Weekend retreat to Paradise

Our sweet 4-wheel drive all terrain vehichle! Not at all out of place in front a cabin the mountains.

The Blauser family had their first family reunion. Congratulations guys! It was complete with t-shirts and family pictures. We rented some pretty sweet cabins over the Labor Day weekend near Helen, GA. It's up and to the right...that's how I think of it. It's Northeast GA. Helen's is the same idea as Gatlinburg: old german town by the Smokey Mtns. Helen is red roofs and things though and I remember Gatlinburg being brown. We floated down the Chattahooche River which goes right through the town. I enjoyed it very much. Bryce took the opportunity to try to fish with Andy - nothing. We hiked Anna Ruby Falls which was nice, short, paved and goes up along a river. The waterfall itself is neat to look at so it's worth it. We didn't go backpacking or anything - we had kids in strollers here. Give us a break. :) And of course, we had camp fires every night, made smores, told stories, laughed, and Pierce threw a toad in the fire pit. Normal family stuff.

Ok, I guess I better clarify on that since Pierce is 4 and Bryce told him to do it :) The family motto is now "Don't listen to Bryce." Our next reunion shirts will have a crest of a flaming toad on it, with "NOOOOOOOOOOO!" underneath. Pierce likes to throw things in the fire. Leaves, twigs, rocks, food, dirt. Anything he can kick, pick up, or throw will end up in the fire. Mom says to not throw anything else in the fire - that's all he's been doing. Hey look, Pierce, a toad. Cool. He's holding it now and is going to show his mom this cool, really big, toad. As he's walking away Bryce says as a joke/comment, "Hey, just throw it in the fire." Uh oh Bryce, Pierce heard you! He turns on his heels and heads for the fire while everyone is yelling at Pierce, "NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Does he hear them. No. He makes it back to the fire before the toad can escape his hands and Pierce does a low two-handed toss. Luckily Pierce does not have good aim with Toads. It lands in the fire pit, but not in the actual flames of the fire. I'm sure it was very hot though. Bryce rescued the toad he's sentenced with his suggestion and put it safely in the woods.

The cabin was "really wooden." Pierce's perfect first statement as he walked in and headed upstairs. The counters were a nice granite, the fire place was rock the full length up and there was a hot tub on the wrap around porch. 3 bedroom, 3 bath. Pool table, flat screen TVs, yes 2 of them! and the master bathroom had a waterfall down the river rock wall by the jetted tub. The shower was neat, slate tile and river rock again. Paradise.