The Bear Run and a few more pics

Five guys were running in this years' Bear Run.  Justin, David, Challey, Graham, and Dad.  Below is the support crew!  Susan and Anna stayed home with the 2 year olds and babies.  It was very windy!  So windy that the race could not go all the way to the top!!  

 I stopped and picked up pizza to have a picnic dinner while we waited on the runners.

 The finishers!!  Great job guys!

 The ladies all went into Blowing Rock for some shopping and lunch.  The boys took the kids to the park and fed them lunch.  It was a great morning.

 The babies had an audience for dinner before we left for Grandfather mountain.

 Henry is 6 months old and Colin is 5.  Both are just angels!

 And then we have the 2 year olds, Clara and Austin.  They are also angels but also 2!

 There were lots of areas to explore around the house and things to do.  Mimi, Karen, and Kate took the kids out exploring one day.

It was a wonderful week and had some excitement thrown in.  The day before we were all to head up there Marie got a call saying the well had been hit by lightning and we wouldn't be able to stay there. Then we ended up being able to go (just had to drink bottled water for 24 hours).  Then the well went dry.  Not just the water heater but no water at all!  That got resolved and then the A/C froze some pipes in the basement so it had to be turned off so it could thaw.  And the last (I think) was a tree falling on Meg's car!  It was a crazy, fun-filled week and I would do it all again to be able to spend all that time with family!!

Tweetsie Railroad (lots of pictures)

One of the days while we were in the mountains we all headed to Tweetsie.  We had a great time riding as many rides as we all wanted.  It wasn't crowded at all thanks to a rain shower we had mid morning into lunch time.  But we were able to ride a few rides before the rain started, then watch a show, ride the train, and then have lunch.  After lunch the rain was gone and we had a delightful rest of the afternoon.

Racing cars was a favorite.

 Waiting to ride the Mouse train.

 Austin watching the cowboys and indians somewhat fight.

 Panning for gold.

 Emily, Robert, and Jeff on the tilt-a-whirl.

 Graham took the younger boys on this several times.  They didn't want it to spin so Graham would hold the wheel so it wouldn't.

 Margaret and Eric in jail.

 That horse took Jeff for a wild ride!

 Almost all the grandkids in the wagon.

 Will's crazy driving.

 Susan and Austin driving.

 Clara and Mimi driving too.

 Getting ready to go on a spinning ride.

 The girls in one car.

 Jeff with the boys in another.

 Kate on different spinning ride with the girls.

 The crew that did the tilt-a-whirl.  You couldn't pay me to do this ride!

 Several rode the ferris wheel too.

 Gem mining.

 Mimi got on this spinning ride with Graham, Jeff, and Emily.

 More ferris wheel.

Mountain Week 2016

July 3rd we headed up to Blowing Rock for a week with the Crissman, Wilkins, Morris, Cross, and Strader families.  There were 24 people total, 10 kids.  It was a fantastic week!  We really enjoyed spending time with everyone and the kids REALLY enjoyed some wonderful cousin time.  

We went for a group hike.  Susan even hiked 2.5 miles with her broken toe!  Austin fell right to sleep on Grandaddy's back.

 We had a picnic lunch right by the creek at Price Park.

 The big kids loved playing in the water!  They threw sticks and watched/followed them down the creek.  And of course they all went home wet!

 We had s'mores one night, of course.

 Jeff leading the big boys on some sort of adventure.

 Aunt Karen painting Margaret's nails.

 There was lots of help feeding the littlest ones.

 More from the group hike.

 The kids got in the hot tub a few times as well.

 There were several trips to the grocery store.  It was an almost daily trip.  Especially since it took almost 3 down eggs every morning!!  Below is the grocery store crew one day!!

Julie, Justin, Karen, Jeff, Kate, Meg, and Emily

 There were also many puzzles and games played.

 Grandaddy and David bravely trying to teach several kids how to play Risk.

 A few firework type things on the 4th.

 Mimi reading to Will, Margaret, Robert, and Eric.

 There was a zip line on the property that the kids just LOVED to do.

 Even the 2 year olds would do it!

Thanks for hosting such a great week for everyone to get together Marie and Dad.  The Redferns really really enjoyed the family time!