A few years ago, as we were discussing JJ's brother's family's annual vacation- always to the same place- I pondered, "Why would you want to go to the same place year after year?" Then 4 years ago, Pop bought his father's cabin in a resort community in NC and everyone was invited to visit whenever they wanted to. Pop said that most likely he would sell it, but if it got used enough, he would keep it. We decided to visit there for our next vacation. I no longer ask why anyone would want to go to the same place every year, now I pity those who don't have generous in-laws who so graciously share their vacation homes. And by the way, Pop & Mom have decided to keep it... in fact, we loose them for months at a time as they now have more friends in NC, it seems, than they do in TX.
It took us 2 days to get here this year as we decided that we are just too old to drive straight through anymore. We arrived on Saturday evening, late, but still with enough time to go grocery shopping, and completely unpack upon arrival. We all slept in (except JM who came down pretty early and snuggled with us). We are fully enjoying our first day by exploring on our new Razr Scooters (everyone now has one and IS who already had one got some Heelies to use down on the basketball courts).
Let me set the scene.. maybe I'll go take some pictures and upload them later... We're in a beautiful log cabin (real logs exposed on the inside), set into the side of a gorgeous mountain. We're inside a resort community, which means limited access and tons of acitivites (like being on a cruise ship but on dry land).. We are only about a block away from the activities center, swimming pool, tennis courts, basketball courts, playground, lending library, arts and crafts center and fully stocked beautifully landscaped private trout pond. In true picturesque style, we are directly across a street (which leads to like 6 homes and sees about a car every 3 days or so) from a stream and 2 waterfalls. We're nestled into the hillside with enough slope to make riding a scooter down the drive at breakneck speeds fun for kids and nerve wracking for moms!!! but still flat enough to play football and frisbee in the ample yard. The front porch is huge... large enough for us to all eat a meal on or sit on when it's raining. This is where JJ and I spend most of our evenings, sipping wine and listening the the quiet solitude of this place or maybe enjoying a game of dominoes while listening to some music we're able to get via internet (did I tell you this place was paradise?!?)...
Now that the kids are a little older, they are able to take walkie talkies and explore a bit on their own- heaven for them.. stretching their little independent wings and learning to fly. On Tuesdays and Thursdays there are crafts classes available at the activites center which the kids love. IS is enamoured with the lending library and made sure to bring some Junie B Jones books this year to leave for other kids to borrow. She has already been down the hill and brought back Ben Hur for herself as well as Where the Wild Things Are for TL and KJ and JM each brought back their own books as well. JM chose Great Expectations and KJ, The Three Muskateers (of course, all of these are the younger kid versions).
Last year we were able to go hiking -ALL of us, incliding TL - so I personally am really looking forward to doing a bit of that.. I love spending time outside but am usually restricted by the sun, which my skin HATES! Hiking up here is almost always in shade and now that TL can walk for extended periods of time, look out!! Mom and Pop are big hikers and have left lots of literature on all the best places to go. Maybe they should start blogging!
I'm already a bit sad, though, I must admit, as I look up at the clock and realize that half of the first day is already gone and we're that much closer to having to leave!
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