Camping Trip 2011

(I feel like I always start my blog off the same way..."well"...anyways....)

Well, we had a busy few weeks leading up to Easter weekend so Andy proposed leaving for a mini-vacation the day after Easter Sunday. Though we didn't plan much, we knew we wanted to camp and have been wanting to visit Shenandoah National Park. So we headed off Monday morning!

Shenandoah Valley

We arrived at the park around 3pm and after scoping out the sights, decided on a tent site that was on the outskirts of the campground. Good thing as we were able to watch some deer at the edge!!! We saw at least four, though there may have been more. It was a wonderful experience for the kids to watch the deer so close and I was a little excited thrilled!!

The next day we took off to hike & drive around Skyline Drive (just past the northern point of the Blue Ridge that connects the Shenandoah Nat'l Park to the Cherokee Nat'l Park). We started at the Visitor's Center and were told we could let the kids "lead" us on hikes through "Big Meadows". They loved leading the way!! 

Our trek through Big Meadows

The little BIG explorers

It was very easy hiking and running through the flat meadow, finding rocks to climb on and then seeing more deer in the thicket trees! 

Oh Deer!! We spotted several!!

Pictures of the tent site:

The extra playing space in front of our tent

Our site came with a "locking box" for food!!

Outside the visitor's center was a Civilian Conservation Corp statue:  

Then we drove towards the north end of the park and saw a place for horseback riding. (This was something we had looked up, but saw the height restrictions and knew we wouldn't be able to ride with the kids.) But we stopped anyway and saw some ponies standing around. So we asked about rides and the prices were very reasonable so we signed up. And they let us lead the kids on ponies around a small trail and we had so much fun with our first "horse" experience!!! I am so glad we stopped "just to check out the horses"!!!

The kids were ecstatic to ride ponies!!!

These were from our drive around the Skyline:

Afterward, we grabbed some lunch and went "home" to crash for a while. Then we visited with some kind neighbors while our kids and their kids played together. That Tuesday night we had some rougher winds and woke up to a lot of rain so we decided to "move" somewhere else.

Bringing new meaning to "sharing"

The drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway:

I call this the Buchanan Bridge, it was once a covered bridge before the Civil War, and was burned in order for a brigade to get away, or so my memory goes from the sign we read. Later it was rebuilt on the original bridge's position as a suspension bridge. If you look closely, you may be able to see how odd the entrance is curved and slanted!!

We took off for some breakfast and free Wi-Fi and found a KOA online that had cabins, so we headed down to Natural Bridge, VA. The "kamping kabins" were very nice, just a simple cabin with a bed, but a more substantial place to weather the storms. We only knew there might be hail and had no idea there was so much destruction to the south. While we were at the KOA, we enjoyed the playground and basketball court.

Thursday, we took off on the Blue Ridge Parkway and found some breathtaking scenery!! Because of all the rain, the mountains were cascading with waterfalls, the trees were covered in bright green and the view was clear! We stopped at another visitor center which was closed, but still enjoyed the hiking trail. Then headed up towards the Peaks of Otter and found the most scrumptious pizzaria, a lovely Apple Orchard (they even had a rental house we may check out on future visits!!), and overall a beautiful drive.

 The one, lone picture of our "kabin" at KOA. I guess we forgot to bring out the camera at camp!!

One of the "Peaks of Otter"

 

On our way home, we decided to take a few back roads and were delighted by the beauty of southern Virgina!! We stopped at a waterfall for a picnic lunch and headed through our mountains to home. It was a slow trip with many stops, but we "worked our way home" as Hannah repeated several times!

Our picnic next to the waterfall!!

Conquering the mountainside!

~ ♥  The End  ♥ ~

High Tea & Birthday Wishes

For Hannah's fifth birthday, we asked if she wanted a big party with lots of friends or a small party with just one. She chose to have a small party....so as I thought of what we could do but I came up blank. Then came the idea of letting her dress up for a fancy tea party! I mean, every princess needs to have high tea with the queen!

And every young lad super hero needs to bug accompany his sister to make sure the tea is safe...

...and of course to have fun with Buzz and Woody!!

So on Saturday, we chose to have a small tea party with her friend Claire, and then cupcakes with "church grandparents" and a few friends.

The tea party before disaster strikes the girls arrive for their private party:

And we had balloons hanging waiting to be released as soon as they walked in:

Before Hannah's birthday, a few friends and I were at a consignment and found a new, big girl bike!! I debated over buying it since she just got a new bike last birthday. I knew she would soon outgrow her princess bike, I just didn't realize how tall she grew over the winter. So when we pulled out our bikes this spring, we realized that she would indeed need the new bike!! So anyway, my friend ended buying the bike that I debated over and her husband fixed it up like new!!

Hannah was quite excited!!

Then on her birthday, we dined with our "mountain family" (Nana (my mom) & Pops, Gramie Jo & Papaw, and Aunt Gail & Uncle Leon) and had lunch of Hannah's choosing: potato soup, grilled cheese and broccoli! We enjoyed lunch and chocolate chip pound cake (recipe coming soon to La Frazier Cafe). Then Hannah sat down to open her presents:

Her new Sunday Hat
(and dress up hat, I'm sure!)

Hannah received a new quilt that actually fits her bed (the other was for a twin) and since her room was painted in time for her birthday (a "ballet slipper" pink), she got to have a whole room make over!! Another blog to show pictures for that.

Also I'll get pictures of the sweet banner my aunt made for me Hannah once I hang it up!!

I can't believe the day has come that my precious little girl is now five!! I can remember bringing her home and having no idea what to do once we were there. I do remember sitting with her Gramie K and watching her smile. She still captures my heart when she smiles!! And she is such a grown little lady. 

I'm FIVE
I can reach more things!!

A few weeks ago, Hannah was looking at a mirror that was just a little high, and she said when she turns five she will be able to see!!