Owen's First Vacation

(as if he needed one)

We took a family vacation last week to the mountains near Asheville, NC.  It was nice to get away and relax for a week together as a family.  The place we rented wasn't available until Monday, but we started our vacation early by staying at home in our pajamas.

We made a stop to see the Swicegoods in Boiling Springs on our way to Asheville.  Ethan had tons of fun swimming with Suzanna and Owen went swimming for the first time AND played in the rain for the first time -- all at once!

We stopped for dinner and Ethan got corn-on-the-cob.  They didn't have any corn-on-the-cob holders, so Tim put a fork on each end and Ethan thought that was so funny!  He did amazingly well eating the whole thing by himself.

We spent lots of time relaxing in the front yard.

Our view for most of the week -- laying in the grass looking up at the trees.

Ethan liked making faces at himself in the glass door.

And, of course, a vacation in Asheville wouldn't be complete 

without a trip to the Early Girl Eatery.

One of Ethan's highlights of the week - walking in Asheville and looking at these faces in the wig shop.  He spent 45 minutes in front of this window.  When we went back to this area again later in the week we made sure to pass on the other side of the street.

Sitting on the back porch

Even though we were on vacation, 

we still did a little therapy and practiced the pucker face...

but only so we could give mommy kisses.

Ethan's first experience with a ladybug 

Singing in the microphone

Blowing bubbles

The house we stayed in had a river in the front yard and Ethan loved playing in the water, throwing rocks and watching daddy catch fish.

Since everything goes directly into the mouth, 

Owen spent most of his river time in the Moby wrap.

But he did allow us to put his feet in the cold water for a few seconds

Ethan trying to find a good throwing rock

Daddy carrying Ethan back from the river

Owen perfecting his raspberry

Sitting on a bench in Waynesville -- in matching outfits.

(I know they'll hate me for this when they're older, but I don't care)

Ethan with his sucker 

(this is how I got him to smile for the previous picture)

It's hard to believe there was a time when he wouldn't tolerate eating a sucker

Owen's first time on a playground swing

Sitting on the front porch

(by the way, this was an outfit Tim wore when he was the same age)

More time outside...

Owen's favorite activities of the week --

eating the grass

and playing with the Sunkist bottle

My favorite activity of the week...

taking pictures

of these

sweet

adorable

happy

silly

little boys

Since I haven't included enough pictures in this post (that's a joke, by the way)

I HAD to include some of my favorite pictures taken by one of my sister's good friends,

Sarajane Case (www.sarajanecasephotography.com) while we were in Asheville.  If you need a wedding photographer - she's amazing!