other trip highlights

This is a spot I've stopped at countless times in the Smokies...the stone wall in the lower left corner of the picture is one I've posed at/on many times. The clouds were low this day, it was rainy- it gives the best photo op when the weather is this way. I love it! It's "home".

Posing with grandma and grandpa in the smokies

Justin with his favorite dessert on the planet...grandma's banana pudding, which he always gets to help make. He would eat the entire dish if allowed, but grandma knew better for his tummy's sake!

Playing football with grandpa in the park.

grandma & grandpa taking a break in the park before our hike.

Kendall's favorite playground in Tennessee! She's hot and sweaty, but having fun!

In addition to the whitewater rafting adventure, we stopped to look at the river at it's out-take, had dinner on the patio of a lovely restaurant on the river, and panned for gems all before turning in for the night. The following day, Keith headed back towards Raleigh and the kids and I followed my mom and Riad to Nashville. We chose the route that took us through Cherokee and then the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which was gorgeous even with the gentle rain that fell as we drove. While visiting grandma & grandpa's, we went swimming at their community pool, played a lot, visited the park and walked/scootered on the trails. That was all fun and very active, but the highlight was the food from their garden. We had eggplant moussaka, fried green tomatoes, cucumbers, swiss chard, scalded lettuce, pickled beets, zucchini bread, squash casserole, kohlrabi (not all at one meal!) in addition to my favorite meal my mom makes: pinto beans and cornbread. After visiting for two days, we headed home on Sunday. I am so done with driving- it feels like we drove way more than we did with much of it being in the mountains. I had (and I'm ashamed to say this) 40 ounces of coffee Sunday while driving! It certainly kept me alert...well into the night :-)