Biltmore Estate

Last summer my parents mission boundaries were changed. One of the towns they lost was Asheville, NC. I was lucky enough to be able to go to Asheville with my parents the first year they were there and experience beautiful Asheville.  Asheville is a little town in the mountains that has a Park City feel to it. There is also the Biltmore Estate.  George Vanderbilt built this home on his original 125,000 acres. (can you even imagine?!) The estate today includes 8,000 acres. The home itself has 250 rooms, 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 65 fireplaces. This place is UNBELIEVABLE! Not only is the house amazing, but so are the grounds. There are beautiful gardens, farm land, winery and lakes. I tried to capture the breathtaking beauty in pictures - but pictures do not do this place justice! If you are ever in North Caroline, you NEED to visit the Biltmore Estate. (ah-mazing!!)

When we planned our trip to NC I told James that I wanted to take him to Asheville and to the Biltmore Estate. So we took a little roadtrip to make it happen. I was sad my parents couldn't go with us (since it's outside their mission) but we had a great time non the less.   I loved seeing the Estate during the Summer. The grounds were beautiful. The flowers were breathtaking!

Layne and Marian- we thought about you two the whole time we were there! You would L.O.V.E it here!!

James and I loved imagining what our lives would have been like if we grew up here... walking the gardens, hunting, swimming, golfing,....all on your own land. ah, such a sweet dream :)

 we of course missed Winston's nap time which meant he had a complete melt down as soon as we started the house tour. Since i've seen it before, James took Linc around and saw the house while I laid with Winn outside. 

Carowinds Amusement Park

Right after my parents were called to serve in Charlotte, North Carolina we started googling all the things to do in the Charlotte area.  One of the first things that caught some of our eyes was Carowinds - The Trill Capital of the Southeast.  Not only did they have cool roller coasters that you stood up on, lay down on, hang from - they have one that takes straddles the boarder so for some of the ride you're in North Carolina and some of the ride you're in South Carolina. (no worries, my parents mission has parts of South Carolina in it :) )  

I unfortunately wasn't feeling the greatest that day so Scotty and James took off early and got to the park.  They did all the fun, crazy, extreme rides while my mom and the boys had a relaxing day at home.  Later that night we met the boys over at the park and had the boys swim and then do some rides.  My boys love water! Scotty was so fun with Lincoln.  And Winston loved splashing my dad.  My parents were such troopers the whole time we were out there.  I think my parents enjoyed the evening just as much as us kids did. 

Lincoln and Winston also went on their first roller coaster ride! Winton went with Uncle Scotty and loved it. Lincoln went with my dad and was a bit unsure about the whole thing. After he realized he loved it and wanted to go on more rides with Grandpa.

My mom likes going fast and can do circles on rides - but can't do drops. She and Scotty went on the extreme swings. I got sick just watching them. My mom also loves Carousals. Me - not so much. She always offers to take the boys on the Carousals where ever we are. She's the greatest. 

And I went on the ride that I said I wouldn't go on. It was fast, steep drops, fast, and big, steep drops.  After I was so glad I went on it. So worth it - but still so intimidating.

We loved our day at the amusement park. I love being with my family. It's so nice to kick back and do crazy things like this.  

This next pictures is by far one of my favorite pictures ... EVER! Such a perfect photo bomb for my parents. hahah

Nascar

We spent 2 days playing at Nascar - 1 day at the Speedway and 1 day and the Nascar Hall of Fame.

I pretty much knew nothing about Nascar, and can I just saw - Nascar is pretty cool. 

At the Speedway we took a tour of the track and got to do 2 laps on the track in a 12 passenger van. Talk about intense! On turn 3 the curve is so steep - it's 3 stories high!

 Lincoln obviously enjoyed the tour :)

Here we are at the Nascar Hall of Fame in Charlotte.

It was incredible! 

Lincoln and Scotty playing tag.  Scotty blended right in!  

A happy baby is a sleeping baby :)