How Mt. Gilead Ruined Our Children

One month ago today we returned home from the vacation that ruined our children. 

We ventured to Mt. Gilead, North Carolina for 7 days of family and fun.  For the very few of you who have not heard of Mt. Gilead before...think of Mayberry or Radiator Springs.  And then subtract several stop lights, a Barney Fife, add a Burger Shack and there you've got it.  John's parents grew up in the small town that's huddled around Lake Tillery, and we vacation here a few times a year.  This trip was "the" trip where 14 of us gathered together. 

Here is how our children were ruined:

They didn't have to wear underwear but maybe 2 times in 7 days.  They lived in their swimsuits and life jackets.

They skurfed with cousins and looked really cool while passerby shouted them on (no doubt in some wicked awesome NC accents).

They swam with cousins.  They swam with aunts.  Uncles.  Mom.  Dad.  Grandparents.  Etc. 

They paddle boarded.

(This was our first time paddle boarding.  It was fun.  I thought it would be easier than it ended up being, but that is not an unusual for me.)

Jack zip lined for the first time.

Finn zip lined for the first time.  (And possibly last after he fell backwards from the launching platform...scariest moment of the trip by far, but all was well.)

Jack paddle boarded and was really good at it.  (Better than me for sure, but I am a little front heavy these days and I'm giving his low center of gravity all the credit...surely couldn't be that my 6 year old is just better than his parents at something.  No way.)

Jack and Finn survived (barely) their daily wrestling matches with cousin, Austin.  

They witnessed the single most awesome tubing recovery in history.  

(This is Stephen, Aunt Jackie's boyfriend, and yes, he did manage to stay on the tube, making this the most athletic move to ever be performed by anyone who has attended NC State.)

The fun didn't end on the water....

It continued on the farm.  Here's Finn with cousin Jay on the ATV.  

Everyone held the newest family member, Eliza Jordan Smith.  She turned 4 months old while on the vacation.  I think she cried once.  

After ATVing came tractor rides...

...and then skeet shooting.  The boys did not get to shoot, but they were able to push the button to release the skeet, which to them, is better than the actual shooting. 

Just a good pic of the guys.

And a good one of Eliza and Gigi.

Breakfast was served whenever everyone stumbled out of bed in the morning (usually around 9!!!).

And everyone got along.  Even huddled for a group shot on a small deck overhang while testing the weight limit.  (I was the main contributor to that:)

The ruining process of Jack and Finn was enhanced by eating outside at Sonic, which is something they always ask to do.  This was Jordan's birthday dinner as well as my 8th anniversary dinner with my man. Nothing says love like tater tots.  At least to a pregnant lady.

This was the last picture of the entire trip.  It's my favorite.  It's very...them.

Smiling Eliza.  Goofy Jack.  Serious Finn.  Silly Austin.  

And that is how Mt. Gilead ruined our children.

(And we will let it ruin them again next year if we can all squeeze in the house.)