Showing posts with label Vacation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vacation. Show all posts

Jul 14, 2016

Couser Retreat 2016

   The 2nd Annual Couser Retreat was set in the mountains of Tennessee near Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg at the Tuckaleechee Retreat Center. We rented a large house that was perfect for our big group! The massive porch was great for relaxing (and running circles around if your name was Tobias), the hot tub was perfect for everyone who wasn't pregnant or two years old, and the grand living space was roomy enough for meals, games, conversation and family devotions! There was also a pool on the property where Tobias started to swim and jump in all by himself (with floaty's of course)! A big and fun achievement to watch.
      Most of us arrived the Friday night of Memorial Day Weekend, with the exception of Dan and Vic who arrived the next morning (they drove overnight and had the longest trip by far)! I would like to say that our trip was uneventful, but it wasn't. Instead of taking 3ish hours it took almost 5! And our sweet little toddler was either sick or car sick because he threw up twice which put everyone on edge. Poor Auntie Cesca had to sit next to the sickie, but she was on top of it! Thankfully we were able to work as a team and none of the throw up made it on Tobias, ourselves or the car! We had the throw up saves down to a science!!
      This year we added the grandma's to our group and it made such an awesome difference. Gray, Tobias and I loved the extra company and insightful conversations. I'm so glad my parents made the extra effort to include them!
     On Saturday we hung around the house and went swimming and in the evening went to the Tuckaleechee Caverns a pretty spectacular look at underground structures carved out by water (lost somewhat on the toddler unfortunately). Sunday morning Vic and Dan made pancakes and then we tried a hike that didn't quite work but was a fun adventure. Ground that is too steep and slippery doesn't mix well with grandma's and a pregnant lady. Later that day or Monday (can't remember which) we found a huge river not far from our retreat center that had a great beach and cool water for entertainment!
      I love spending time with this group of people! The past couple of years have seen a lot of change that I am sure will only continue, it's that phase of life. I definitely look forward to this weekend and can't wait to see what next year will look like!

Jul 11, 2016

Cato Family Vacation (2016)

     It was a great week spent relaxing and enjoying family in Wilmington, NC. Not quite the Mexico vacation we had originally planned (you can blame the two pregnant ladies and the Zika Virus scare), but just what we all needed ... a break from life and a chance for all of us to reconnect after spending years apart!
     It is relatively easy for Gray, Tobias and I to see Nana, Poppa, Uncle Nate and Aunt Celeste thanks to being on the same side of the continent, but less easy to see Uncle Travis and Auntie KK who live in San Francisco. Spending time all together is a rare treat!
     We rented a vacation house that was literally right on the beach. So convenient and fun to walk outside and dig your toes into the sand. Being able to see and hear the ocean from our balcony was not bad either! But the best part in my opinion was being thirty minutes from downtown Wilmington, one of the cutest towns I have ever been too. Also the town where One Tree Hill was filmed if you like that show :). It had the prettiest victorian neighborhoods, quaint downtown shops, and many unique places to eat.
     I am so glad Jim and Melody make seeing family a priority. I love this bunch of people and even though we do not live super close they are such an amazing support. I am so thankful Tobias (and his soon to arrive little brother) gets to grow up and learn from these special people!
We went in March so it was still relatively cold. This did not deter Tobias, he spent every morning and every night enjoying the sand, watching the water, and throwing the ball.
Jim and Gray decided to brave the cold waters and take a plunge! The rest of us were content to watch ...
We took a carriage ride around Wilmington. So fun and relaxing!