Glade Valley & Camp Cheerio

 

The weekend before Kade left for sleepaway camp, we returned to the same mountain house as last year—still in love with that screen porch!

We passed on a mountain hike and opted instead for a scenic walk around downtown Mt. Airy - home of Andy Griffith and all things Mayberry! 

Before our window shopping, we fueled up at Angry Troll Brewing for lunch. 

Brock loved this old-fashioned type candy store where you only pay for the weight of the candy in the bag! 

We filled up on those Andes mints! 

Kade started feeling a little too hot, so he and Brent headed back to the truck to cool off. Brock and I ducked into an antique store, but the only thing he was interested in was the old money. Makes sense - I wouldn't be interested in old furniture and the like at his age! 

One Dollar bill from 1934

The street really was a blast from the past! So cute!

We did not notice it at first, but guitars installed every block or so and painted so differently!

The Bank of Mount Airy built in 1923!

Spotted another guitar! So pretty with the flowers!

I stopped in the Visitors Center to grab a few brochures for my scrapbook, and when Brock found out they were all "free", he suddenly became super 'helpful' and started scooping up extras like we were stocking up for an apocalypse!

Back on the porch where I may have taken an afternoon nap sitting in one of these adirondack chairs. 

After dinner Moose received his $9 boutique cookie from one of the posh pet shops! 

Each night Brent and I brought blankets and pillows outside to stargaze before the clouds rolled in. It really is amazing how much you can see without all the light pollution!

Alas, it was time to pack up and head to Elkin for our Cracker Barrel brunch! 

We arrived about an hour early for check-in and we were already behind the sign! 

I could tell Kade was feeling a little more anxious now that the day had arrived, so we left Brent and Brock (and Moose) and I took him on a mini-tour of the camp. You're allowed to walk around prior to check-in - just can't enter any of the buildings.

Look at that amazing view Kade gets all week! 

I showed Kade the upper field where the rappelling tower is located, back down to the lower field, and around behind his cabin to see the riflery range. We were headed around the Dining Hall back to the car when a little rainstorm started. We hid under a tree and watched the swarm of Counselors singing, welcoming everyone to Cheerio! 

I ran through a typical day at Cheerio and just as I finished, the rain stopped enough for us to walk back to our vehicle. Kade was feeling much more hyped about his stay. 

Trunk delivered, bed made (thankfully bottom bunk!), and medicine transferred - all that was left was to take a picture under his cabin name and say our goodbyes! 

Brent and Moose headed home direct from Cheerio, while Brock and I went south to meet Brian and Asher in Statesville. Brock was set up to have his own kind of fun, spending the week with Uncle Brian, Aunt Nancy and his cousins! 

We are so grateful to Brian and Nancy for giving us the chance to take our very first kid-free "getaway" - after 12 and a half years! I think I've told just about anyone who'll listen, but it really was a long time coming. We missed our boys, of course, but we also needed (and deserved!) some time to just be a couple again.

We had a very nice stay-cation - went out to dinner at the Angus Barn and Colletta, spent an interesting and eventful day on the boat (boat needed a little help steering back to the dock), and did some skeet shooting at Deep River Sporting Clays. That was a hot day - very happy we rented the golf cart! 

Brent is so good!

Meanwhile, Kade was having his own sorts of fun at Cheerio!

Kade and his team at one of the Evening Activities!

Kade had a great time at Cheerio - even mailed us a letter home telling us of all his favorite things! Love that he is REALLY excited about returning next year!