Tweetsie Railroad and the Great Flood

Our family and the Bobilyas have been planning a trip to The Tweetsie Railroad for months now.  It was hard to work around our schedules but we finally made it happen.  As you might know from previous posts, Tweetsie is a wild west theme park for kids.  Grady, Myles, Lilyanne and Anika have been looking forward to this for about a year now (since our last visit).  This year we decided to camp and make a weekend trip out of it. 

The day was beautiful and we all enjoyed the park.  We headed back to the campground and that is when the real fun began.  It started to sprinkle around 5 or 6 PM.  We were still roasting marshmallows (under umbrellas) and doing all of the usual camping rituals.  We put the kids to bed around 8 and the rain really started coming down.  No biggie, we played cards and had a few drinks.  The adults got in bed around 10ish and that is when the rain started coming down like crazy.  By 12 there was thunder and lightning striking.  I was wide awake as the rain on the tent was ridiculously loud.  Luckily, the boys (Josh included) were sleeping soundly.  Around 2 AM I was really freaking out.  Water was getting into the tent, the wind was howling, the rain was coming down in sheets and all I keep thinking about was flash flooding.  We had a small creek on one side and another on the opposite side.  I was totally paranoid, thinking about the campground in Arkansas where the flash flood came through and killed 20 people asleep in their tents. 

So, you can see where I'm going with this!!  Josh woke up (no, I didn't wake him) and saw me peeking out of the tent flap.  He checked the Internet on his phone and sure enough, FLASH FLOOD WARNING for the county we were in.  "Get to higher ground and away from waterways". 

I love my husband, he went along with my paranoia and we packed up.  The boys were confused but didn't mind being carted off in the middle of the night.  Better safe than sorry, right? It's funny, before I had kids I would have stuck out that storm, no problemo. Now, I am ultra careful when they are with me. I have changed so much in that regard. I have never packed up a campsite faster.  I swear it took about 3 minutes.

The Bobilya's were in a pop up camper and didn't suffer the weather as we did.  They toughed it out and left in the morning.  What a night!!!

The Tweetsie, in all her glory.

Going on a train ride

Best Buddies

Poor Anika's first ride.  As you can see, she didn't quite enjoy it.  Don't worry, they stopped the ride shortly after I took the picture.  She only made it around once.

 '

Josh was a trooper and took Myles, Grady and Lilyanne on the Tilt-a-whorl.  After enduring the scrambler and the Farris wheel, Kirsten, Andrew and I gracefully bowed out.

Ahh the rain...so much fun at first.

Kirsten and Andrew, thank you so much for a fun and memorable weekend.  Sorry, we woke you up at 3AM with our quick escape from the campground.  Let's do it again sometime.

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

A few days ago, I took Myles to get a haircut as he was looking a little shaggy.  He ended up with the worst haircut I have ever seen.  The pictures do not do it justice.  I specifically asked her to not cut it straight across in the front.  I guess she took this to mean, chop the hell out of it, make it 500 different lengths and give him a really bad bowl cut.  Luckily, he is young enough not to care.

The next day, I took him over to my friend Melissa's house and she buzzed it for us.  Her son rocks the buzz cut so I knew she could do it right.  That's about all we could do to salvage his hair.  He loves the new coif.  When we got home, he looked in our full length mirror and said, "Mom, I look like a MAN".  Thanks, Melissa.

Notice the crazy front.

The side looks a little choppy.

Yes, Myles, this too is how I would feel with that crazy hair.  Actually, in this photo it doesn't look too bad.  I swear it was much worse in person.

The new "manly" look.

His new look with a "scary" face.

Mountain State Fair

On Saturday, we went to the Mountain State Fair.  We had a great time checking out the animals, rides and entertainment.  Who doesn't love a fair?!  It was a cool, cloudy day and the fair wasn't busy at all.  Just how I like it.  We didn't have to stand in line for anything.  The weather this weekend has been perfect.  Fall is in the air.

The boys enjoyed checking out the NC Forest Service helicopter.

They thought I was crazy when I told them that I have turned down many a ride in the NC Forest Service helicopter.  No way, Jose.  I would never fly in one of those things!

Ready for the ride to start

I love this picture.  Look how happy they are!!!

