Life Recently..

Hi there friends!

We're really in the calm before the storm here in the Stephens' household.

The month of October is going to be crazy busy after this next weekend, so we started to slow down a bit this past weekend and next to soak up the start of Fall together before we both start traveling separate ways

Brad has a bachelor party and a hunting trip and I have a girl's trip to Deep Creek, Maryland then onto Louisiana at the latter part of the month.

So, what's been going on around here since our trip to the Smokies?

Well, after 10-years in the Junior League of Charlotte, I finally went Sustainer.

I was a little bit on the fence about it, but I know it's the right decision for me and our family.

I do plan to stay involved though, and attended my first Sustainer event the other night.

So fun!

 It was suppose to be cocktails by the pool but the weather turned off rainy and cold so we settled inside instead.

Work is going well.

We had a long time teammate leave us and hate to say it, but it's opened up a lot more opportunity for me.

I'm really enjoying all the extra projects and work.

And, of course, outside of the work, we still have quite a bit of fun in our office too.

We had people rappelling off our building this past week in the name of charity.

People could pay $1,000 to do it.

Shelby is doing really well these days.

The biting at school has ceased and despite a few meltdowns here and there when she's exhausted, she's good to go.

She's talking a LOT more and her favorite catch phrase right now is:

I GOTCHA YOU!

She's also in the identify phase with everything.

She points to different things on her plate at night and asks what they are.

She's still a great eater.

Loves just about everything!

We've been experiencing a lot of gloomy weather around these parts lately, but this past Saturday we finally enjoyed a sunny, nice day.

We decided to take a short walk up to our neighborhood tavern and watch some football and enjoy a beer.

Even Buddy got to join.

It was a short outing but fun.

We cruised home and Shelby and I went and visited some friends who just got back to the States after a year sabbatical living in Paris.

They have a killer playroom complete with a stage and musical instruments for performance.

Shelbs had a blast with Charlie and Kate!

Sunday was another low-key day playing with baby dolls and having tea parties until the Panthers game started.

The Panthers got beat down by the Ravens but I'm optimistic that the season will turn around.

We watched the game over at our neighbor's house.

Then ventured down the street to another neighbor's house to meet their newest bundle of joy, baby Abbey.

What a doll! And, so tiny!

Shelby was reunited with Abbey's big sister Ella.

These two had a big time again!

And, the weekend ended with a dinner of cheeseburgers, home made fries, a bath and snuggles.

I'm predicting this next weekend will be more of the same with a trip to the pumpkin patch thrown in.

Nothing wrong with that!!

Happy Fall Y'all!

Camping in the Smokies - Part II

The second part of our trip to the Smokies was by far my favorite.

For years I've heard about Cade's Cove but have never been.

It's a little farther from Charlotte and if you were to drive straight there it might be a good 4 1/2 or 5 hours.

I could be wrong though.

From our campground it was about 45 minutes or an hour with all the mountain driving. 

It's a scenic drive and totally worth it!

The Cove was an enclave of families living on the 11-mile loop back in the 1800 and early 1900's, but when the National Park was established in 1939 the government came in and bought all the families out.

Granted, they had no choice.

The area froze in time from that day even though many of the families leased their land and properties back.

Today, the 11-mile loop is THE most visited part of the park with over 2-million people a year.

On Saturday and Wednesday mornings it shuts down until 10am so people can bike the loop.

The rest of the time cars make their way around stopping at the some 18-stops along the way.

Many of the homes and churches still stand and you can walk to them. Some are right off the road and some are a half a mile or mile walk in then out.

We stopped at the visitors center on the loop for a map that cost $1.

Totally worth it.

Then we hit the road.

For years I've heard about all the wildlife there is to be seen in the Cove but I'm sad to say we saw none.

 :(

We arrived around 11:30am and I think it was too crowded for the critters to be out and about.

Beautiful!!

After our camping adventures in Brevard where Brad pushed the stroller up and down a major trail I asked Rachel (@erchla) on IG, if we could borrow their backpack for Shelby.

