Ashe County Tree Shopping

This past weekend we ventured up to the family mountain house and picked out a fresh Christmas tree.  We started doing this the year I was pregnant with Fiona.  We missed last year due to Scott's Fire Academy schedule, but plan to make it a yearly family trip.
We always have so much fun.  It always feels like the first real taste of winter and Christmas.  We have toasty fires every night, there is always a greater chance of snow up in the mountains, and its always so great to be with family.
There are so many wonderful tree farms all over the place in Ashe County, but I think we have finally found the perfect farm this year. Every tree was perfect.  It made it very difficult to find the right one.

We definitely lucked out on the weather.  It has been such a rainy messy fall, I was afraid it would be dreary and wet all weekend.



Saturday morning, we all piled in the car, listened to Christmas music, drove to the tree farm and picked out our Christmas tree.

Fiona was more interested in talking us into letting her play on the tree neighbor's swingset, than pick out a Christmas tree, but once we got it home, she hasn't stopped looking and pointing at each ornament. 

 

She saw the garland, and immediately tried to wear every strand like a necklace.  I just love her pleased little smile here, as she looks at the garlands.

Here is a little throwback to our first trip to the tree farm, when I was pregnant with Fiona. 

We are in the middle of a major living room remodel, more on that later.  But as soon as that is done (hopefully in the next week) I'll post pictures of our tree!

Sunset Beach

We had a fantastic time on our little family vacation to the beach.  We relaxed, fished, walked, swam, built and knocked down sand castles, splished, splashed, ate dinner on the porch, listening to thunderstorms, ate seafood and just plain enjoyed some family time.  It hurt to leave but I know we will be back soon. 

Are you ready for a picture overload?  Well... here we go! 

Kayaking the New

Last Friday we had a little break from the dancing competition, so we decided to go kayaking down the New River.  It was so relaxing (minus the couple of times we were grounded due to the low water levels).  Now I wouldn't take Fiona on a roaring river, but the New River gives a slow moving very gentle ride.  Fiona just sits between my legs and watches the world go by.  Every now and then, she will try to move around, but we will either pull to the side or just stop and let her get the wiggles out and play in the water. 

She loved leaning over the edge of the boat to stick her hands in the water.

I even got 5 minutes to kayak alone, when my Dad took Fiona.

Theres not much that can beat a Friday afternoon sipping on some cold ones and floating down a mountain river with the ones you love. 

Grandfather Mountain Highland Games

We spent this past weekend up at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in Linville, NC.  It was a super long weekend, but we had a blast.  I can't remember if I've mentioned this before, but I teach Scottish Highland Dance (no not Riverdance, much better ;-))  Some of my dancers traveled up to compete in the competition held up at Grandfather.

We have been going to the Highland Games up at Grandfather Mountain for about 20 years.  I don't dance there anymore, but my dancers do and now I help run the competition.  If you ever wanted to try out a Highland Games, I would highly recommend Grandfather.  There is great food, music and wonderful entertainment for the whole family. 

We had absolutely superb weather this past weekend.  Highs around 80 and beautiful North Carolina blue skies. 

Fiona was such a trooper, she fit right in with all the kids. She was held and loved on by everyone and absolutely loved watching the dancing and border collie and sheep demonstrations.

I even got to see one of the trophies that I won in the past.  

 

So proud of my dancer's at the competition, they danced great! 

Like I said....trooper this one.  She was so good about napping on the go, even with 789 bagpipers playing all around her. 

Highland Heavy Athletics throwing the caber.

The sheep Fiona fell in love with.

My little Scottish girl enjoying the sheep herding.

Until next year Grandfather. You certainly hold a special place in our hearts!

Let's Get This Week and Our Goals Started!

One huge part of my life, that I haven't touched on in this blog, is that I am was AM a Scottish Highland Dancer.  Not just dancing here and there, but I mean practicing hours a week/travel the world and seriously LOVING Scottish Dance. I mainly just teach now.  I may do a step or show a student what a step is supposed to look like here and there, but I haven't really done much dancing, let alone danced a full dance through since I had Fiona.  I'm still learning this "new" body that I have and accepting the things that just aren't the same, and probably never will be.  Honestly, I've been a little afraid to really start dancing again, simply because of the fact that it just doesn't feel like it used to.   I'm more tired now, stiffer, my body just doesn't respond like I'm used to and because mom guilt.  

A couple of months ago, I was asked to dance for the Clan MacDougall Society of North America's 50 Anniversary Celebration at Grandfather Mountain in July.  I immediately said yes, and thought what an honor it would be to dance for them.  Then I remembered, Oh right, I haven't really "danced" since I've had Fiona, what am I thinking!!!!

 Time is passing as it always does and I still haven't found time for practicing....until this morning.  I just happened to have a client cancel, and as I sat there in a wonderfully quiet studio, I just said "Why not?" As I was slowly warming up and going through some of the dances that I thought would be great for that evening, I began to think I needed some way to keep myself accountable, because I missed it and forgot how much fun it can be! 

So, here it is: my goal for the next month and a half is to make time for at least 2- 30 minute sessions a week. I will try to have fun while I do it and lastly make those 30 precious minutes a priority.  

 If there is anyone out there who has been needing that extra push or "sign" (I'm huge into signs) to get going on a goal, leave a comment and just maybe we can keep each other going! 

Happy Dancing!