Up Around the Bend

You can ponder perpetual motion
Fix your mind on a crystal day
Always time for a good conversation
There's an ear for what you say.

Catch a ride to the end of the highway
And we'll meet by the big red tree
There's a place up ahead and I'm goin'
Come along, come along with me.
                   -- CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL

Ah, yes. There's not much that comares to the wonder of jumping into the river of the Carolinas. Clear as can be, fish jumping, flies buzzing, waters rumbling.  Itching for that, we headed off to Bebe and G-Pa's house during the week that Andy was gone to Kenya.  Needed a break from the concrete jungle of Atlanta, and admittedly, help with the two kids was sweet relief.  We crossed the road in front of their house after checking both ways for oncoming vroom-vrooms, grabbed hands and got ready for rock hopping and river dipping.

Not surprisingly, the little bundle just wanted to GO. She wanted freedom. She could do this, she could feel it.  Wanted down to run around in the bubbles and glassy waters.

Chad enjoyed his first moment of toes in the river. He loved the splashing and the kicking, looking out at all the territor he could cover.

I can just hear the conversation going on here.... "Cari, want to see a trick?"

"Here, watch this!"

Ohp! Where'd G-Pa go???

"There he is!!!!!" Teeth chattering, breath shortening, fingers numbing and all.

Two fistfuls of mud. Wonder what she could be up to?

Ah, yes. A personalized spa treatment. This girl knows how to roll.

Don't forget G-Pa. He needs smoother knees too.

Grabbing dirt must run in the family.  Chad's learning quickly.

We also spent time feeding the fish. Every time the opportunity arose. And, every time it didn't rise. Cari stood on "her" rock, counted the fish, one by one, as they peeked out from under the rocks.  "Two yewwow ones, one orange one....where are dey, Mommy?"

Chad tried to make fish faces to call them out from under their rocks. 

We read lots of stories, and together, Cari and G-Dub logged many, many hours looking out the door, asking when the next time was that they could skip out there and run.

We also took a morning to head up to Tweetsie Town in Boone.  Cari loved riding the train and the carousel.

Has anyone ever raised their mother-in-law before? Because by the looks of things......

Chad loved the train ride also - just a good excuse to snuggle up to Mommy's heart beat and watch scenery whip by around curves, through forests, over valleys.

Thanks, Bebe, for the great trip!!! Can't wait for next time.