of butt jokes.  We introduced Steph and Justin to Settlers of Catan and enjoyed some adult beverages and stayed up waaaaaayyyyyyy too late for us old people ;)

Saturday morning was spent eating yummy pancakes, playing games, doing puzzles, jumping from the couch to the ottoman, playing hide and seek, and with all the guys (minus Logi Bear) taking a boat ride.

 After lunch we headed to Whiteside Mountain which I literally have been calling Monkey Face since we went with Zach's family two summers ago because that's what his brother kept calling it so I assumed it was the actual name.  Yep I'm an idiot.  Anyway we wanted to try hiking even though we knew there was a good chance it was going to be awful.  Overall I'd say it went pretty well.  Micah thought we were all too slow so he was ahead almost the whole time.  Silas and Connor took turns being slow and not so pumped about walking while holding hands with their parents who were just trying to keep them moving.  Evie slept in her Ergo.  Logan did great on the way up as long as he couldn't see me and great on the way down as long as I kept shoving puffs in his mouth.  As far as the boys know we reached the very top and the parents were excited to have a look out part way up so that we could say "Awesome guys we made it to the top!"

After a stop for live bait and ice cream, not mixed together, we headed back so they boys could fish before dinner.  Micah was all about casting and started doing pretty well with some practice.

Before we left on Sunday Zach took Steph and I out on the boat with the boys.  It was windy and chilly but beautiful with all the trees.  Logan loved his first boat ride!

After attempting to get a picture of the boys all together and a family picture we had to pack up and head out.

 At dinner last night we asked Micah and Connor what their favorite parts were...

Micah- hiking, riding on the boat, throwing rocks and fishing

Connor- riding on the boat, playing finger football, hiking and seeing the goats (to be posted later)