Mabry Mill March Snow

Later on Thursday afternoon, Brent had finished at church for the day and the snow had started hours before it was forecast to overnight. He looked at me and said I bet it will be pretty at Mabry Mill with the snow. We have been there in all 3 other seasons and it is possible to get there in the winter but through an alternate route since the Parkway is closed in snow. We found a very reasonable and cute little inn to overnight to be ready for sunrise the next morning.  As we traveled south, we noticed the snowflakes were smaller and smaller but thankfully still enough to coat the area. 

 These girls were thrilled to go see The Mill again. I am not sure why exactly it is one of their favorites, but this is always one of their favorite photography trips that we do.

 Our room had a good sized rocker in the corner and everybody had to give it a try. Here is Bethany reading up on the area (she was not amused when I tried to turn the brochure right side up for her-I guess reading upside down is more interesting!)

 Here is our little navigator. Bekah loved spreading out the big map in the room to see exactly where we were going.

 Feeding her sister part of her banana bedtime snack

 Brent got up for sunrise to photograph at the Mill (thankfully, as the frosting of snow melted very quickly here!!) and we did not this time. He met us back at the inn and we had breakfast before heading to the Mill. Here are the big girls headed up the hill to breakfast.

 There was a little pond behind the inn with a series of bridges around the outside. The girls thought these were so much fun and wanted to explore them for just a little while before we all headed to the mill.

 
 We made it to the Mill mid-morning and spent some going around the buildings at the mill and learning about the activities that would have gone on there including blacksmithing and lumber making in addition to the work at the mill itself. Rachel was in charge of reading us the information signs as part of her history field trip for the day.
 Then we had to go see the ducks. The girls are completely thrilled over the ducks here at the Mill and have to go check on them anytime we come. Oh my, Bethany could hardly stand it at her first sight of the ducks. She kept calling "Duck Ducks"
 

 I did want to get a picture of the girls on the millstones. I have one of them in every season, I think, from this spot.

 

 Along the back of the Mill were some giant icicles. The big girls thought these were really cool (yes, I am sure they are literally cool too)!

 

 Oh the ducks...we could barely get this girl to the car for her wanting to keep seeing the ducks. She loves puppies, cats and babies and now we can add ducks to the list. We found her rubber duck when we got home and she has been holding onto "DuckDuck" still.
 
 We stopped through the town of Floyd on our way back at the recommendation from the folks at the inn. We had some lunch and spent some time at the local hardware store and then headed to the Floyd Country Store. Papa (Brent's Dad) and his friends come here a few times a year and have invited us but it hasn't worked out to be able to meet them yet. Brent sent his Dad this picture of the girls in the store and Papa knew exactly where we were right away. They have music in the back of the store every Friday night but we were a little early and needed to get back home. We told the girls we will try to be sure and come back with Papa and his friends when they visit later this year. I couldn't resist getting one picture of them with the stage though. Oh, they look so big!

McGuirt Family, Mabry Mill, March 4, 2016

 Glad to be a part of a quick photography trip for a winter snow image of Mabry Mill. Brent now has all 4 seasons of Mabry Mill and we have a family picture in all 4 seasons here too. Notice how quickly the "frosting" of snow had disappeared here-this was about 4 hours after his image was taken. Thankful too that winter is now "supposed" to be done (hopefully, really done!) and we can move into a beautiful Spring!

McGuirt Mountain Weekend

 This past weekend this great group came up to visit us for McGuirt Mountain Weekend. Brent's brothers and their families have come up to visit us almost every February since we moved here to the mountains. We have added two new family members, Inman and Saylor since our McGuirt Mountain weekend in 2015. We loved having our niece and nephew up for their first mountain weekend too.

 There were lots and lots of cousin hugs!

 

 Bethany really wanted to hug and hold her little cousins too. She watched her big sisters hold their cousins and love on them and she kept trying to climb up with them and hold onto them too. Aunt Brittany helped her hold Saylor and then she was very happy. Uncle Jared helped Bethany hug Inman too and she was very happy then too.
 

 Inman sat in the swing for a little while when we ate lunch and Bekah wanted him to have company so she pulled up the rocking chair and rocked along with him. Bethany had fun playing with Inman too. I loved watching them interacting together. They are going to have so much fun as they all grow up together!

 Aunt Brittany braided Bekah's hair for her and she was thrilled.

 This little man turned 7 months old while he has here visiting us and got to try his first Gerber puff while he was here visiting us. Look how big he looks standing up with his mom.

 and this little lady turns 4 months old today. Here she is snuggling with her big 4 year old cousin.
 
 Friday afternoon we had fun reading

 drawing

 

 and playing
 
 Brent got a bow for Christmas and his brother Jared had been getting it ready for him so they all took it out to try to out Friday afternoon. They also got the golf clubs out and practiced for awhile too.

 

 It wouldn't be a McGuirt Mountain weekend without lasagna for at least one meal!

 

 Friday night we ventured out for a little while to Staunton to go bowling.

The little ones bowling with the mommies

 They did turn on the night lights part of the way through our time there so that was fun too!
 
 Bethany wasn't just content to bowl with Mommy-she wanted to be a big girl and try it herself too. Here is her big sister helping her. Then we realized she was just tall enough to push the ball down the ramp herself with just a little help to hold it still at the top while she pushed it down. She was thrilled-she seems to set to like bowling just as much as her big sisters.

 

 Under the night lights

 A little creativity in the bowling going on too...

  Saturday we just spent most of the day hanging out together.

 drawing with Uncle Jason

 watching a little TV

 

 and swinging with Uncle Jared

It took all the grownups together but we did manage to get a picture of all the cousins together and everyone was happy! Love these sweet little people! Can't wait to see all their adventures together as they grow!

 Saturday evening we did go out for dinner together. Who knew that would take 2.5 hours with McGuirt Party of 11?! I love this picture. We were getting ready to go on Saturday evening and Brooke had strapped Inman in his car seat to head out. Bethany walks up to Inman's car seat and reaches over and grabs his blanket and tucks it in around his legs.

 Sunday morning everyone was able to join us for church. Brent preached a great message out of Ephesians 3 about how very much God loves us.
 
 He did use his brothers as a part of a sermon illustration during the service.

 So glad we all got to worship together on Sunday!

McGuirt Mountain Weekend 2016

 Enjoying a little ice cream before everyone had to head back to NC!

 Thanks so much Jason, Brittany and Saylor and Jared, Brooke and Inman for coming to visit us here in the mountains. This is such a fun visit to look forward to every February. We had a good visit with you all and we love you! We will have to start planning our February 2017 trip before too long!