Anniversary in the Mountains

Happy, happy Wednesday!!! Well, today I thought I would share few snapshots from our little Anniversary Getaway in the Mountains. We loved this little trip so much, and although it was different than our usual love for the beach, it was a sweet one for sure!!! 

When we started thinking about October, we knew we wanted to do something to celebrate 7 years, and we brainstormed a million different ideas, but honestly, we weren't sure how little Andy would do, so we tried to pick something fun, unique, and within driving distance incase we needed to come home a bit early... 

And we landed on this...a little igloo in the mountains. We have had friends enjoy this trip in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Georgia, but we went with the Smokies because it was just a lot closer... And it was SO unique, so different and fun! 

After we got Jane and Andy all settled in at Nana and Papa's house, we set off for seriously the MOST beautiful drive to just outside of Gatlinburg, TN. 

I took a million pictures, but of course none of them do it justice. It's been a drier fall in TN and a lot of the leaves and colors have been late to arrive if at all, so this drive was just a treat! It truly rivaled Vermont in October for us! 

We were hoping for blue skies and high of 70s, but we knew there was a lot of rain and coziness in the future, so we did the only thing we knew to do and stopped for snacks - er, I mean food 😉 hahaha Pierce jokes that without him and kids in the picture, I would live on snacks...which is probably true in some sense, but we both have a mutual love for good food, so we stocked up for the weekend and finished our drive... 

To our little campsite... When we first pulled up, I wondered if I had gotten us into a little more "camping" than we had originally thought... 

But inside, it was SO sweet, homey and nice! 

The view was amazing and just SO fun to feel like we were in the trees and in a snow globe at the same time. 

There were several "domes" on the camp ground, but we chose a "smaller" one because it was just the two of us... (But it was still plenty big!!) 

It had a full size bathroom... 

And a kitchen with a hotplate stove, a sink, and refrigerator and freezer. 

There was air conditioning and heat and lots of space heaters too... 

And the "skylight" up top was SUCH a fun highlight - especially because it rained throughout the night and goodness, we could have recorded it for a nature playlist. It was amazing as it hit the dome!! 

We unloaded our bags and groceries and settled in right before it started raining for the night... 

We checked in on the kids, and had our glamorous meal of rotisserie chicken and gauc, while we watched football and listened to the rain. It was the best. Hahhaa

The other thing that's the best?! Slow. Mornings. This will not come as a surprise for anyone who knows us, but goodness, we love these things hahaha This used to be our bread and butter on Saturdays before kids, and it is the biggest treat now when we get them... 

Tea and coffee, our Bibles, journals, and add a view with rain? Just truly simply the best. 

We had to document it hahaha 

We put our rain coats on and decided to venture out in the rain... 

The drive to and from this little campground was amazing. 

It was beautiful!!!! A tad scary at certain parts in the rain, but goodness, it was truly beautiful at every turn. 

It stopped raining right as we made it to town, and we had the best few hours just soaking it in. Had I just had a caramel apple at Jackson's Orchard? Yes. Did I get another one two days later because they are my weakness? Yes. Hahhaa what is fall without a caramel apple!! 

Also what is fall without an adorable little pumpkin hat?!?! Yes please hahaha 

I may have also had to snag the Christmas one as well!! Hahaha 

We wandered through town and bought the kids a few goodies to bring back, we went to a few Arts and Crafts Villages and found a puzzle for my mom and a magnet for us, and then OF COURSE Pierce found the arcade of the century hahaha we played a few games... 

But it wouldn't have been a "date" without the claw machine.... See this post for more details hahahah did he win? No...but was it fun trying?! Yes. Hahaha

Then for the first time in 12 years of friendship, dating, and marriage, we played some putt-putt... ⛳️

Now, growing up, my family honestly played putt-putt quite a bit, but it had been years since I'd been on "the green." 😉 

But I will say, I think Mr. Pierce was quite impressed by my under-par score on the 18 holes hahaha 

It was a beautiful little course though and the rain stopped perfectly for the afternoon... And it was tucked away in the mountains with a beautiful scene of the fall colors on the other side... 

We just had fun going through the course - there were some fun "trick shots," and we loved the little competition it brought that afternoon...

A fun date day for sure!! 

We came back to this little slice of heaven just in time for the rain to start again, and honestly, we were trying to beat the daylight because like I said, the roads to get here were a bit crazy hahaha 

But we (and by we, I honestly mean mainly Pierce, as he has truly become quite the chef over here, especially when it comes to steak hahaha) managed to cook up a fun little at-home anniversary dinner, and my was it good. I'm not sure if it was the fact that we stayed put the entire dinner and didn't have to fill anybody's waters or grab an extra napkin or pick something up off the floor, or the fact that we still had the rain soundtrack falling outside, or a combination of both, but we loved this dinner to celebrate and remember seven years. 

And goodness, have we learned and grown a lot in seven years, but we are so thankful. We love looking back and remembering and looking ahead and praying, while also thanking the Lord for the season he has us in now. What a journey! And what a fun weekend to celebrate too!! We are so thankful for my parents and the blessing of the kids LOVING their time with them. They watched The Sound of Music and now request to listen only to the soundtrack while simultaneously begging to go "back to Papa and Nana's house." Hahaha a sweet weekend for all, and we are so thankful! 

Little Anniversary in the Mountains, you were a fun one!! Thanks for following along and here's to anniversaries spent at the beach and ones trying new things!! 

Sending lots of love and prayers too for all of the families and people affected by the UPS crash yesterday. My dad was a UPS pilot for 30 years, so it definitely hits close to home, and we are heartbroken alongside all who were affected. Always praying this little blog is a bright spot in a heavy world and points us all a little closer to Jesus along the way... 

I'll plan on seeing you back here tomorrow. 

XO
Tab