Salamanca Vacation '09

The relatives came (Nanay, Tatay, Kuya Justin, Uncle Allen, Auntie Lily and baby Sydney in the womb). They were here from July 18-30. We ate at way too many restaurants, traveled to Asheville, NC to the Biltmore Estates and also to Chimney Rock and Lake Lure, NC. There were movies watched, a new flat screen TV bought (thank you!!!), shopping at the mall and outlets, a trip or two to the beach, two cookouts at Gramma and Grandpa's house, lots of playtime with Macy and Jadon, and many memories made. We love and miss you all so much, and can't wait to see you (plus baby Sydney!!!) next year! We are so very grateful for our families on both Coasts :)

In the meantime

I CANNOT believe (okay, yes I can) that it has been nearly a MONTH, since my last post!!! I have TONS of pictures to organize, stories to tell, and updates on these beautiful babies to share. I just need more time to myself, in order to do that. Ha! Hopefully that will be soon, but in the meantime, click here to see a few pics I have posted on Facebook...saves me from doing twice the work right now ;) Enjoy!

Asheville/Biltmore in Pics

First stop, downtown Asheville, so we could grab some lunch at Tupelo Honey Cafe. You may have seen Rachel Ray eat here on the Food Network. My custom-made grilled cheese with HOMEMADE tomato soup is worth noting, as was the french toast made from chullah bread and fresh blueberry sauce and almond slivers that we got to go...yummy! Jadon enjoyed the limes out of our water ;)

While Gramma was inside buying some Tupelo honey to take home to Grandpa (which we later accidentally threw away :(, Jadon was outside throwing a fit because he couldn't run around on the city sidewalk...near all of the traffic. We're terrible parents, I tell ya!

After we finally caved in, he said he no longer wanted to live with us or be our kid, so...

he searched the local real estate magazines for a new home in Asheville :/

Too bad for him, but we don't mind the fit throwing, so Daddy scooped him up and carried him back to the car.

Time for a quick family pic:

And a quick climb into the back of Gramma's NEW SEQUOIA! Sweet!

First stop at the Biltmore: River Bend Farm petting zoo. Jadon thought this guy looked like Gramma's dog Ziggy, so that's what he called him ;)

And when Gramma lifted him up close to this big guy, he pointed at his HUGE peepers and said, "ICE." :)

He let the baby goat lick his finger.

Then went for a roll in the Fall leaves we'll never get to play in here in SC :(

"I know what these are! Pumpkins!" While Gramma and Daddy checked out one of the gift shops at the Farm, Jadon played with the toys and dressed up like a Mexican cowboy???

"Ole!"

"I think I can. I think I can."

"Then again..."

"Maybe I'll just hang out here and play with the leaves."

If you ever plan to visit the Biltmore, I recommend you go after 3pm because you get in free the following day, so you actually get 1 1/2 days for the price of one. So Sunday morning, we headed back to tour the rest of the Estate. We only toured the first level of the home, which looks like Buckingham freakin' Palace! No strollers allowed through the home, and with a diaper bag, a purse and camera case to lug around, 'twas not gonna happen this time around, which was fine with everyone honestly. There were plenty of other sights to see:

Examining an acorn:

And while Gramma and Daddy enjoyed the wine tasting at the Winery... Jadon and his pregnant Mommy enjoyed grape juice: "All done!"

Thanks again, Gramma, for everything :) Obviously this trip couldn't have happened without you! Jadon says to tell you sorry for being a wild monster in the hotel room and for making you sing every children's song you could think of for three of the five hours on the ride home :/ But he also says you deserved it for making him cry by saying the word "no" in the car...you temporarily ruined his life...just kidding. He LOVED spending the weekend hanging out with his Gee :) And P.S. You made mine and Jamie's life by taking us to Panera Bread, not once, but TWICE!!! Happy Anniversary to us!

Scenic Pics of the Biltmore

Obviously, being from West Virginia, there are many sites in the Asheville area and mountains of North Carolina that failed to "wow" me. The feel of the downtown area is much like our college town of Morgantown, WV, but with LOTS of better restaurants and stores (oh yeah, and much cleaner...hello Mileground, Don Knotts Blvd., and Sunnyside!)...plus tons of people who actually pay to travel there (not just for a Mountaineer game day either). Not to offend anyone, but clearly the Vanderbuilts don't have an Estate in the mountains of WV, which definitely gave us the "wow" factor.