Emmerson’s Journey

We had a fun time camping at Fort Wilderness this week.

I REFUSED to wear my shoes! In fact, I refused to wear my pants quite often. I was in a strange mood the entire trip. BUt I didn’t nap for about 4 days so I was running on ZERO go juice!

All I ate on the campout was milk, corn and bacon. My tummy was not my friend by the time we left.

Daddy and Mr. Jeff hanging out at the picnic table.

We went to a campfire and roasted marshmallows. We climbed on the bleachers while we waited for the show to start.

My hair was a total disaster after the pool, sunscreen and more sun screen. I was scared of the showers so Mommy didn’t push it too much. I just had weird hair for two days!

I really liked the marshmallow between the graham cracker thing. I kept waiting for more to fall in my mouth.

Being silly with Mommy.

I tried to hang with the big kids but got chased away again. Oh well, I went and snuggled with Mommy and Daddy.

We fed ducks.

I eventually took off my shoes (and pants) and chased them all around trying to pet them.

I caught one duck and let go really quick when it tried to nip at me.

I overcame a fear and actually rode a pony. I had a blast!!!

Holding tight for safety.

I was kind of sliding off the entire ride but managed to stay on.

Almost done!

YEAH ME!

We had fun in the splash area. It was really windy out and in the shade it got quite chilly.

We played a bit and then went home for cleanup and bed.

It was very hilly the second night (55F). Both nights I fell asleep in my own airbed but ended up in bed with Mommy shortly there after. The second night there was something in the bushes moving around. Mommy just laid in bed listening until the sound was right next to us. Suddenly, something was nudging the tent, right at my HEAD! Mommy shot up and grabbed the flashlight and found an armadillo. She chased it off to the bushes. I think it was trying to eat me. Daddy said I must have smelled like bugs.

Both mornings I slept in really late (8am and 8:30am) while everyone else was out playing. Mommy was shocked I could sleep through all the noise of kids and other things. I was EXHAUSTED!

I had a wonderful time and can’t wait to go back!

We went to Touch-A-Truck in Dunedin today. I was in a miserable mood. I wanted nothing to do with any of the trucks. They were too loud, too shiney, too THERE! Just not a happy camper. Finally Mommy found me a lollipop and I perked up a bit. I liked this little ambulance (weeee-oooo weeee-oooo).

When Breighton was done we headed to the sprayground. I never left Mommy’s lap. In fact I fell asleep in her arms at 11am! I was just exhausted. We came home and I took a two hour nap!

We visited Breighton friend today. We had a wonderful time playing on the beach. I was not allowed to play with the big kids… they said 4 year olds only!

So I blew bubbles with Mrs. Lynn.

I did eventually sneak into the volcano the boys were building.

Thanks Mrs. Lynn for such a lovely beach day!

Mommy, Breighton and Daddy went wondering in the river but I refused to do so. I perched on the shoreline.

I found a deep puddle and a bunch of rocks and just kept tossing rocks in the water.

SPLASH!

I stopped to look at Breighton’s salamander that he caught.

Then I was back to exploring the DRY parts of the riverbed. I found a leaf as big as my head! SEE!

When we got back to the house Breighton and I played in the yard for a while until bath time.

I am really like my new exploring hat.

Off I went exploring!

Chilling out in the soft grass after all my exploring.

Mommy was being silly.

I was playing peek-a-boo behind the smallest tree in the yard. I thought I was HILARIOUS!

Back to exploring a bit before bath time. Tomorrow we head back to Florida. I am excited to sleep in my own bed but I will miss all of our adventures in the mountains.

We took a tour of an active dig site today. I learned how to sift for fossils.

I had a blast picking up each piece and saying “ROCK”!

Yup, more rocks! Breighton did find a real fossil. I just found ROCKS!

Shaking and more shaking.

Guess what? MORE ROCKS!

Then I got distracted b heavy machinery. At first it was just a “dirt pounder”. Then the “boom boom” appeared!

This is a ‘boom boom”. I am obsessed with all things “boom boom”. In fact I have been sleeping with a garbage truck all week! Another “boom boom”.

We played inside the museum for a bit afterwards.

I made some amazing discoveries in putting dinosaur parts together.

One last shot and we are on the road back to North Carolina.

We went to Chimney Rock Park in Chimney Rock, NC near Lake Lure today. Lake Lure is where parts of Dirty Dancing were filmed!

We first hiked out the Hickory Nut Falls Trail. There were a LOT of stairs but we managed. In fact I did all but about 30 of them. Considering there were over 200 I was pleased, as were Mommy and Daddy who didn’t have to carry me those extra stairs.

I liked climbing the big rock with big brother. We built a rock sculpture on top of the rock.

