Our Weekend Vacation to Joe Wheeler State Park

Before kids Quint, Sheila, Joe and I used to go on a couple weekend vacations a year. We always had a great time, but we have not gone on one since I had Josie, almost 5 years ago now. I thought it had been long enough and I wanted to do something special for Joe's last year in his 20s so Sheila and I planned a trip to Joe Wheeler State Park in North East Alabama. We had the most amazing time. Everyone got along, the weather was perfect, the drive wasn't bad, there was snow on the ground, Joe and Quint kept the fire going the entire weekend, and we got a great deal on our 4 bedroom, 1.5 bath cabin. Our cabin was on the lake and the view was beautiful.

Our Cabin our cabbage as Josie called it:



We got to the cabin around 8 p.m. Friday night. We unloaded and let the kids play a little. Then we got them to settle down by watching Madagascar on Sheila's laptop:



Saturday morning we were up around 6:30 a.m. - 7:00 a.m.

The sunrise out of our kitchen window:


But more excitingly this is what we saw in the front yard and the cabin next to us' backyard:



We ate oatmeal and grits for breakfast then Sheila and I got Caden, Josie, and Jolie ready to go play in the snow. It was perfect. There was about 5 inches of snow, but it was in the 40s so you could be outside and be comfortable. We played outside in the snow almost all day.

Here we are playing in our backyard:





Joe and Quint stayed at the cabin with Joel and Ansleigh as they napped. Sheila and I thought it would be fun to throw snowballs at the windows to get their attention:


We started walking the street to see all the snow and look what the kids spotted:

A playground!

There was swings:




Even Mommies like to have fun too:




A see-saw:



A climber:


And a merry-go-round (which even Sheila and I got on):





(Me taking a picture of myself riding)


After the playground we walked around some more:




We then headed back to the cabin to eat some lunch. After lunch we got Ansleigh and Joel all bundled up:



And we all headed out to walk some trials

















Along the way we had a snowball fight or two:
"Oh no, I've been hit":

Me throwing a snowball at Quint:

Quint retaliating:


Throughout the entire walk Josie kept throwing snowballs at us adults. The funny part was our bottoms was her level so we all had very cold and wet bottoms until we went back and changed.

After our walk Joe, Quint, Caden, Josie & Jolie made snowmen:










After building our snowman we went back to the cabin for a snack and to rest and play. That evening we went to a Stanfield's Steakhouse which was about 5 minutes away. I had found out before the trip that the uncle of a girl that we went to school with owned it. The food was very delicious. After dinner we went back to our cabin to make dessert:
Smores!





After smores the kids played for a few more minutes and then we put them to bed. We then got some adult time. We stayed up until about 1:30 a.m. playing dominos and Phase 10. The next morning came very early. Joe and Quint took Caden, Josie, and Jolie "deer hunting" through the trials with their plastic guns while Sheila and I packed and cleaned. After we left the cabin we ate lunch at the Lodge which over looked the water, and then we headed home.

Again, it was a great weekend, my only complaint it was too short. It was absolutely beautiful and can't wait to go again.