Mount Pisgah (the other one)

I was going to say we went camping the in Smoky mountains, but apparently Mt Pisgah is in the Appalachian Mountain Range. The Smoky mountains were northwest of us. Regardless it was breathtaking. A wonderful part about living in Columbia is that we are 2 hours from the beach and 2 hours from the mountains. We camped on the top of the mountain with a bunch of friends from our ward. I think there were 5 families in all and we were the first to arrive and set up camp.

I was so excited to go. We hadn't been camping yet with Nadia and the location and company all sounded very enticing. Since we've moved here, things kept getting in the way of a lot of the social events the ward was hosting. Everyone got sick before the ward beach party. We had barely moved in when they had their elder's quorum BBQ social. Fourth of July was another bust due to sick kids. So I was grateful for another opportunity to get to know some people in the ward.

Nadia had gotten sick on Monday and threw up a couple times, but beyond that no one else had shown signs of being ill. So we packed up and hit the road on Friday. Rowan started complaining that he wasn't feeling good, but we thought it was something else. It kept getting worse and by the time we starting driving up the mountain, it was clear something was wrong. After pulling over several times, we determined to keep going since he wasn't throwing up and we were too far from home to head back now.

Well, the urge finally hit Rowan as we were approaching a tunnel. Steve told him to PLEASE hold it until we could get out of the tunnel and pull over. Rowan meekly agreed. When we reached the end of the tunnel, we saw another tunnel. Again Rowan said he'd try to hold it in. And at the end of tunnel #2, we saw yes, another tunnel. On the only stretch of road with 3 tunnels did my son decide he needed desperately to throw up. My sweet boy held it in for all three long tunnels and by the time we reached the end, Steve yarded the car to the side and I leaped out, threw open Rowan's door and managed to pull his head out far enough that the majority made it outside of the car. Thank you Rowan- you are my hero.


Rowan promptly fell asleep with Nadia after that fiasco and Steve and I set up camp while they rested. We got the tent up before a light rain thankfully. Rowan continually got better as time went on and by the next day he was running all over the place.

Spot the sad boy in the tent with a throw up bowl.


When Rowan was feeling a bit better, we hiked up to a country store that was nearby. I was impressed that the prices were not sky high- apparently they get plenty of traffic at the top of the mountain. There's even a nice Inn nearby that our friends told us they went to when they got rained out the last time they had come up.

He got some Gatorade, Nadia got a Rocket Popsicle, Steve got ice cream and I got some fantastic frozen strawberry lemonade.


When our friends arrived, we all gathered around the campfire for our respective dinners. I was more than slightly concerned when Rowan consumed 2 hot dogs, s'mores, grapes, and Doritos. But it all stayed down thank goodness.





The kids slept like logs. It rained on and off through the night, but we were all dry and comfortable. In the morning we tried to get a campfire going, but it was too wet despite our efforts to cover up the wood.



Nadia is constantly singing. But I am unable to record it because every time I try to, I get the following reaction.


We eventually packed up and got ready to go on a little hike with the others. There were little fuzzy caterpillars everywhere and the kids were pretty entertained by them.



We need a minivan if we ever have more children. Every nook and cranny of our car was filled!


Going on a hike.




There was a cool little suspension bridge on the hike that was more than a little wobbly when we crossed it.



After the hike, we stopped for lunch. We start them out early with root beer.



Rowan's appetite was clearly doing well.


So the big event that we were anticipating the entire weekend was Sliding Rock, a natural water slide that is quite the attraction. Unfortunately, Steve had sprained his ankle earlier and the hike had only exacerbated the problem. So he ended up in the car with Nadia while Rowan and I went. The water was like ice and way too cold for Nadia.



Rowan sat on my lap instead of in front of me which we figured out part way down wouldn't work. Once he got off me, I had to use my hand to slow us down.



Rowan's initial reaction after the first run was "That was awesome!" So we tried to find Steve for the second run, but we couldn't find him anywhere (He was in the car at that point). I told Rowan I would take him and he consented, but as we were waiting in line, he decided he wanted to go down the more gentle side. That wasn't going to be strong enough to propel both me and him as we discovered the first time, so I made him come down the stronger side with me. He ended up losing his shoe the second time around and completely freaked out. It was a tad embarrassing.

So even with the throw up, rain, sprained ankle, and lost shoe/angry child, we had a blast and loved it. Next time we plan to go on a weekday to avoid the larger crowds, but we are so excited that we know a great place for camping now. The temperature in the mountains was 20 degrees less than where we live, so it's definitely an added incentive to take a trip.

First Day of School!

It finally came. My mixed feelings leaned more in favor of this day than against it. Rowan has been in desperate need of some outside interaction. One of my friends pointed out that maybe this transition was made easier by the fact that we have been so bored as of late. Regardless, this boy LOVES school. He was a little apprehensive on orientation day, but warmed up after a while. On the first real day he waltzed in and never looked back. He loves being able to choose his lunch every day, recess, and has made a few friends already. Yesterday was his first day on the bus. When I picked him up at the bus stop, he told me he LOVES it. I'm so grateful that he is enjoying his time.

When he was picking out his outfit for his first day, he told me "Mom, it doesn't have to match, it just has to look cool."

Backpack choice- Transformers


He's starting French and has already learned to say Bonjour, je m'appelle Rowan. It's really cute. They also have music, p.e., art, and computer classes to supplement the core courses. I'm pretty impressed with the school and have been really happy with it thus far. I've also joined the PTO, so we'll see how that goes.

