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.)

How to Skurf

How to Skurf:

(in Jack's words)

1.  Hold onto Dad very carefully.

2.  When you get up on the board you have to be safe and hold onto your Dad.

3.  Hold onto your Dad again. Sometimes you fall, and you have to be careful when you get hurt.  Don't get hurt.

4.  When you're skurfing, you have to be very, very, very, very, very careful in the water.  Sometimes your Dad won't pay attention and you might lost at sea.

5.  Hold onto the Dad.  And be careful. 

6.  When you're holding onto your Dad, you have to be safe.

7.  Bend your knees a little bit, and you will get the hang of it.  It takes lots and lots of practice.

8.  Keep your head up and be safe.  And don't get hurt.

9.  Have a lot of fun by not falling down and tripping.  It feels funny when you fall down and trip. 

"How to Skurf"

(In Finn's words)

1.  Put your feet on the board.  

2.  Hold onto Dad on the legs. 

3.  Stand up.

4.  Then you skurf.

5.  Then you get held onto to.

6.  And then you "shred" it.

There aren't many things cuter than our boys....

Unless...

our boys are holding baby animals.  

Even if they're holding them a little too tightly.

About 2 months ago, we were invited to a family friend's farm outside of town.  We packed a picnic (that was eaten in the car on the way there), a camera and were on our way.

Jack, a self proclaimed animal whisperer, was in hog heaven.  

Make that goat heaven.

This little guy was only a week old!

I think they would have brought him home and let him sleep in their bed if we had let them.

Same with this guy. (or girl...I can never tell.)

Why the long face?

The boys would be happy to move here.  

And so would this horse who was fed 10 times the normal amount of hay that day:)

Preschool Graduation

Okay, I know you want some first day of school pics, but before those could come, I had to document the end of Jack's preschool years before hitting the K5 scene.  

Last day of school:

(They have already grown so much in 3 months since these photos:()

Jack attended Bluffton Academy for the past 3 years.  It has been one of the biggest blessings to us.  Jack thrived at Bluffton Academy.  The teachers are all fantastic, and Jack came home so confident and excited about his ability to learn.  Thank you, Bluffton Academy!!!

One of the pre K highlights each year is attending the graduation.  We were first timers at this, so we didn't know the level of preciousness that lay ahead of us...

Jack.  In a graduation hat.  And "gown".

As you can see here, their gowns are mens' dress shirts turned around backwards. 

Clever.

And super cute.

Ms. Maria was Jack's teacher.  He LOVES her.  And so do we. (And I'm pretty sure she loved Jack, too.)

Poppy Johnny and Gigi were able to make it to Jack's big graduation.  It was a special day for all of us.

It was special to us because we were so proud of our boy. 

It was special to him because he got to eat cake before 11am.  And it wasn't even for a birthday!

Another view of the dress shirt/grad gown.

Jack posed with the owner of Blufton Academy, Mrs. Kristen, for a quick shot.  Mrs. Kristen is Finny's teacher this year, and he is so excited!  She's a superstar.  She just had a baby and is back in the classroom.  Amazing!

We are so thankful for Bluffton Academy!!!!  And we couldn't be prouder of our graduate (even 3 months later:)