Duke Gardens

We finally made it up to the famous Duke Campus to explore the gardens. Warning: It was so beautiful, this is a definite picture overload

Tree hugger

I told the girls to show me their teeth (it usually improves their photo face), and this is the face Cambers gives me. She said afterwards, "I'm making my silly face. I'm so funny, huh mom."

This child, that is afraid of ants and knats, is climbing up these rock steps, and says nonchalantly, "Hey look mom, a snake." I look over and her face was literally 5 inches away from this little guy. Naturally, I had a freak out moment, and tried to cover it up so she wouldn't add another thing to her extremely long list of frightening objects/situations/living things. I think it worked... for now.

Lunch on the pond front with the ducks. These girls love their daddy

This bridge area was my favorite

This Japanese garden was Devin's favorite. It was incredible how this really was one of the most calming parts of the gardens. I'm now a true believer in Feng shui.

The girls had a great time moving these dark rocks around, and then "putting them back with their friends."

Cambry is using her green thumb to plant her branch among the rocks

For some reason they had a chicken coup tucked in a corner. The girls were really happy about it and appreciated them among the beautiful scenery.

There was a worker that was collecting the eggs. Cambry saw them, picked them up and proudly displayed them to all of us. The only time she's ever handled eggs, is when she breaks them when she's helping me cook. Yikes. Thankfully she handed them over quickly, without cracking them.

 We look around for Veena Bug, and she picked up this hose saying, "Ahhhh", meaning "give me a drink!" It's another example how her body language is so expressive, she doesn't need to speak. Another successful Rappleye outing.

Mountain Trip: Hikes and Swimming

On this little mountain adventure, our friends the Lyon family came with us. Each morning Cambry, Vienna and Marcos came out in the front yard and played together.

We went on a hike up to some water falls. Here we are at the trail head

The vegetation was super thick. I have never felt like I was so deep in the sticks in my life. Devin was the trail blazer and had a stick he was constantly swatting for spider webs.

Just before the end of the hike, the girls turned back, since I was carrying Vienna most of the way, and what comes up must come down. Also none of us girls were really too excited about all the spiders, so we went to go wade in the river at the bottom instead. Apparently the waterfall was only about 1/4 of a mile more, dang it. But Devin, Gregory and Marcos all made it.

This was the beach right by our cottage that we got to swim in.The water was cold, but we were daring, and we ventured out into it.

C was in heaven. She loves the water

Across the river is this incredible rope swing- there's probably a country song written about it, it was so fantastic. Devin went off it several times while I was at the cabin with the napping Vienna, then brought me back down once she was awake to show me the ropes (so punny).

Cambers was a great passenger on the tube to the other side of the river, and each time I came out of the water after a turn on the rope swing, she clapped and cheered, and asked if I was OK. She's such a sweetheart.

It was SOO FUN!! See my little cheerleader on the beach?

She was happy to stay at the beach without touching the cold water

There was a HUGE butterfly colony where the beach met the cobblestone. Vienna and I loved chasing them around, although we didn't take pics of it.

Rachael had the foresight to turn the hot tub way down so a pregnant lady and the little ones could enjoy the hot tub too.

Loafing with my girls in the tunnel

There is something so darling to me about little kids running down hills.

This is how Vienna runs: head forward, mouth open, arms back. When she finally gets to you, she throws her arms around your neck and gives a big bear hug. She did this the next Sunday at church in sacrament on the bench and just launched herself into me to give me a big bear hug. You could hear suppressed laughter in the rows behind us.

Friendly competition of horse shoes. We were all so good, that we finally had to end the game at like 4 to 3. Lots of laughter, not a lot of talent.

Mountain Trip: The Cottage and Grounds

This is the little cottage at Brown Mountain Beach Resort that we got to spend a few nights in. It is straight out of a fairy tale.  It was so dreamy!

The fire pit in the courtyard

The side door to the courtyard and hot tub

The screened in porch and the patio that overlooked the beautiful river. It was like heaven sitting there reading and relaxing.

The view off the balcony

The front porch rocking chairs were a hit with the girls