Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Hodge Podge

I adore my camera and take a lot of photos with it, but not on nearly as many occasions as my iPhone! Since I got instagram I feel like I take pictures constantly. I have an embarrassing 854 photos on my iPhone at the moment... I have a phobia about deleting them. Thank goodness they are backed up on my Mac but I still refuse to delete them! Chris didn't realize that buying my camera and these apple products would make me even more crazy. I have multiples of everything! I'm the same way with memory cards. Once they are full I put them up and get a new one even though they are backed up several times. I want to make sure that I will have all my photos forever! Probably y'all already know that about me since I'm such a sentimental sap. Anyways, here's a hodge podge of random photos that haven't made it to the blog.


For the unmentionable UGA/USC game we made chili, cheese dip, sausage balls, caramel apples, and popcorn balls at mom and dad's house... Heartburn city! Of course Chris got the dirty work of mixing all the goop together! Love love love this boy!


Haley and I made this Candy Corn bunting and hung it in the doorway at Mom's house. Super cute!


Y'all know I'm obsessed with genealogy - found some new census reports on Ancestry.com for my great great grandparents and grandparents the other day. There's nothing better! When I have a real job I'm getting a membership. It's the coolest thing - go try what you can for free!


On the way into town


Last December I wrote about our last time staying at Midtown Lodge before they tore it down. This is a  picture of the empty lot and parking deck. So so sad!


Chris looks forward to this all year long... Corn dogs and Sausages




Sunset at the cabin


Night photos don't ever turn out the way you want them... but this is the view of town at night. The red is the Sky Lift and the blue dot is the Space Needle.


Beautiful horses at Cade's Cove one rainy morning


Chris and I hit up the annual Craft Fair in Gatlinburg last weekend. I bought two hand drawn prints from the sweetest lady (a UGA Alumni). One UGA print, and this Southern print. All her prints were too cute! Can't wait to frame them and get them up on the wall!


Caramel Apples... God's gift to the world!


I am such a teacher, y'all! I swear it's genetic or something. I saw these earrings and had to have them. They are dipped Georgia quarters. They made earrings, bracelets, pendants, etc from all kinds of coins from all over the world. It was the neatest thing I've ever seen! Hopefully I'll get to teach Georgia Studies one of these days and these will come in handy!


Last morning at the cabin. Fog over town.


My first fire this year! This was in our room at the cabin. I think Chris almost had a heat stroke but I was loving it!


Fall has the most beautiful skies



Now, if you'll excuse me I'm going on a date with my sweet husband! We are feeling extra blessed today :)



Monday, October 22, 2012

Our Annual Gatlinburg Trip

Hello All! How have y'all been during my hiatus from the blogosphere? I'm sure you've all been enjoying this fantastic weather as much as I have! I don't know exactly where I've been but when I look back since I last wrote it feels like I've been extremely busy! I guess that's life though, huh? Living in the in betweens.

Last weekend we enjoyed our annual trip to Gatlinburg with Chris's family. This is the family's eleventh year going together and my eighth year joining the crew! Chris and I look forward to this trip all year long! It's so insane how time flies. I remember anticipating this trip for the first time like it was yesterday. You know, back when we were fifteen and seventeen and skipped high school to go! It was so weird not having to study or go back to school this year. Well, I went back to school but in a different way I guess! Geez we are getting old! Twenty two and twenty four... that doesn't sound as cute! All these years we've been counting down until we could get married and now we are finally here. Your parents aren't kidding when they say the older you get the faster time flies. I hope it will start slowing down a little bit...

Back to the trip! We stay in a big cabin with everyone usually just outside of town. This year we had a cabin overlooking Gatlinburg with phenomenal views of town and the surrounding mountains. The Smoky Mountains are almost at peak this time of year and I never tire of looking at them! I have taken about a zillion pictures over my lifetime and just keep snapping! We did the usual: a whole lot of shopping and eating! Plus a little bit of hiking, board games, putt-putt, arcade games, and of course enjoying the sights and each other. I'll try to narrow down the several hundred photos I took -



Since we got into town before noon we decided to head out to Cade's Cove 

Plenty of self photography coming up, y'all!


Always have to take a pic of this place ;)


Love him
And him!

Excuse the ghost halo in the photo

Cutest thing ever.

We just couldn't help ourselves!
Sunny Tiff and me
The most beautiful set-up in the fall


Can you tell we are sleepy? Going to breakfast with everyone
Our HUGE bear friend!

Enjoying our last night!

Favorite thing on Earth

View from our cabin
Love listening to music in the rocking chairs
Love love love them!
Lunch at the Apple Barn on the last day

Heading back over the mountain 


We try...


It was so beautiful we decided to take a short hike right before sunset...


COLD



More beautiful with every step

Look at these bridges, Lisa! Teensy!

Arch Rock


I swear the colors change every minute!

How do people doubt the existence of our Creator?

He paints the most beautiful pictures!

Hope those brightened up your Monday!