home sweet home... for real this time!

We went to the mountains this past weekend. Our friends, Mike & Sara, had use of a mountain house, however, there weren't enough bedrooms. We offered to sleep in a tent and gave it a shot with Mercer. He did a pretty good job.... but he thought that we were in the tent to play. He kept looking around and wanted to jump on us. It took him awhile to fall asleep. He did sleep through the night and woke up promptly at 6 am. There was a loud bird outside that had a rather unique chirp that none of us have ever heard before. Maybe that woke Mercer? He started giggling and talking.

Mike and his 5 year old son, Aaron, pitched a tent next to ours. Since the walls are paper thin, Mercer obviously woke them up. Aaron started talking. "Where are they?" "I hear him." The second night, we kept Mercer indoors -- he slept in his pack-and-play. The baby monitor has a battery handset and worked all the way outdoors!

Mostly we all just hung out at the house catching up with a 3rd couple and their kids. Including Mercer, there were a total of 5 kids, so he was thrilled. He really took to the 7 year old girl who was there. Maybe Mercer needs a big sister?! We did take a trip to a waterfall which was only a short hike away. The kids splashed around in the ice-cold water. On the way home, we stopped off at another waterfall, Glen Falls. Mercer and I stopped at the "pool" at the top of the falls. He got his feet wet, threw leaves in the water and waved bye-bye as they floated away. He definitely likes the water.

Ahhhh.... it was such a beautiful spot. It had the best of both worlds: the view of the mountains and the rushing sound of water. Years ago, we looked at property in the mountains. We wanted property on a river so we could have the relaxing white noise that the water makes. But, you don't get a view of the mountains -- you're at the bottom. I figured it out last weekend... when -- if -- we ever look at property again, we need it to be at the TOP of a waterfall! ha!

Todd hiked down to the bottom of the falls. One thing that was cool -- the rock was striated with black and white deposits. If any one's in north Georgia near the NC border -- I'd highly recommend going! We had a very nice time, but honestly, there's "no place like home." We were glad we went, but we're glad we're home this coming weekend! - c