I didn't want to buy one before we knew if she liked it or not.

I've been wanting to try one of these out since she was born but wasn't sure if I could do it and Brad TOTALLY isn't into it.

Well, I'm here to report it was GREAT and SOOO much better than trying to take a BOB stroller on trails.

Not to mention a TOTAL workout for me!!

Shelby loved the hiking and seeing all being high up like everyone else.

We loved seeing all the historic homes and churches.

I can't imagine being here in the Fall.

It's probably crazy beautiful and crowded.

They were having a church service at the first church we stopped at.

Brad was freaked out about the yelling in the church and walking through the cemetery.

He didn't want me to take any pictures.

I took a few.

2nd church was empty.

Then we got a family photo.

It would have been great but notice that Shelby's shirt is hiked up.

Oh. Wells..

NO BOW, is what she was saying here.

I loved every minute of this day!!

The mid-way point of the loop is the Mill House and Shelby was pretty dunzo and we were all hungry.

It was nearly 2pm at this point so we stopped, had a picnic and toured around.

Then more houses and we were done.

We plan on going back to Cade's Cove.

I hope next year our schedule permits us to visit with the leaves are at peak.

If you're in the area, it needs to be top on your list.

Camping in the Smokies - Part I

This past weekend we spent our 2nd year camping in the Smokies and even though the Fall color wasn't in full bloom it was still fun as ever.

We had originally planned to go next month but our schedules are crazy busy with a bachelor party, and other trips.

We decided to extend our trip by a day this year because the drive is around 4 1/2 hours pulling our trailer and it's just too short for a 3-day weekend.

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This year I stocked up with in-car entertainment.

I have jumped on the busy box bandwagon and let me tell you,

it was a huge hit.

I couldn't find the magnetic letters at the start of our trip, but by the time we go on the road I found them and between them, the metal pencil box, slinky and other pure junk, girlfriend was ENTERTAINED for hours.

No joke!

I also broke out the LSU Barbie I bought her before she was even born.

Barbie was and still is, the new favorite.

It also entertained for at least a good hour.

We arrived at camp around 1:30pm and got set up.

I took these next 2 pictures at sunset but the others earlier.

I decided to do an LSU theme giving my Tigers were playing their first SEC game of the season.

 We stayed in the same campground we stayed in last year.

Right on a creek and perfect location to everything.

 We were tired from our travels and decided to take it easy and hit up a nearby kiddie playland.

Shelby was able to ride several little carnival type attractions.

 This was her first time to ride by herself and she loved it!!

The rides were perfect for toddlers.

 They had a couple of other rides but she was getting tired and wasn't having it.

Our grand finale was the train.

 The next morning we woke up and decided to enjoy the day at Ober Gatlinburg.

This place is a ski resort in the winter, but is open all year with other things to do.

 Including an Alpine Slide Brad thought he could take Shelby on.

(that is, until he discovered she had to ride an open chairlift to get there.)

 The main attraction of Ober is the Ariel Tramway that takes you to the top of the mountain.

While neat, I wasn't overly impressed after having been on the Palm Springs version that is beyond 5,000 times better.

 Still beautiful views and it was a lot of fun.

At the top of the mountain there are kiddie rides they've transplanted for the Summer season along with a playground.

 And, of course the Alpine Slide that Brad did alone.

He said it was great fun!

 We packed a lunch to eat at the top of the mountain and it was really nice.

 Overall, Ober was a good way to see great views but I have marked it off of my list and never need to go back.

 Ober is in Downtown Gatlinburg so we literally cruised out the front door and onto main street where Shelby proceeded to take a nap and we shopped around.

Then back to camp where we played around the creek and got ready to watch the rest of the Hokie game and get ready for the LSU game.

(both of whom lost!!)

A fun start to our trip but the best part will come in tomorrow's post!

After 12-years of living in this region I finally made it to Cade's Cove in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park!

Beyond gorgeous.