I even walked today. The rule was I HAD to be holding a hand because just a few feet away way a HUGE drop off.

We climbed up a few more rocks for pictures.

Almost there. I am giving up and Daddy will now have to carry me!

ThE FALLS! There it is! 404 feet of falling water!

The water pouring over today was kind of slow but in peak season it is huge.

What a view.

I found a stick and little puddle to play in at the top. In fact I found lots of sticks (rocks, twigs, leaves, flowers, bugs and dirt) and lots of puddles in which to play. There were lots of places wehre the water was seemingly bubbling between the rocks. It was really neat.

On the way down I wanted to gallop the whole way, even over steps and down steep hills. I finally gave up and opted for walking backwards. Daddy obliged since I was at least walking and not needing carried.

When we got back to the beginning we took an elevator up 26 stories to the almost top of the chimney. First we had to walk through a really neat tunnel.

At the top with a nervous Daddy and Mommy. We were both full of energy and wanting to walk around without holding hands.

At the top of the mountain (well almost top) there is a gift shop and we each got to pick out something unique. We picked mining helmets! Aren’t they the coolest!

After the BIG hike we took a smaller one that was a bit less than a mile through the “Great Woodlands Adventure”. We learned all about the animals in the mountains. The salamanders seemed pretty cool.

I liked playing the turtles like drums until a REAL salamander nearly ran across my foot. Too bad Breighton missed it, he has been looking for one for several days now.

There was a giant frog!

I posed for a picture with a nut. I know it is hard to tell which one is me and which one is the nut! I am wearing a red-orange shirt!

What a fun day out. I took a short nap in the car and was ready to do more. We ate a nice dinner, visited a toy store and stopped by the playground on the way home.

Off to bed now!

Today we opted for a long drive up the parkway to go to a cavern. We made a lot of fun stops along the way.

We hiked a bit on Mount Mitchell. We found snow to play in.

Breighton and me at the official marked highest point east of the Mississippi River and south of Canada.

Breighton tried to throw me over the rail, HONEST!

What an amazing view!!

Pointing to Asheville!

I was playing peek-a-boo behind the sign and it took Mommy a few shots to get me in the picture!

I just wanted to play in the snow.

So much, in fact, that I was actually willing to walk today!!!

Off to look for more snow!!!

Okay, wait, carry me a bit more!

Okay, I will play in the little stream!

Having a blast on the mountains.

Finally the big patch of snow again. Breighton kept sitting in it and getting all nasty wet and dirty.

SNOW SNOW SNOW! Mama put rock IN snow!

We finally got to the caverns and I fell asleep in the car just before! Daddy woke me up and got me dressed for the chilly caverns. I was TERRIFIED!

But it looked really neat. Daddy kept me safe from all the things I thought were bad.

Snuggling in Daddy’s arms.

I didn’t like the fact that there were bats in the caverns. It didn’t matter that they were hibernating… they were still there!!!

After the left the caverns we headed to go mining for gems! Well, sifting dirt out of a bucket to see what we could find! It was really fun.

I really got into rinsing all the dirt off in the running water.

I found LOTS of neat things in my sifters.

They made me super happy!

Mommy was surprised that my attention span was as long as it was considering I was exhausted!

After dinner and a bath we checked out our treasures!

These may be the only shots of my feet touching the grounds today. I am still super grumpy. Mommy said I am cutting my bottom molars. I had a rough nights sleep again last night.

Anyway, we went to the NC Arboretum today and looked at flowers and went on a hike.

This is about the time I gave up walking. I made it just about to the top of the steps and cried for Mommy to pick me up!

Mommy and Daddy took turns on the over 2 mile hike carrying me. Daddy did a lot of the uphill parts. I really enjoyed the woods but I just did NOT want to put my feet on the ground.

After lunch in the car and then a frozen custard we came and got Grandma Jo and went out on a paddle boat. I was not even the slightest afraid. I am a natural boater! Mommy said the first time BReighton put on a life vest he screamed!!! I was cool with it.

Breighton and I got to sit up front. I liked looking at the water.

We went far out in the lake but I was not scared.

Mommy and Grandma Jo were exhausted. The boat was apparently not easy to paddle or steer. Daddy is luck he stayed on the shore!!

After quiet time we went for a hike in the neighborhood with Mommy. I found lots of cool things to carry around.

I dug in the dirt and played in the leaves.

The view was wonderful from the top of the hill.

I picked a lot of dandelions.

This was from inside of the “tree house square”. A huge group of trees in the shape of a square.

We checked out some bugs on branches that Breighton found.

I ran through the fields until I am exhausted.

I picked some more flowers with Breighton.

here is one I liked a lot!

I pretended to nap in the grass.

Then we went on a hike towards the lake and across the bridge.

I am not EXHAUSTED!