After a long holiday weekend in Arkansas (plus about 5 days more for the kids), off we went to North Carolina. First stop Charlotte for a quick-ity stop to hit the pediatricians. Had time to see one set of friends and that was about it.
After that was a relaxing week at High Hampton in Cashiers - definitely a favorite tradition (9th year in a row!). We golf, we hike, we swim, we explore, we play.
Last stop Asheville where Dan and Susan live. Always fun to visit their fantastic city!
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| Annual stop at our neighbor's house and swinging on their swing |
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| We sure miss the big, green trees in our old 'hood |
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| Pool time! |
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| Got our friend's son to take a break from college applications to say hello - we miss our neighbors! |
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| Charlotte Discovery Center. They had a Rubik's Cube exhibit and we had a lot of fun helping make a USA flag with at least on side completed (in my youth I was able to quickly solve the full cube but even with my reduced capabilities of only being able to very quickly do one side, my girls were still very impressed!) |
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| Learning about pullies |
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| Bed of nails - it's been a favorite for many years! |
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| Why, yes, Anna, you did do a great job with your sun screen! |
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| Ahhh - High Hampton! Jane and Meredith enjoying the lake on a paddle board |
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| Anna was the first kid in the water (and coaxed Jake in, too). |
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| Geronimo! |
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| Ok, this flat styrofoam surfboard type thing led to hours and hours of fun - mainly 'can we tip someone off' and 'king/ queen of the mountain.' They and Zach and Alex were covered in scrapes from falling off getting pushed off and desparately clinging on. |
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| Another favorite of High Hampton - golf carts as transportation (thanks, Grandpa Carl for always making sure we have two of them!) |
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| New competition at High Hampton - can you hit a golf ball into that blue square on the lake? Here goes Zach for his try. Grandpa Carl got really, really close but no win this year. Maybe next year. |
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| Alex, Susa, Zach, Lynne, Dan, Carl and Jane - my wonderful in-law family and so thankful for all of them! |
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| Exploring a fallen tree on our hike to the top of Rock Mountain |
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| Anna and Jake enjoying the view midway up |
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| A bit of contemplation at the top of Rock Mountain. So nice to see green and mountains. |
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| Our great girls |
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| All the Puryear cousins |
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| My failed attempt at a group jump shot. Zach and Alex have already splashed in. |
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| Summer! |
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| Jane - has her balance but Alex is on his way to knock her off! |
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| Mere and Regan. Anna paddling along behind |
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| Mere happy in water |
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| Ski boat time on Lake Glenville |
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| Anna's getting ready for her first inner tube ride. She was very nervous and is giving the handles the death grip. She has two sisters along for moral support. |
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| Regan on the knee board - this is before Zach fell off and got bonked in the head and had to go to the ER for a butterfly bandage. Poor guy! |
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| Regan, Mere, Jane and Alex all fit onto the inner tube |
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| Canyon Kitchen in Lonesome Valley - wonderful setting and restaurant! |
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| A little post-dinner relaxing by Carl, Lynne, Susan and Dan |
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| Mere stopped by during a fun game of hide and seek |
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| Alex and the girls heading back |
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| Loved how our dinner at Mica's ended - a fire pit and roasting marshmallows for dinner |
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| Ready for another hike - this time Anna's first ascension to the top of Chimney Top Mountain |
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| We made it to the top. Yay, Anna! |
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| Meredith enjoying the view |
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| Found some kind of geo-cache (or just a box?) with a journel for people to sign if they make it to the top. I wonder if we're the first ABu Dhabi residences to make to the top |
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| Proud Anna showing us the sign UP to Chimney Top when she's already on her way DOWN. Strong girl! |
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| Time to feed Ed and Fred - the famous donkeys of High Hampton |
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| Good-bye favorite climbing tree |
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| The big kids (minus Anna) went on a zip line adventure. On their way back, they did a little waterfall hike |
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| Now we made it to Asheville - Cousins Zach and Alex live in a great neighborhood! |
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| 2nd Annual one-night-only debut of The Golden Leaf restaurant when the kids do it all - menu plan, grocery list (and shop!), cook and serve. We had a fabulous meal of a cabbage (?) salad (not sure if that was the plan or not, Ginger soy chicken and broccoli stir fry and Alex's birthday cake for dessert. Amazing dinner and we look forward to doing it again next year! |
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| Back to the lake. I took Meredith for a kayak ride and picked up two hitchhikers along the way |
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| High Hampton Market- a favorite lunch spot of the kids for sandwiches (and hot dogs!) |
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| Path to the inn |
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| Historic High Hampton Inn |
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| Bingo time |
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| Not quite getting close to Bingo! |
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| Rooftop terrace lunch spot |
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| And the kids are off once again - this time flying by themselves for the very first time. I flew back to Abu Dhabi the day before and Jake put them on the plane. They were a bit disappointed that they weren't just dropped off at the airport and left to figure it all out by themselves. These world travelers didn't feel they needed the escort provided by being unaccompanied minors! They're back off to Arkansas to spend a week with Gammy and Poppy and then go off to camp. |
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