Yoga Tonight

I decided to go to yoga tonight to unwind after a busy day. I usually don't take the time to enjoy the few minutes of relaxation and visualization at the end. Well, I did tonight and I was brought to tears. I wasn't sobbing or anything, but tears were just rolling down my cheeks as I lay there on my back. Reminiscent crying you could call it.

I went back to when our family lived in the mountains and we had Josh, the dog. We would go on our nightly hike to the gorgeous Todd Park a few miles down the road. We would cut through the overgrown weeds to the river and skip stones. Rich even mastered skipping with Nolan in the baby bjorn. Rich would always hit the rock sticking out of the water about 20 feet away. I hit it once!! And, Josh would wade knee high in the water, his nose taking in the clean mountain breeze. I pictured Josh running around in the tall grassy field, just enjoying life.

It was just such a great time in my life. So happy. Nolan was still a baby, and always content outside. If he was screaming inside and I stepped outside, he was immediately calm. I wonder if it's because I walked a mile everyday when I was pregnant. He was comforted by the silence of the mountains and the birds chirping, perhaps?

I am so thankful for those memories. I know we have many more to make :)

Rich's 35th Birthday

We spent Rich's 35th Birthday in the NC mountains! Our family along with Rich's parents, his sister, her fiance and my mom were all there. It was so great to spend time with family. Rich got a Kelty backpack that holds Nolan. He was eager to try it out so we took a hike on the Boone Fork Trail off the Blue Ridge Parkway. After we had hiked a mile or so we walked down the creek and let Nolan play! Aaron and Rich skipped stones while Nolan threw rocks and played in the water.

Saturday morning Dick and I went on a bike ride along the New River on Railroad Grade Road. I wish I had pictures! It is one of my favorite rides and one of the prettiest I have been on.

For dinner we had delicious steak kabobs, roasted potatoes and corn right out of my parents neighbor's garden. Everything was delicious. Our friend John joined us for dinner, it was great to see him. We ended the night by playing Apples to Apples--it is a hilarious game that I suggest trying with your friends!

All in all it was a great weekend with family. I hope we can do it again this fall or sometime next year.

Over Valentines Day weekend Rich and I went and visited Boone, NC. This is where Rich and I went to school at Appalachian and where we had baby Nolan! We had such a great time. We had beers with old friends and went hiking on our favorite trails.

These pictures are from Sims Creek Trail. The first one is a view of Grandfather Mountain.














Here's a good swimming hole off of the Boone Fork Trail. Swimming holes will be missed tons this summer!









Here are some pictures of Hebron Rock Colony: