Memorial Day 2013 - Camping At Stone Mountain

This past weekend we went camping at Stone Mountain with 9 other families from our church. There were about 45 of us and it was a great time!

Trey, Ashton and I (Kaylyn was gone for the weekend) left Friday morning headed to Atlanta. We knew that we were getting an earlier start than everyone else, so we made a pit stop at Gladys Knight's Chicken & Waffles. We'd seen the restaurant on a Food Network special and I've wanted to go every since then. The food was absolutely amazing and I will definitely go back one of these days.

I was so excited!

Our food. 

Trey had fried chicken, collard greens and squash casserole. I had fried chicken, black eyed peas and macaroni and cheese. Ashton had a waffle :)

After eating, we left and headed to Stone Mountain Park.

We were the first family to arrive and Trey got our campsite ready pretty quick.

  

Our view.

The Jessee family was the next to arrive. It was pretty chilly, so Ashton and Wren took a seat while Trey and I helped Rob and Brooke get their site ready.

Day 2 consisted of a hike up the mountain with the Hallas family (John, Katie and Savannah) who also shared a campsite with us.

In the distance, you can see the climb we were about to take. At this point, we realized it wasn't such a little mountain.

The dads were ready with the little ones in tow.

(Trey and Ashton with John and Savannah)

Here we go...

The view from our first resting spot. It was absolutely beautiful.

Ashton took the BEST pictures all weekend. Normally when I try to take a picture she runs the other direction, but this weekend, she was willing and ready each time.

Look at that smile!

  

Another stopping point where you could see the downtown skyline. I think this was their "we're half way there" pose.

The hike up the mountain is 1.3 miles. This is the only time Ashton walked and it was probably only 20 feet or so. Trey was thankful for the break!

Yay!!! We made it!!! 

(on a side note, Katie is 18 weeks pregnant and climbed the mountain...she was amazing)

I was so happy to finally be at the top.

We decided to ride the gondola down instead of walking and this was our view. 

The mountain we climbed.

After our hike, we took a train ride around the mountain and the girls loved it!

Sweet Savannah

Daddy and his girl.

Saturday night everyone went to watch the laser show. 

Harper and Ashton in the their glow in the dark shirts that we all painted that morning.

The girls had so much fun dancing before the show started.

Ashton, Harper and Wren

Friends!

Sunday morning was breakfast time! We had pancakes, eggs, hash browns and TONS of bacon!

The fellas cooking.

Trey, Jimmy, Buckley and Rob

Rachel, Chloe and Ashton

Amy, the Pancake Queen!

Brooke and Stephanie

Some of the Watson's (Jonathan, Suzanne and Grant) with Tom and Jenna in the background.

After breakfast we went to The Barn. It is a 3 story inside play area that Ashton loved. 

My little cutie had so much fun!

Katie, Savannah and John had to pose for the camera.

The only type of horse she will have anything to do with...a rubber one.

After playing we decided to take a ride up the mountain in the gondola instead of hiking up it. Savannah was so tired and took a little nap.

On our last night we had a wonderful BBQ dinner and s'mores for dessert. We also hung out around the campfire and spent time with friends while all of the kids played and danced. It was a great way to end our camping adventure.

Ashton and Lucy 

The Parents

  Me & Ashton

Our gorgeous sunset.

Wren, Daniel and Ginger

Miss Wren 

Ashton and Mrs. Brooke

Camping was over, but our trip wasn't quite finished. On our way home, we decided to go to The Varsity with the Jessee's and the Watson's. It was another restaurant that Trey and I had seen on a Food Network special and I just had to go (everyone else had been previously).

This was my plate of food. It was a chili cheese burger, a chili cheese dog, onion rings and a chocolate shake. Jonathan and Suzanne had the same thing, but they split it...and boy did I feel like a pig! Oh well, it's not like I eat this way everyday!?!

In the end, this was a trip filled with great families, great friends and memories that will last a lifetime! I cherish these moments and look forward to many more trips in the future.