The Appalachian Trail

Start of the Appalachian Trail at Fontana Dam. The trail covered 72 miles throughout The Great Smokey Mountain National Park with a combined 18.660 feet of elevation gain.
Below is a look at Fontana Dam.

I thought this tree looked cool.

We couldn't have timed the fall colors any better. In the lover elevations there was still some green, but at the higher elevations some the leaves had already fallen.

One of many breaks that first day. That was our biggest ascent we did throughout the entire trip; probably a 3,000 foot climb.

A salamander in the pool we filled our water bottles in. The Smokies are well known for the diversity of salamanders, something like 23 different species.

We were required by the Park Service to stay in shelters along the AT. This is a picture of the first shelter we slept in. They are three walled buildings with a porch built on them. Good accommodations.

On the way to Clingman's Dome, the high point of the hike.

Again, the fall colors along the trail.

So this is what the inside of one of the shelters looked like. Like a giant bunk bed, it slept six on the bottom and six on top. We never knew who we would be sleeping with at night. Inevitably someone snored incredibly loud. I will say this though, you can meet some very interesting and very strange people at the shelters.

I took this picture because Julie and I had lunch at this spot when we visited the park a couple of years ago. This point is only a couple of miles from Clingman's Dome.

This is where I start the Journey by myself. After two and a half days, Gabe and Doug couldn't do it physically anymore so I finished the last 35 miles on my own. It would have been fun to have some hiking companions, but I still had a great time.

A timer photo on Charlie's Bunion. The first full day on my own I covered 20 miles to make up for lost time the first couple of days.

The bears in the park were really keying in on these berries. Here I actually got a photo of one up in a tree.

The last day on the hike out there was some drizzle, but it gave me an opportunity to take so good fog pictures.

The end of the trail.

Fact.

Charlie ate his first apple today!! Yep, over 18 months old and I haven't given him an apple yet - until this morning, when we visited a local apple orchard with some friends from our bible study group. I had to take pictures with my phone, but I think some of them turned out really well! I'll try to get them posted this weekend. We're trying to keep busy now that Matt's gone until Wednesday. A warm "fall" morning at the apple orchard was a perfect outing!!

Fall Snapshots

After crawling up on the couch by himself. He was so proud!! Charlie's only taken two falls off the couch since learning this new trick - one he didn't even cry from! The other, he earned the right to cry since his head landed in a wagon, and somehow he was flipped over onto his belly with his legs arched up by the wall/desk area...

This is a face we see FREQUENTLY. It's become a game, and sometimes, Charlie can hardly make the face without cracking a smile. He's become very proficient at the Legge Frown.

Last family car ride in the Escape. Don't worry, we were stopped at a stop light. (FYI, we moved past our compact SUV to a minivan. The space in a van is ridiculous! Of course, I should have known this as my parent's old van has hauled a full size couch on many moves with no problem at all.)

Super sweet!! **Insert all kinds of gushing Mommy love for her son.

What's New

Well, no baby news. :) That's a good thing! This little sweetie is scheduled to stay in for just over 6 more weeks, and I'm praying that happens! Ok, well, sometimes I feel ready to have the baby here, but that's mostly just whenever my back or feet ache, I grunt when I bend over, or heartburn or restless leg keep me up at night. As much as I want to complain, I'm thankful for a healthy pregnancy with very, very few ailments. I feel blessed to even experience being pregnant at all!!

Charlie's now 18 months old and just started crawling up onto the furniture last week. So far, he's only tumbled off the couch one time, and it happened to be during a voice/piano lesson last Friday. All of a sudden, I looked over, and there he was in a crumpled up pile on the ground. No tears, no nothing. A full 30 seconds later, he got up and was ready to play again. :) Unfortunately, just tonight, Charlie discovered how to climb up onto the kitchen chairs. At some point this week, I'm sure I'll walk around the corner and find him on top of the kitchen table. This action will no doubt be received with a firm, firm reprimand from his mommy.

