October lovin'...

I'm glad it's only the 16th, but I'm bummed that it's already the 16th! This month needs to pull back on the reigns a bit. I finally placed some decorations inside the house before we went to Gatlinburg, though I could use more now that I have plenty of bare space.  Maybe next year, or a good stock-up after Halloween when everything's on sale. We hear that a lot of kids come around to trick-or-treat in our neighborhood, so we've stocked up on the goods, too. I'm trying very hard not to PIG OUT on it before the big night. 

Gatlinburg was absolutely beautiful.  The weather was sunny and nice, not too hot or cold, and the leaves were already changing.  As I realize I didn't mention much about the trip beforehand except hey, we're leaving for Gatlinburg, it was a rather spontaneous getaway.  With a few weeks notice, my SIL invited us to go along with their little family and share a cabin, and we agreed.  Here are just a few of the shots we took... I mean... Dan took.  He was photographer and bag-lugger extraordinaire and if it weren't for him we wouldn't have many digital memories of our weekend.  Muchas gracias, mi amor.  I'll post more once I get through them.      

    








While we were there...

• we stuffed ourselves as you can only do on vacation
  
• we hiked a small trail to Laurel Falls, totaling 2.5 miles and a few hundred pictures
  
• for a lot of the photos we tried our new 75-300 IS lens and polarizing filter - verdicts on those later  
  
• we ate and shopped at the Apple Barn, an attraction in itself
  
• we stopped at a go-kart track and went for a ride
  
• I almost lost my Apple Barn on those curves with Dan's driving - maybe I should have driven my own go-kart at granny speeds
  
• we rode up the mountain on Ober Gatlinburg and did a few activities there
  
• we took a whole lot more pictures 
  
• we shopped along the main strip
  
• we ate at Hard Rock and got our collectible souvenirs
  
• we all watched The Great Outdoors together 
  
• the boys played pool in the cabin
  
• we took advantage of the cabin's hot tub and clear full-moon skies
  
• we found a mini scorpion in our room's jacuzzi tub
  
• we had Starbucks right before starting our drive home - pumpkin and cream cheese muffin was not a good choice for the stomach
  
• we had plenty of new tunes for the road trip - new favorite band is Blind Pilot
  
• we just enjoyed it all 
  

Now that we're back...

• I'm a photo sorting and editing fool
  
• I need a cleaning lady 
  
• we have a photo shoot on Saturday with a returning family - yay!
  
• someone is turning the big 27 next week - fav number must mean good year 
  
• Halloween is two weeks away or right around the corner, same thing 
  
• it's October! 

Roll out Thursday.