Spring Break

Two years ago we were scheduled to "glamp out" at our friend's campground that had just opened, named Emberglow, near Lake Lure, NC. We'd reserved the "Family Style Treehouse" for a few days but, unfortunately, everything shut down a few weeks before we went, due to COVID. It booked before I was able to get it scheduled the next spring break, so I was thankful to snag it this year! It was so cool! They've really done a great job of designing and decorating all of their housing options, which include  treehouses, yurts, tiny homes, pods, vintage campers, travel trailers, and primitive tent sites. They even have a double-decker bus!

My favorite clock, when on vacation:

There were such fun details everywhere you looked!

Our first night happened to overlap with another AmeriCorps friend we worked with who now lives in Ohio. Another friend drove from Charlotte so it felt like an unexpected AmeriCorps reunion!

Soooooo many stars!!

We hiked up 500 stairs to reach the top of Chimney Rock, then continued up to Exclamation Point. It was a great workout!!

Can you spot the kids at the top? Check out the view!

Willow was pretty congested during our trip so her face in this picture pretty much sums up how she felt. 

The view from the top, recorded by Owen.

We hiked another 1.4 miles to see Hickory Nut Falls.

We loved the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge! They had such fun things everywhere you looked. Since it was spring, they had a "Tip toe through the Tulips" display of tulips in a variety of shoes throughout the garden. They were fun to find!

Owen's favorite place:

In addition to games, we enjoyed hiking around Emberglow, pretending to know how to play Gaga Ball, and getting ice cream in Lake Lure and checking out the shops and river.

Owen's whole school read "Matilda" and one of the BINGO activities was to read outdoors. Check!!

We enjoyed an hour horseback ride! We had great horses and really enjoyed when they walked through the creek!

Dusty

Duchess

Fiona

Montana

We didn't have luck getting to Little Bradley Falls due to trailwork but we enjoyed a short walk to Pearson Falls. 

It was a great trip! Our hardest decision will be where to stay next!

Checkout fun Instagram highlight videos here and here. 

Random Pictures

Willow was invited to see a local hockey game with friends. I always love when I'm sent pictures while she's gone!

We went to watch the middle school girls' basketball game and she abandoned me for her friends ;)

This 2,000 piece puzzle took me about 2 years. I was encouraged by those around me to throw in the towel but I refused. There were moments when I couldn't even look at it, or would sit down and barely get 5 pieces placed. I was closest to quitting when Whiskers was laying on it and when I went to move her, she grabbed in with her claws and messed up about 20 pieces, which nearly felt like the end of the world at the time. :) I think it was a reflection of the mental capacity I had remaining during my year of virtual teaching. I was happy to pass this one on to my principal to do next!

We got a couple Lego puzzles for Christmas and it made me soooooo happy when the kids were interested in helping AND helped on multiple occasions. Owen was even excited to do one of his Pokemon puzzles after these, as well as a cat yoga puzzle we're currently doing. 

Owen grew out of the baskets he'd been using for his clothes. We took the opportunity for him to help put together his chest of drawers. 

The sweetest surprise message on Pinterest from a high school friend:

We loved watching the Winter Olympics!!

Willow enjoyed getting to present her Science Fair project in the county-wide fair!

I was honored to be nominated for Teacher of the Year by my principal!

The boys will be boys...

The cousins had a sleepover with Nana and Grandpa and we got this text from Willow on Nana's phone. They'd been talking in History class about Russia's invasion of Ukraine that day. It's tough not being able to shelter her from all the *&#$^*#& in the world!

I found a time capsule kit that we filled out on 2-22-22 to be opened on 3-3-33. Who thinks we'll remember?????

I attended a reading conference in Washington DC and was excited to run into these former colleagues!

We took the train so we just had a backpack of clothes for the weekend. Go figure I won a doorprize that was bigger than my backpack!! Thankfully one of the vendors was giving out good-sized bags and I was able to snag one to get them home!

All loaded down for the train ride home with a few hours to hang out at the mall and take in the cherry blossoms!

I couldn't resist recreating Owen's picture from the last time we were in DC:

We had him hold his hand like this for the Washington Monument, then he did that for the rest of our pictures on that trip ;)

We found a building designed by IM Pei, which we have a book about at school. It'll be nice to show the students next time we read it!

We enjoyed a quick visit with Jan and Barb!

Owen's school read "Matilda" and Owen often wanted to read the chapter to us! He even volunteered to read it to his class a few times. I love his confidence!!