Pumpkin Carving

Girl's Weekend in Brevard

I just got back from an amazing fall weekend in the North Carolina mountains. I had a large group of girlfriends growing up and although we've now moved all over the country, from east coast to west coast, three of us ended up in Atlanta and three of us ended up in western North Carolina. We're only a couple of hours away from each other, so after a lot of planning and a gazillion emails flying around we finally planned a wonderful girl's weekend in Brevard, NC! It was peak leaf season so the entire weekend was just gorgeous - views everywhere! Brevard is known for its many waterfalls and scenic hikes so we spent the entire day Saturday hiking and taking in some incredible views in Pisgah National Forest and along the Blue Ridge Parkway. It was so wonderful to catch up with old friends and laugh until our bellies hurt! I can't wait to do it again.

Looking Glass Falls

(Click the photo to enlarge to panoramic view.)

Our cabin in Brevard!

On the Blue Ridge Parkway near Pounding Mill Overlook

The views from Devil's Courthouse

Looking Glass Rock in the distance

Driving through Pisgah National Forest

Moore's Cove Falls

Delicious dinner at Hob Nob in Brevard

We stopped by Caesars Head State Park on the way home - I highly recommend this scenic drive on Caesars Head Highway if you're coming from Atlanta!  It's an absolutely gorgeous drive on twisty mountain roads covered in a beautiful leafy canopy.

Pumpkin Painting

We picked up some small dollar pumpkins on our trip to the pumpkin patch and spent a fun afternoon outside painting and glittering them. It was nice and cool outside and the leaves were falling - a perfect October day! Scott was testing out a new work camera and made a short video.

Pumpkin Patch Fun

We made our annual visit to the church pumpkin patch this weekend. I always make big plans to go to one of those big pumpkin patches with hayrides, etc., but Shelby loves this one and it's five minutes away, so to this one we go. She enjoys it and that's what's important. 

Picking the perfect pumpkin. 

Her sweater and skirt are both from the consignment sale - aren't they cute? She has slap bracelets wrapped around her boots "like a super hero." 

If you need more proof of how much she loves this pumpkin patch, she begged to stop at it every time we drove by it this weekend, which was probably at least three more times. Sister, you were just there!

Fall Beach Trip

We just got back from a wonderful fall beach trip to the gulf. This time, we stayed next door to Rosemary Beach in Inlet Beach and we loved it! It was so much less crowded, but we were still close to all of our favorite restaurants and things to do. The weather was absolutely perfect and we had such a good time. Shelby loved the water and was so brave in the ocean. I love our quick trips to the beach and I am grateful that we are able to take them and make relaxing together a priority. 

My mermaids. 

Silly girl! 

No trip is complete without morning trips to Fonville Press for iced coffees and play time at the park. 

"Throw me, Daddy!" Scott definitely got his daily work out on this trip! 

Tiny girl in a big blue sky! It really was that blue and cloudless! These benches were set up on the beach for a wedding happening later that day.

Shelby the explorer on the hill at Fonville Press.

Shelby is so silly. Whenever we would take a break from swimming and sit under our umbrella, she would request to have a bucket of water in front of her chair and would sit like this with her feet in the water! I think she didn't like getting her feet sandy but it looked like she was enjoying a beach spa pedicure! 

Shelby and her dad admire that warm crystal clear water. Beautiful! 

Look at that deserted beach! We loved it! 

Shelby braves the waves. She was a fish! She jumped in the waves, swam underwater and loved playing on the sandbar in front of our chairs. 

We three. We celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary while we were down there and couldn't have asked for a better time. 

Game Day in Athens

We went to Athens on Saturday for the Vanderbilt homecoming game. Our friend's daughter EK was at the tailgate and Shelby thought it was the greatest thing ever! EK is two years older than Shelby and she thinks she hung the moon! They had fun paling around and playing together. Such silly, sweet girls!

Pose off! These girls love to ham it up! 

Seriously. They're so cute.

Shelby got to have cotton candy at the game! Her favorite! 

Brave Girl at the Dentist

We went to the dentist last week for a cleaning and Shelby was such a brave girl! This was the first time she sat still through the entire cleaning without wiggling or whining. I am proud of her!