Just back from visitin' our kin and BOY, did we have a great time! First off, it was awesome for Steve, the boy and I to have that family time together. Secondly, Steve's family is just awesome and it's always so wonderful to see them.
We stayed with Steve's Aunt Diane and Uncle Dave. Let me tell you, nicest hotel in all of Northern Georgia. The hills of Hiawassee, to be exact. They always make us feel so welcome. Amazingly, of all the places we went, they had the most baby proof house and Sam ran WILD there. No pitter patter of little feet. Straight up STOMPS.
They have 3 rescue dogs, Annie, Maddy and Sable. Annie and Maddy were all over Sam. He positively shrieked with delight when they tried to get kisses in. Annie in particular became very attached to Sam. Very protective. If she perceived me being mean to Sam, (saying BOO, or ROWWRR), she got very upset and barked at me. Scared the crap out of me a couple of times, but it was still sweet. Some nights, when she escaped Dave & Diane's room, I could hear her lay down outside our bedroom door. True love, I say. Maddy does the funniest thing. She actually smiles! It's so freakin' hilarious! I tried to capture it on film, but it just looks like she's angry and about to eat someone. Anyhoo, that is one happy doggie!
As usual there was a whole lotta great food consumed. Uncle Dave was a breakfast makin' fool. French toast and pancakes seem to be his specialty. One day, when we knew the weather was suppose to be crummy, we stayed in and Steve, his Mom and Aunt D cooked up a Polish feast Mom/Grandma would be proud of. There was always plenty of wine flowin' and we never tired of just sitting around chit chattin' and enjoying each other's company.
Here's the view from the house, btw, though the picture really doesn't do it justice.
Next up, Sam got to meet his Aunt Lynola and Uncle Erik in North Carolina! They have 2 cuties of their own, Lukas (age 6) and Miss Emma (age 3). You'd think the big kids wouldn't be that interested in playing with a little guy like Sam. I was so wrong. They were having a blast together. And Lukas told us, "Don't worry. I'll take really good care of him." Seriously, how cute is that? They tore up the kids' room together and ran amok. We had a great game of hide and seek too! Oh, and it was my first time meeting Steve's brother too. It was both cool and weird to see this whole other adult human that looks so much like Steve. Sam took to Erik instantly and Erik seemed completely smitten with his nephew, who he always calls Samuel :)
I swear, I think Steve's Mom could've just burst with happiness to have her 2 boys and all her grandchildren in the same room. It was a sight to see. Heres's a family shot.
The kids all got together again at Grandma's house and were all sad to say goodbye. I hope it won't be so long until Sam gets to play with his first cousins again. And yes, this is how they roll at Grandma's. She let's them stand on stuff! Lol!
Next stop, Rogersville, Tennessee! Time to see Team Siclari aka Aunt Teeny, Uncle Les and cousins Megan and Derrick! They have a whole bunch of acres in beautiful country. I looked up when we arrived at the house and thought I was in a scene from Little House on the Prairie.
Such a great, old house. Here Sam got to sit on a horse AND tractor! The sheep (which he calls baaaaas),wouldn't have anything to do with him, but that didn't stop him from chasing them. Curiously, we were initially listening to Led Zeppelin and classic rock in the kitchen while we broke out more wine and had another feast. Cousin Derrick came over with his new wife, Jordan. And Cousin Megan, who I've gotten to know on Facebook, arrived later. It was a great night of laughin' and talkin'.
The next day we made it over to Derrick and Jordan's for lunch and ATV ridin'!! Wooooo hooooo! So, yeah....Sam got to sit on a horse, a wagon, a tractor AND an ATV. LOL!!!! We were definitely doing it country style! Steve persuaded me to get on. I mostly just drove in a circle. I finally got up the courage to go down a hill on their land by the main road. Some people drove by and probably thought they were imagining things seeing me riding an ATV. LOL! Pretty funny.
Sam go to play in a big ol' pile of leaves and loved it! I was sure he'd be so bored when he got home. No dogs, no horses, no piles of leaves. Just a lazy, yowling cat. Poor kid. Anyway, he enjoyed it while it lasted.
Derrick is 20 years Steve's Jr. and just got married a few months ago. Check out their wedding rings:
Crazy coincidence, huh?? And yet another family photo
After our whirlwind visit to Tennessee, it was back to the house on the hill. We did so many things during our visit. True to form, we hit a winery in Hayesville, NC. We visited Mercier Orchards, http://mercier-orchards.com/ . Lucky for us, they'd just opened up a tasting room where we could sample their hard cider. Seriously, wherever we go, we always find the booze! The week went by way too fast. We were exhausted but happy when we arrived home (traveling with a toddler and all his crap on a plane is a story for another blog). Wonderful connections and memories made. Martzes, Siclaris and Baggetts, we love you so much! Can't wait to see you again!!!
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