The Cochrans: Trip to the Mountains

At the end of September, Drew took a week off and we headed to the mountains! My Aunt Kay and Uncle Billy have a cabin near Cashiers and Highlands, North Carolina, and they were so so sweet to let us go stay there. We had the best time and it was a much needed vacation! Chase has only gotten to go one time before this (when he was 6 months old) and this was Hank's first time to go. We all had so much fun hanging out together! We started telling Chase about going a few weeks before we left. Everyday he would say, "I'm gonna climb a mountain just like Diego!" (he is into Diego the animal rescuer these days). He would even move his arms like he was climbing a mountain...it was so cute! We arrived at the cabin Sunday evening, and what did we do Monday morning?...climbed a mountain just for Chase! (the name of the mountain was Whiteside Mountain)
Here is Hank in the backpack hiker with Daddy going up...Hank loved the backpack hiker; however, he and Drew stayed pretty far ahead of Chase and me because Hank would yell at Drew every time he stopped...and of course Hank got his way! :)

Drew found Chase a hiking stick at the beginning and he was ready! He was so excited and he wanted to take every step "by myself"

At the beginning...when Drew and Hank were still with us :)

Chase decided he needed a smaller hiking stick about half way up the trail...so he asked Mama to hold his bigger one. The trip up the mountain was pretty funny. Chase got distracted a good bit and he always wanted to step on every rock rather than walk around them. I started telling him to follow me and step where I step..he did that for a while and then he got in front of me and said "follow me Mommy!" We got slower and slower as we reached the top...at one point, we saw a bird and it hopped up the mountain as Chase and I tried to catch up with it- I think God sent that bird just for us :)

Hank and Daddy...

We made it to the top and got to enjoy the beautiful view!

Hank doesn't care what is going on as long as he is close to his Daddy!

Chase, Hank, and Ruby on top of the mountain...

Chase had new plans for the trip down...

Drew with his boys...

We decided Chase's plan was a great one! He did such a great job climbing up the mountain all by himself, but we decided if he rode down we could get down a lot quicker. So, he rode Drew and I carried Hank...we had a great hike!

Later on that night we cooked out hotdogs at the cabin. This is the view from the driveway..so beautiful!

Hank is getting away and Chase and Ruby are sitting so sweet and still...I have a feeling Chase is going to spend a lot of time trying to get Hank to be still in the next few years! :)

My Uncle Billy put swings under the deck...Chase loved swinging the whole time we were there!

On Tuesday, we went to a park in Cashiers and had a great time! There was a big grassy area and a playground...everyone had fun!
Ruby loved running around...she loves doing anything with her family, though!