A Getaway

I'm pretty ashamed to admit that I read Bridget Jones' Dairy (and saw the movies). In the second one she spends all this time obsessing about a holiday, or some British version of a getaway. Well, I don't spend much time obsessing about them, but here in This Suburban Life, they are few and far between. I am not entirely sure that This Suburban Life is the right name for the television show of my life, but you get the picture.

Two weeks ago, Josh and I were able to "get away" and drive up into the mountains, leaving our two beautiful children in the capable hands of their grandma. We only spent one night away, but it was completely lovely. In fact, for this momma, it was just the right amount of time. Long enough to resist calling said Grandma and asking, "How are they?"-- but short enough that I only had to resist once.

Josh spent the morning doing this:

While I curled up with my book on the front porch & looked out on this:

The amazing thing was that we did all of that relaxing before 9:30, at which time we decided we wanted to grab breakfast in town -- so at 9:32 we were in the car and on our way. Now, THAT'S something you can't do with children. :-)

We explored two little mountain towns in North Carolina: Sylva & Highlands. Sylva actually won my heart with the really amazing Annie's Bakery, and a Friend of the Library Bookstore. Highlands looked quite beautiful, but was way too boutique for us.

We also saw a few natural wonders in the mountains, such as the not-so-Dry Falls.

Blue Valley Overlook

and most beautiful of all, Tallulah Gorge. Some of you may remember it from the day after our wedding hike... that we did NOT attend. Consequently, this was the first time either of us had visited it. Hands down, this has to be the most beautiful spot in Georgia. Too bad you reach most of the gorgeous views on a really unromantic trail of a man-made staircase zigging and zagging down into the gorge. We arrived too late to apply for a permit all the into the gorge, so we only hiked down to the suspension bridge. We then walked back up and along some of the rim trail as well.

Josh on the suspension bridge.

We finally meandered our way back home. The girls pretended not to know us. :-) Isn't that how it always is. You wonder how they are doing and if they will survive without you. They say, "Parents, who?"

Josh & I had a great time--it's a good reminder of both the times of yore and hopefully the times ahead. That at the core of our family of four is really a family of two -- a couple -- two people who love to spend time with each other (really).