"Switchback" to Cass, WVa

The day after we arrived in WVa, we visited Cass Scenic Railroad. Cass was a logging town that had the Greenbrier River running right through it, and used it as a way of transporting the logs. When the the railroad was built, the town of Cass no longer needed to have life or death moments on the river unclogging jams and jumping from log to log to escape getting caught in a jam. These logs would float down river early spring when it was was at its highest from the melting snow. As you can see in the pictures, it has been a while since that river has been used for log transportation, but on occasion it will flood.

You can ride the train to a mock logging town mid-mountain or continue to ride to the top, which we have done before, and see the breathtaking view. But with the littles ones in tow (mainly Lucy) we decided to keep it close. It was a good decision considering a bumble bee decided to claim my foot leaving me with a slight limp and looking for tobacco.

The Shea engine. It pushes rather than pulls - more leverage.

We had a smiliar picture 9 years ago when we came to WVa for our honeymoon and visited Cass. I never thought I would see myself a few cars down, 9 years later, with 3 children. Epilogue.
So beautiful with the many shades of green. It almost looks like a prop backdrop against the mountains in the background.
Check out the rods on that engine! (Did I sound "guy" enough?)
Brings literal meaning to "She'll be coming 'round the mountain when she comes." I guess this is an example of where they got the line, but what was the reason behind pointing out the obvious?
The Greenbrier River. No longer for logs, just fish and fam.

" Our cute whittle wucy" - Ella.
The children had a great time and we actually had to force Ella off the train. Thank you Mom and Dad for such a wonderful trip to Cass. We can't wait to go back when the kids are older and see the whole tour. I'll wear closed toe shoes next time.

Visiting "The Camp" in WVA

We try as much as possible to make our way up to WVa where Joe had spent many a childhood summer visiting with MaMa, uncles, aunts, cousins and good ol' farmwork. WVa holds a lot of sentiment for the Carver/Moore family as well as being rich with history. While we are there we also try to visit "The Camp." The place where Joe steals away for about a week's time (making me a "hunter's widow" - tv sports wives can relate) and any other time we make our way up there. It really is a nice retreat filled with ladybugs, an outhouse, and mountains and mountains of God's beautiful green earth and a wood stove smell that brings nostalgia when unpacking from an overnight's stay. We are very blessed to have it and look forward to the day when the kids are a bit older and can share in the same nostalgia - and possibly a deer or squirrel or two.

Lucy trying to get into the camoflauge experience. In WVa they start early.

Rhett just inside the camp door.

Ella and her Pa Paw by the wood pile.

For some reason Lucy thinks leaves are edible and then quickly remembers they aren't once they reach her mouth. Rhett and his walking stick.

The morning after we arrived, Uncle Kermit had the children come over to his garden (a walk away from MaMa's) and retrieve pumpkins that now anxiously await on our porch for Halloween and Thanksgiving.

There was an old lady who lived in a shoe...

On Aug. 13th I decided I would take myself and the babies up to Bristol for a visit with Mother and my big sis and her hubby, and babies (not so little anymore) in tow. It always sounds like a great idea to lovingly squish our 13 bodies into a ranch style home throwing blankets on the floor for children and the adults in beds. Much to our surprise (again - because we have done this before) it is hard to accomadate that many people. But we somehow made it work and Mother so graciously let us make it work so that we could enjoy each other's company all the time and not be so spread out in hotels fighting naptimes and bedtimes.

The children had a ton of fun together and not too many fights ensued. I am very grateful to have been able to visit with them all and can't wait to see them again.

Surprisingly, Gage and Wyatt created these poses themselves. I was just the photographer.

Zoe was so fun and loving to be around. I have to say I had the most fun with her this trip than I have ever had. We had a great time playing "Monkey-in-the-Middle" with her and Cam in Ms. Kim's pool. She can throw that ball like a bullet!

Lucy's behavior on the whole trip was wonderful! I am very blessed with "happy" babies and can travel pretty much anywhere without much worry. But, like any mother, I do.

Pretty as princesses. There would be many times that we would look around and say "where are the girls?" There were only a few "that's mine" battles, but about 90% of the time they got along beautifully giggling and laughing as they went to bed. I hope they will be close friends as they get older.

Needless to say, by the end of the trip. Everyone was tired.

This is one of the reasons why everyone was so tired. Delaney and Berk were awesome at helping me with the babies and cleaning up. I am so glad I got to spend time them and see how much they have grown. Berk - I can't wait to hear "Kip" again. I was telling Uncle Joe all about it.

These were the apples picked from Lisa and Mike's old home and they were so juicy and sweet (just like me)! Mike and the kids brought home big bushels everytime they went.

Even though we had our differences from time to time (what would you expect with that many people in a house?), I am so glad we got to be together and I will treasure every moment - past, present, and future that we get because it will slip away faster than sand in an hour glass.

PS - Grannie's not an old lady - the allusion just seem to fit.