Kindergarten!

I have been SO excited yet SO dreading this day. And it has come, and I was surprisingly good. I still feel the urge to break down in tears but so far I've been able to hold it in. Adele started Kindergarten today! And I couldn't be MORE proud of her.

I only bit my lip once not to cry on the walk to school, and thats because she didn't want to hold my hand. She wanted to hold onto her backpack straps like she saw the big kids do.

When we got to her class there was a line of kids. I told her that all the kids with backpacks were in her class. She got all excited and ran to EVERY SINGLE KID and said, "Hi! I'm Adele whats your name!" She's completely fearless.

I was happy to see my good friend is the teachers aide for her class, and her teacher is our bishops wife...so I'll definately know whats happening in the class. LOL But she was the only kid I saw that seriously had no use for their Mom. All the other kids were clinging to their moms. But no, not Adele. She bolted into the class, sat down at a crowded table and just started chatting away. Anyway for the important part! Pics!

This is her buddy Skyler she's taking off with. They were SO excited to get to their class!At this point she was OVER me being there and OOOOVER pictures LOL

This is how excited Elaine is about not getting to stay at Kindergarten with Adele.

Virginia Creeper Trail

my absolute favorite part of the trip (besides seeing all my wonderful family) was our bike ride down White Top Mountain. All of my immediate family (sans parents who were stuck at the airport) who were in VA decided to rent some bikes and take a shuttle up to the top of White Top Mtn then basically coast down it on the Creeper Trail. The Virginia Creeper Trail is a old train track that housed the "Virginia Creeper." Years ago they ripped out the track and made it this gorgeous trail for horses/bikes/runners etc.

It took us about 3 hours to get down the mtn barely pedaling at all. We did stop and have a snack at the Creeper Trail Cafe, to have their "famous" cake. Which trust me is NOT famous, unless they haven't heard of Betty Crocker cake mix and frosting back in VA. Because that was EXACTLY what the cake was made of. We were all very dissapointed. BUT I had some yummy chili fries. And my brother has made a shrine in his home to their tater tots. So it wasn't a wasted stop.

Matt and I stayed mainly ahead of the pack mostly because my brothers think that their singing is enjoyable for all to hear...and I must say...I do love them, but they are mistaken. So we had a peaceful ride down. Well mostly peaceful. Matt biffed it on his bike and cut up his knee pretty bad. Was insisting he didn't need a bandaid even though he had blood running down his leg. And since he's very manly and i'm SURE didn't really need one I INSISTED for the sake of his socks. Because he would of ruined them. And I can't have stained stocks my friends. I just can't.

Later on in the trail I was feeling left out that Matt was getting all the attention from his bloody leg so I figured a good fall off the bike would bring some my way. It did indeed. I didn't hurt my knee though, oh no. I got two palms full of gravel and dirt. Yeah they were quite cut up actually, and thankfully I did not pass out. It was a close call but i pulled myself out of the foggy world and snapped out of it. My forearm got pretty cut up too so it wasn't a very comfortable ride down since I couldn't grip my handlebars right the rest of the way. But even then, I would of done it all over again, even if I knew i'd fall off my bike. It was that fun.

SO here are some lovely pictures of the trail, Matt, Me (please ignore the back fat), and in one of them my adorable neice Mary while I try to wash out the dirt imbedded in my skin :)

2-3 yrs

1-2 yrs

ELAINE through the years :)

Windy Hill Farm

Matt and I went to a family reunion last week. Yes, I went to family reunion and did not bring the kids. Sounds kind of strange but seriously it was a very wise decision. The main reason we didn't bring them was $$$$. Then the more we thought of it, we decided to make it our 10 year anniversary trip (10 yr wedding anniversary is in Jan). We were gone for 6 days and had A BLAST! I'll have a couple more posts about this, I took a TON of pictures and did A TON of fun stuff so this is Part 1 of our fantastic vacation.

Windy Hill Farm has been in my mothers family for generations. It was always something I was VERY proud about as a child and still am really. We were there precivil war and my Great Aunt told me we were awarded the land because of our fighting in the revolutionary war. So its been in our family for some time. :) It is the most beautiful piece of land I have ever seen. Before we got there Matt (who had never been there) said he was worried to see it because I had built it up SO much that he had a hard time believing it would live up to his expectations. He said I had made it this "magical place" and he was worried. :)

He didn't have to be worried. Because of course I NEVER exaggerate and it is truly a magical place. He absolutely fell in love with our Windy Hill Farm on Duff Lane. I'm so glad he did, i'm so glad he feels the same way I do, its really hard not too. I have such amazing family out there and its in such a gorgeous place you seriously CANNOT stop yourself from being totally smitten. We had fantastic weather and did a ton of fun stuff (blogs on that fun stuff to follow). We do plan on bringing the kids out when they get older so they can fall in love as we have. Most of the pictures are taken off the farm road, some are taken while we were on the creeper trail which runs on the border of the farm. It is the most beautiful trail ever, and we had some FUN times on it. The river you see if the Holston River, the creeper trail used to be a traintrack but they took out the track and made it this gorgeous trail. WHAT A FANTASTIC IDEA! :) Thanks to whoever thought that up! :)

We also got re-acquainted with some family. What a fun group they are! They are all such beautiful kind people and so fun to be around. I had such a blast and can't wait to see them again. I definately plan on keeping in touch with them much more than I have been. I was so excited to talk to my Great Aunt Margaret too, she is our family historian and what a legacy she has! She is seriously incredible, and I really look up to her. So here is my first post, i have a TON more to show you so keep a lookout! :)