Myles enjoyed the Nemo ride

Check this out.  Here is Grady, two years ago, on the same Nemo ride. 

Grandad's Apples

Saturday was a beautiful day for apple picking.  North Carolina is the 7th largest apple producer in the nation.  Henderson County, one county over from us, is known as the best place for apple picking.  When I think of apple picking, I think of Grandad's Apples.  It's a local orchard that is fun for the whole family.  We picked a peck of apples and ate about 10 as we hiked around the orchard.  We enjoyed the wonderful weather and the sweet, juicy apples.

Welcome to Grandad's

Ready to pick some apples.

Grabbing a Golden Delicious.

Dad and Myles checking out the pond.  Josh was dreaming of owning his own orchard.....

Myles was a great apple picker

What better than an apple slushie to finish off a great day at the orchard.

The 3 Scala's

First Day of School (and work)

This week has been a crazy one for the Scala household.  The boys started school on Tuesday and I started work.  Yes folks, it's back to the working world for me....well, kind of.  If you consider working at the boys school the "real world" than yes, I'm back. 

I took a "floating teacher" position at Montreat Morning School.  My friend and constant companion, Kirsten, and I are sharing a position.  We work every other day and the kids come to school with us on those days. We are still trying to figure out logistics but so far, so good.  It is so hard to make money when you want to stay home with your kids.  This is a perfect opportunity for us to make this happen.  Granted, we are not going to get rich at a pre-school but any little bit helps.  Plus, their tuition is greatly reduced making it easier for two kids to be in school. I never thought I would be working in a preschool.....what happened??!!

 The boys were super excited to head back to school.  Look at those smiles and that was at 7:30 AM.  We are late sleepers so this has been a week of adjustments.

My little monkey is getting so big!  He was ready for his first day of school.  I think he believes he went last year as we were always there for Grady.  This is nothing new for him.  The first day, I was in his class a lot.  He looked at me and said, "Mom, what are you doing in here?"  Like I was supposed to get out. 

Grady is an old pro at school but he was really happy to be going back.  He is in the Pre-K class this year.

They wanted to take a silly pic, of course.

Myles wanted to show off that little bum.  Why not?!  It is pretty cute

Gramma and Grandpa's House

We always have a great time hanging at Gramma's house.  During this visit, all of her family came over to hang out.  Brian, Sandra and Hannah drove from Kentucky.  Nick, Carolyn, Nicholas and Conner were in from Eastern PA.  Scott, Candy and Brandon flew all the way from Mississippi and of course Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Joseph were there.  We celebrated Grandma Nancy's 70th birthday and spent the day together. 

Where did Gramma find this thing?  It was a big hit with all of the boys.

Who's in the ball?

Peek a Boo

Next it was sprinkler time.

Singing Happy Birthday to all of the family born in Sept. 

Myles made a best friend, Hannah.  He followed her around the entire day. 

The Black Mountain Scalas and the great grandparents.

Shelley and her Brothers, Brian and Scott.

Shelley, Peter, Josh, Nick, Nancy and Joseph.

Myles doing his pirate face.  Arrrr

Canfield Fair

On Friday, we hit the Canfield Fair in Canfield, Ohio.  Gramma and Grandma Nancy grew up going to this fair so they wanted us to experience it as well.  It was scorching hot outside but we managed to have a wonderful time.  The boys loved all the animals and farm equipment.  Josh enjoyed the fair food....we even tried fried oreos.  Thanks to Gramma, Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Joseph who braved the heat to hang out with us. 

 

Gramma helped the boys pet the baby animals in Old McDonalds Barn.  

Checking out the antique farm equipment.

Grady and Myles got to milk a cow.  Grandma Nancy even got in on the action.  They all received badges that said they had "milked a cow".

Look who can't resist fair food.

Grady is really into tanks right now so when we saw this he was in heaven.  They even got to sit inside and pretend to shoot the guns.  Whoo hoo!

Not sure how they learned how to salute but they did this without being prompted.  I sure didn't teach them that.

Rides, rides, rides

Gramma hooking Myles up with a snow cone.

Grandma Nancy couldn't pass up the chance for a snow cone either.  We needed a cool down on such a hot day.