Back to reality.

Every once in a while, a person needs to get away to recharge their batteries.  My husband and I had planned this trip to go up to the East Tennessee area to visit his mom's side of the family a few months ago.  We have been going up there moreso as an extended long weekend the last few times, but this time, we spent 9 days up there.  It was very nice.  The Smokies are beautiful this time of year with the leaves changing colors.  

Somewhere in the Smokies.

We drove up to the Smokies and spent the day up there.  It was very romantic and the sights were breathtaking!  This Cajun girl grew up at the camp on the bayou so since meeting my hot hubby 7.5 years ago, he has shown me a whole other way of life away from the muddy waters. 

Clingmans Dome

Newfound Gap (where you can be in Tennessee and North Carolina at the same time.  Also, where President FDR gave a speech).

While enjoying these beautiful views, I managed to get what I needed and cooked some Cajun food up there in the mountains.  Chicken and sausage jambalaya was a huge success and I also had my hubby and his cousin as my sous chefs.  Of course, this tasty concoction could not be without consuming some Louisiana beer (Abita Purple Haze) while cooking/eating.   The jambalaya was perfect for that cold (I mean FREEZING) front that came through while we were up there.  Thursday morning, there was snow (aka sneaux) on the mountain tops!  Sadly, the hubs and I did not pack for that kind of cold weather BUT thankfully, there is a HUGE outlet mall not to far from where we were staying and of course that is the PERFECT excuse for shopping, right? ;)

Snow (aka SNEAUX) on top of the mountain!!!

This past weekend was my niece's fourth birthday party.  What kid does not have two kinds of cake for a 4th birthday?  Preslie, that's who.  She had a cake from New Orleans and a cake from up there in Tennessee.  Of course, Preslie was Tinkerbell and it was a Tinkerbell themed party.  Being around her sometimes sets the baby ticker in motion, but shortly thereafter . . . its back to enjoying not having an itty bitty and being able to enjoy others little ones and still having the freedom that comes with having older kiddies.

NOLA cake (Creative Cakes) and the one from Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Preslie

Some balloons got away, but I was making it better!

Dylan, Kailey, myself and Taylor doing face painting.

I truly enjoyed every second visiting family.  They may be family due to me marrying into it, but they have always treated me as one of their own from the very beginning.  I am truly very blessed in my life in having a wonderful and loving husband who comes from people who are equally as wonderful and loving as he is.  

Jody, Preslie and I.  I LOVE THAT MAN!!!

My best friend/hubby.

I LOVE MY LIFE AND IT IS GOOD, NO FANTABULOUS, and I cannot wait to go back up there again!  Tennessee is definitely a second home to me!