Thanksgiving in Asheville

We just got back from a lovely Thanksgiving weekend spent in Asheville with my parents. They came on Tuesday and then we took off to Asheville on Thursday. We ate Thanksgiving lunch/dinner at a Tuscan Italian restaurant (that served an American Thanksgiving meal)- delicious! We weren't sure by the outside what the restaurant would be like, since it looked a little like a hole in the wall. But it turned out to be marvelous- a perfect place to eat our big meal this year. Then on Friday we visited the famous Biltmore Estate (my first time), and it was pretty awesome. The only down side was that we were there on the busiest day of the year, added to the fact that it was very very cold outside (and we had to wait about 2 hours until we could get in). Thankfully we were able to stay inside the information desk area for most of the wait, but everyone else had that same idea. A bit of a zoo, to say the least. BUT it was completely worth it. The house was amazing, as anyone who has been will attest to. Kathryn was a trooper, with only about 10 minutes of nap all day (she fell asleep in the stroller RIGHT before we went in on the tour that didn't allow strollers. Oh well). Thank you, Mom and Dad, for your generosity in allowing for this wonderful, memorable time together!

Reading with Nana
(Kathryn loved all the attention and little games my mom played with her)

The adorable cabin we stayed in- perfect for our 2 night stay there!

It was very cold, which is why we didn't get any pictures with Kathryn or my parents...we were all making a B-line to get warm inside


The beautiful Biltmore Mansion- reminded me of "Pemberly" from Pride and Prejudice

Bottles of wine aging in the winery (notice the dust on the bottles)

We're Back!

No, I didn't drop off the face of the earth. We're just back from a wonderful few days in Asheville...pictures to come soon!

I've Been Tagged

Okay, this feels slightly like a chain letter- being "tagged" and all in the blogosphere. (thanks, Juli!) And because I am home from vacation, I won't feel bad about posting three entries in one day. So, Juli tagged me to list my 8 favorite Childrens books. This is a combination of the ones I remember from growing up and the ones I read to Kathryn:

1. Goodnight Moon

2. Courderoy Bear books(can't spell it, sorry)

3. Goodnight Mr. Tom (novel)

4. Narnia books (read these a few times)

5. Madeline books (in high school, I was trying to memorize the lines of the first book- while I was supposed to be practicing viola- and the phone rang- I was guilty that I was not doing what I was supposed to be doing, so I jumped off the couch and accidentally stepped on my viola, putting a big crack in it. All for the sake of memorizing a stupid kids book! So with a story like that, I figured I better include it on the top 8).

6. Shel Silverstein poems


7. The Giving Tree

8. Cheaper by the Dozen (novel)

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And while I'm at it, there seems to be a trend to post ten things you may not know about me, so here goes:

1. I've been playing viola since I was 4 years old

2. In college, I sometimes didn't go to class on rainy days because I didn't want to get my feet wet on the walk to school. Something I still get teased about by my dear husband. :)

3. Nick and I fell in love over playing games of Scrabble

4. I really like old BBC mystery movies, especially Sherlock Holmes

5. I won an award in 6th grade for being the fastest rope climber in gym class gymnastics

6. I played the String Bass in middle school

7. My middle name was Cynthia before it changed it to Taylor (my maiden name)

8. I love gardening, but have a knack for killing plants

9. My first overnight stay in a hospital was when Kathryn was born

10. I grew up without a TV at home

So did I surprise any of you? I realize I write for a large and varied audience, but hopefully you learned something you didn't know about me 2 minutes ago. :) Happy blogging!

More Vacation Pictures

Yes, all of those pictures in the last post were from our lovely vacation at a cabin in the NC mountains. This was the most relaxing vacation we have ever been on- no agenda, just reading, making fires, talking, playing scrabble, and hiking. No phone, no emails, no chores, no movies. Our 3-night stay was so relaxing and refreshing...what a gift from the Lord in the midst of a busy season. Here are some more pictures.

One of Nick's favorite things is building fires, which included splitting the wood for it.

"Hey Dad, Can I help?"

Kathryn and I went on a little hike to enjoy the beautiful (although chilly) weather.

On a hike to find a waterfall, which was actually all dried up from the drought. Oh well!

Poems in Pictures

"I'll tell you how he sun rose-
A ribbon at a time.
The steeples swam in amethyst,
The news like squirrels ran.

The hills untied their bonnets,
The bobolinks begun.
Then I said softly to myself,
"That must have been the sun!"

Emily Dickonson

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"Something there is that doesn't love a wall,
That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it
And spills the upper boulders in the sun,
And makes gaps even two can pass abreast...

...But at spring mending-time we find them there.
I let my neighbor know beyond the hill;
And on a day we meet to walk the line
And set the wall between us once again.
We keep the wall between us as we go...

...Good fences make good neighbors."
Robert Frost

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"A fire crackling in a cozy room
Where many memories softly loom
A sparkling fire dances clear
With warm visions of yesteryear
Reminisce for just a little while
Dream or just put on a smile
Take a moment to reflect
To enjoy the view so perfect
For a moment of peacefulness
Enjoy my offering of sweet bliss."

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"Not amber, not crimson
An unknown color with a fascinating beauty"
Minosuke Noguchi


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"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

...I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."
Robert Frost

Cutie Pie

9 Month Stats

I took kathryn in for her 9 month checkup this week...hard to believe she's already 9 months. It's funny, I loved having her tiny, but I wouldn't wish it back for anything. She's so much fun now! Let's see, what is she up to these days? Pulling up a lot now, babbling all the time, giving "kisses," and recently more snuggly at bedtime (which I love!). At her checkup, she weighed 19 lbs (50-75%), and measured 28 1/2 inches (75-90%).

More Fun at the Park

One of the great things about neighbors is being able to make unplanned events happen, like the other day we when we went to the park with the Lechners after dinner.

Buddies- Alathea and Kathryn

Good thing Kathryn is tough- she pretty much rolls with all of Alathea's "loving." :)

Love those sweet little eyes, especially when she smiles!

Going down the slide for the first time...she loved it!

Hodge's Dairy Farm

Nick's parents were gracious to come and watch Kathryn while we were on our retreat, and we've been enjoying time with them now for the rest of the weekend. Today Marilyn and I went to Hodge's Dairy Farm to get a pumpkin. We even got to go on a free hay ride, which was great. Here are some shots from the day...

Kathryn and "Mamaw"

Picking out a pumpkin

Pastors and Wives Retreat

Yesterday we took off with the rest of the pastors and wives from Crossway and headed to Bryson City, NC to take a ride on the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad. Nick's parents came for the weekend and were gracious to watch Kathryn on our two-day excursion (first time leaving her overnight!) She did great! Nick and I really enjoyed the time with the other couples, and we were refreshed by having some extended time as a couple ourselves. Here are some shots from the trip...

Some of the scenery from our open-air train car...

This is a lake- can you believe how low the water is? We heard that the drought in NC is the worst we've had in 80 years! Ironically, it rained during most of the train ride. :)

Reedy Creek Park

On Monday we headed out to a nearby pumpkin patch, although it was closed, so we ended up taking a hike and picnic in Reedy Creek Park. What a beautiful day for walking there!

My "Artsy " Shots

Here's me with Nick...I mean Kathryn

She Loves her Daddy!

Various Pictures

Ole!

Alathea and Kathryn...getting ready for a bath. It's so fun to watch them together. Since, as Jeanie said on her blog recently, these two girlies see each other almost every day, they probably think they're sisters. :) Kathryn just squeels with delight every time she sees Alathea!

She looked so grown up chomping away on this apple...most of it I bit off, but she was going to town on the part she could taste!