Wednesday, September 25, 2013

North Carolina Mountains


Entering the Smokey Mountains in North Carolina.


Why does only one Roberts child have an ice cream?
Larson goes up to the counter and I can hear him tell the lady, "In Austin, we have a policy that you can turn your toy in and get a free ice cream."  This confused the worker and she had to get the manager.  Larson then repeated himself with the most polite manners.  The manager was also confused but said, "so you want to turn in your toy and get a free ice cream?"  Larson said, "Yes, thats exactly what I would like."  AND he walked back to the table with a very accomplished look and a free ice cream.  I was dying.  Larson had not discussed this with me before doing it.  The look on the other kids faces was priceless.  
The rest of the night followed suit.  We could not stop laughing.  It was one of those nights that I will never forget with my kids.  

The next morning we were off to the not so big town of Burnsville to a street craft fair.




Jordan was really embarrassed when I reminded her of my clogging days in NC.


Fried Oreos and Rootbeer Floats

Their one movie theatre.

Larson had to buy a bow and arrows.



On the Blueridge Parkway.

Whitewater Falls of Pisgah National Forest
This waterfall has a spectacular plunge of 411 feet makes this one of the tallest waterfalls east of the Mississippi. 






An amazing walk to the falls.


Sliding Rock
This was what we were trying to get to all day long.
I had never ever made it to Sliding Rock even being a student at WCU my freshman year.
Jackson saw this and he took off!
You fly down this rock.

Can you tell this water is a chilly 55 degrees?  Thats COLD!!!!








It didnt keep Jackson from doing it again and again and again.


This shocked us!!!!  He got in line but we never thought that he would go.
Such a brave kid




And yes, he did it a couple more times but then he was just freezing!!!


Now Im sure that Jordan really did not want to get in that water but she would never miss a photo op like this one!
Actually she really liked it.







The frozen brave ones!

BUT WAIT....

yes, I have never ever gotten more mommy bonus points than at this moment.
This was the same 55 degree water and I had to let Logan slide on the rocks.
TOM!!!!!!!!!! I NEEDED YOU!!!!!!!

Luckily it was all over with in a couple of minutes.  Logan was no dummy.  He wanted out of the ice water.
So glad that we finally found the famous sliding rock.
Soooo much fun!!!

Looking Glass Falls
In the Pisgah National Forest, you can just drive down a street and constantly stop to see one amazing waterfall after another.





N.C. is seriously one of the most beautiful states.
Our last day was spent at Mount Mitchell
Quite a walk to get to the highest peak
(luckily the have a road that takes you most of the way)




Amazing views from the top.
Also, pretty chilly here.

Into the forest to explore.


Just amazing beauty everywhere you look.





Getting her summer runs in!




In honor of The Hunger Games being filmed here, the kids were having a blast playing around and making vines about the Hunger Games.


An amazing day at Mount Mitchell!

Yes, every vacation has to come to an end.  
And that usually involves a very very long car ride.

And one huge unpacking job.
Did we travel in a bus???
Happy to be back safe and sound in Austin.