Charlie's bottom eye teeth are here; well, his bottom left one is for sure. I couldn't feel in there tonight, but I'm fairly certain that the bottom right one is in as well. Unless my finger is coated in something delicious, Charlie prefers me not to stick my fingers in his mouth, and lets me know this by biting down. Hard.

As shown by the last video, Charlie has taken a serious interest in talking this past week. He doesn't say anything, but his expression tells you that he's trying to tell you something. So adorable!

Charlie's bro or sis currently has the hiccups. A fun sensation! We drove up near the hospital today so we'll know where to go when I'm in labor. I'm hoping to get into the hospital and take a tour of the facilities in the next few weeks, too. My next appointment is in about 10 days where they'll do one last ultrasound to check the baby's position and take a peek at my scar. A scar that measures too thin or is translucent means an automatic C-section. I'm praying for a thick scar! I'm also praying that my water stays put for a while longer this time instead of breaking at the grocery store. :) After the 35 week appointment, my appointments will become weekly until the end. It's hard to believe that the end is drawing near! I'm taking a zantac almost every night now and wake up frequently when I forget to take it. I'm already up 2-3 times a night to use the bathroom! I've outgrown a few maternity shirts (too short!) and pants (too tight!) and will be finishing this pregnancy in whatever mismatched clothes fit the best and are the most comfy. Who really cares, right?! I haven't noticed any new stretch marks on the outside, but sometimes my skin feels like it's going to rip open. Rolling over in bed is quite the process. My three pillows and 70-inch waistline (I'm guessing) pretty much dominate the bed. Matt's so good about not complaining - and not getting motion sickness when I finally DO roll over! I'm sure there's more to be told about this pregnancy, but my mind is drawing a blank. At least I've remembered to journal a few times about fun pregnancy things that I'll want to remember later on.

Charlie Talking

Charlie has begun talking (babbling) a lot the last few days, so here is a quick video of him talking, climbing on the couch, and playing in his diaper.

Hunting Pictures

Well, I went out on my first mule deer hunt a couple weekends ago and I had a bunch of cool experiences.

1) I spent 4 days and 3 nights in a tent in the Colorado wilds.

2) I did get sick the first night (not a cool experience I suppose), but survived and felt better the next day.

3) I saw a real nice bull elk with a harem of cows.

4) I saw a big black bear.

5) Had a shot at one doe, but missed (had a small opening in some brush at 70 yards . . . had to throw in some kind of an excuse).

6) Could of had a shot at a nice buck in velvet if I had a buck tag.

7) Hearing elk bugle every night from my campsite.

8) I got to hike around the mountains for 3 gorgeous days.

So, although I didn't shoot anything I did have a great time.

Here are a couple pictures of my campsite and a really cool aspen stand I found.

This next picture is from a grouse hunt I went on today. I was able to get two grouse and stumbled upon a herd of elk as well.

MN - Again :)

What a wonderful trip to Minnesota! What I thought would be a restful, relaxing trip turned into a week-long sight-seeing adventure! We went to Maplewood State Park for a picnic, had a big family turkey feast, visited Chahinkapa Zoo, made frequent stops at Dairy Queen, and spent a day out at Zenner Beach for the annual Thorson campout. And all of that was just with Matt's side of the family! I also went to Fargo for a whole day, spent some time at Hoot lake with Charlie throwing rocks and wading, played, played, played with all of Grandma and Grandpa's fun toys, visited McKinley's new playground (so neat!), shopped at garage sales, and had a few cups of delicious coffee. Matt managed to also squeeze in a morning on the lake fishing with his dad, apple-picking at his mom's work, an out-of-town football game to cheer on our nephew Justin and see Matt's sister's new place, and probably biked almost a hundred miles between my our two parents' houses. Just typing it seems like a lot... no wonder I was exhausted at the end of the trip!

As always, it was definitely worth it. Next up? My mom's coming for a visit on Saturday and staying for a few days, my parents and sisters are coming to Denver for a wedding in October, and then before we know it, my parents will be back in Canon City to welcome their newest grandbaby in November! We're planning a Christmas MN trip as well, so we'll be seeing family every month until then. I love it! Bring on a slow, cool, glorious fall!