Scenes from the Weekend

Pancakes and waffles for breakfast because no one likes to choose

Decked out in my Christmas decor

On a very important Christmas tree hunt!

Coffee just tastes better in a Santa mug staring at the pretty tree

And red wine can always use a few splashes of Santa

The whole neighborhood is ready for the holidays

Random inventions of macaroni and cheese casserole using mozzarella (Brett's idea)

I wish our house could stay dressed up like this all year round

The outside is even joying in on the fun this year

It was a Christmasy weekend, indeed.

(You may have noticed I am changing up the format/look of my usual "5 Things I Loved About This Weekend".  Sometimes, how can you pick just 5 things?  ;)  Change is good every once in a while.)

What If Money Was No Object...

This.

Something to think about...

Sherman Tree Trail - Kings Canyon {California 2012 Recap}

Even though we were only able to get in one long difficult hike while we were in Kings Canyon National Park, we were able to do a couple easier hikes with my dysfunctional tooth problem...

Enter: the Sherman Tree Trail.  Not too much elevation change, most of it was paved, and pretty much anyone could do it.  Even though it was a super easy hike, the sights were still breathtaking.  This trail is set zigzagging between some of the largest trees in the world, including General Sherman - AKA, the largest tree in the world (by volume).  These photos don't even do these trees justice.  They are unreal.  Something you truly need to see in person.

Big trees are so cool.

{5 Things I Loved About This Weekend}

This weekend was full of friends, dancing, and... alcohol.  We went to the wedding of our good friends Adam & Kristen and had a blast.  And then Sunday was an extremely lazy day... (read: I was hungover).  All in all, such a fun weekend!

Here are 5 things I loved about it...

1.  Fat Head's for dinner Friday night & their festive decor

2.  Finally burning our lavender candle we got in California from Matanzas Creek Winery

3.  Hanging with our good friends Dan & BreAnne all weekend

4.  Celebrating the marriage of our other good friends Adam & Kristen

5.  Finally getting the pizza I was craving all weekend :)

What did you love about this weekend?*

(See things I've loved from past weekends here!)

Heather Lake Hike - Kings Canyon {California 2012 Recap}

Kings Canyon National Park is awesome.  Kings Canyon is home to some of the biggest Sequoia trees in the country.  The drive in alone is breathtaking.

We stayed in the town of Three Rivers right at the entrance of the park and made sure to head in every day to explore.  One day we went on a 10 mile round trip hike up to a lake that was situated on top of a mountain.  It was a steep vertical climb up, but so worth the views.

Unfortunately, this was the only longer distance hikes we did while in Kings Canyon.  We had plans of going on many awesome long distance hikes, but... funny story:  When we arrived in Kings Canyon for "part 2" of our California vacation, I developed as serious toothache.  It was so bad that Brett ended taking me to an urgent care center in the neighboring town our 2nd day there.  Well, turns out, my tooth decided to pick the worst time ever to develop the need for a root canal.  Yeah...  But instead of getting a root canal ON VACATION, I decided to just take the medication/pain killers that the doctor gave me to relieve the pain until I got home and could get a root canal with my own dentist.  Therefore, I was on an antibiotic and Vicodin for the remainder of our vacation.  Womp.  I couldn't drink alcohol and any strenuous activity made me really dizzy and nauseous.  Hence the reason we only ended up doing one big hike while in Kings Canyon.  It kind of really sucked, but we made the best of it!

Sunset River Hike - Kings Canyon {California 2012 Recap}

When we arrived at the Rio Sierra Riverhouse, it was already late afternoon.  We still wanted to get in some kind of hike on our first day, but didn't have enough time to make it into the Kings Canyon National Park before the sunset.  So instead, we hopped in the car and drove down the road to a little hiking path we saw on our way in.  It followed right along the river that pours out of the Kings Canyon mountains and into a giant lake.  We got in our hike right at dusk and finished up just as the sun was setting behind the mountains.

Perfect timing.

{5 Things I Loved About This Weekend}

Thanksgiving Edition!

Here are 5 things I loved about the long Thanksgiving weekend...

1.  Getting to spend time with our little nephews while visiting Erie

(This is Andrew; Bradley wouldn't sit still long enough for me to take a picture of him!)

2.  Making waffles (especially with the added fruit topping Brett made), listening to Christmas music,

and watching the (first!) snow fall of the year

3.  The ugly Christmas sweater contest my family had on Thanksgiving

(which will have to be worn on Christmas)

4.  The fact that Thanksgiving is now over, meaning it is officially Christmas time

and it's time to bust out all the Christmas stuff (including my Christmas pajamas!)

5.  How baking cookies can make me feel much better

What did you love about this Thanksgiving weekend?*

(See things I've loved from past weekends here!)