Nadia and I have been enjoying our one on one time. She still says occasionally "I miss Rowan. He's my friend" but we are getting adjusted to having girl time. Today when we went to Walmart, she surprised me by requesting to go to the "princess aisle." We usually didn't go there because of Rowan's protests and maybe admittedly some of my own as well. It's so nice to have just one at home again.

Nadia will be starting a preschool co-op with some friends in the ward twice a week soon and I'm excited for that opportunity. Things are looking up!

Leaving on a Jet Plane

We took mom back to Charleston to take her flight home. This time we got the hotel by the factory outlet stores. Steve came with us and took Rowan to the USS Yorktown. At first I was a little apprehensive about Rowan going because he likes to complain about having to walk around a lot. Plus we weren't sure if it was air conditioned and it was a hot day. But he promised me he would be good, so we dropped them off and the girls went shopping.

USS YORKTOWN (Yes I totally cut and pasted the following- I'm no US History buff)
The USS Yorktown (CV-10) was the tenth aircraft carrier to serve in the United States Navy. Under construction as Bon Homme Richard, this new Essex-class carrier was renamed Yorktown in honor of Yorktown (CV-5), sunk at the epic Battle of Midway (June 1942). Built in an amazing 16 ½ months at Newport News, Virginia, Yorktown was commissioned on April 15, 1943. Yorktown participated significantly in the Pacific Offensive that began in late 1943 and ended with the defeat of Japan in 1945. Yorktown received the Presidential Unit Citation and earned 11 battle stars for service in World War II.










Rowan did not drag his feet. Apparently it was quite the opposite. He could barely stay still. Needless to say, I think they both really enjoyed themselves. And I really enjoyed the Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, and Nine West outlet stores. To each his own.

Later on we had a little feast in our hotel room. I bought a key lime pie and then later after we had gone home, I made a key lime pie. This doesn't take into account the key lime pie I had when we had made our first trip. I'm kind of a fan.


This amazing hotel had a great pool, a huge room with a full kitchen, and they served you breakfast and dinner for free with a shuttle that took mom to the airport. $50- I love you Priceline.

In the morning we got ready and went to the beach. Steve hadn't been yet and I got a boogie board at Salvation Army that Rowan was excited to try. It was again a beautiful day and this time there were dolphins swimming not 30 feet away from us. Amazing.





The waves were the most gentle I'd seen them and so Rowan didn't get as far with the board, but he played with it the entire time we were there.


Nadia lost her hair clip so I had to improvise.


I wish I had gotten a picture of the dolphins and Rowan running away in terror. I can never let that kid watch Jaws if we want to continue our excursions to the beach.

Columbian Adventures

After our Charleston vacation we headed home to Columbia. We did some shopping and hung out mostly. Grandma treated Nadia to her first experience with nail polish and Nadia LOVES it. I'd been holding off since I'd heard too many nail polish spill stories, but now it's a special treat we do quite often.




Mom and I went garage saling and she promised Steve before she left that she wouldn't get anything big. So she bought this.


I guess the rationale was that it deflates. I caught them at the end of their hopping in this video, but they've been enjoying it quite a bit. At the bus stop today, we were easily identified as the "people with the trampoline house."


Merry Christmas kids. (I do wish Christmas was in the summer. It would work so much better and not just because of garage sales) My mom also got a brand new serger for $5. Awesome.

On Sunday Rowan was in charge of saying prayer in Primary. We have not had success in getting him to do it yet, so Grandma decided to add a little extra incentive by promising Rowan she would get him a toy he's been wanting for close to a year, if he'd get up and do it. I was teaching my first week of Sunday school and Steve was busy with getting Nadia to nursery, so Grandma accompanied him that day. He was determined to do it. Needless to say, Rowan went up there with Grandma and she said she felt him immediately stiffen with fear and start to cry. And then Grandma began to cry with him. They were quite the pair up there. Apparently my mom didn't think that his avoidance of public speaking was due to fear, but more of just an act of defiance. When she felt his little body, petrified in front of all the kids, her empathy got the better of her. Anyways, Rowan is going to try again (he still really wants that toy) and I hope he will continue to try to do things even when they are frightening.

Speaking of things that are frightening, I've determined Sunday School one of the hardest callings I have ever received. I spent most of the first weekend crying over it, but it's steadily getting better. My son and I are too much alike. It's so difficult to fail at something in front of someone you love who excels at it. Talk about humbling. I don't think I'm really failing and I've gotten enough compliments that I must be doing okay, but I am definitely my own worst critic. It's too easy to look back and think what I could have done better. But I'm learning a lot and even got a nice letter today from someone in the ward who said that I'm "opening up the scriptures" for her. She must of been prompted to send it because I need all the positive reinforcement I can get.

Monday we had s'mores for FHE. It was almost a crime to have a fire in that heat, but Rowan LOVED it.





While my mom was here we checked out the local zoo. There was a heat advisory later in the day (as usual) so we tried to pack in as much as we could in the morning before it became unbearable. Can I just say the closer we get to fall the happier I am?


Here's where we tried to walk to the botanical gardens with a boy who determinedly wore shoes that ended up giving him blisters. He ended up going around in his socks. When we reached the end of the bridge and saw the massive hill we'd have to go up, we decided to go back. Then we found a trolley train that would take you there for free. Not our brightest moment.

Nadia was enthralled with the lions and the giraffes. Rowan just wanted to see the zebras.




Grandma and I were enthralled with the botanical gardens. It was AMAZING and sadly the pictures don't do it justice.








More spoiling from Grandma.




I miss you mom.