Thursday 29 December 2011

A trip to the place we call home.

Oops! So I'm a little behind. Let me jump from the last post to the holidays. Then I'll try to fill you in on all the adventures that I skipped.

October brought Ryan a TDY (temporary duty) in China Lake, CA where he attended well drilling school. Since he made it back to the mainland complements of the military, we decided to take advantage of a trip back to NC. I headed that way October 25. Departing Guam at 6:30 Tuesday morning and arriving in Asheville at 5:45 pm Tuesday evening reminded me why people don't make that trip too often. 24 hours and 18 minutes of travel... requires you say a while. Ryan joined me in Asheville November 11 and we proceeded to catch up with friends, visit with family and enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving in the mountains.

A few things that caught our attention and reminded us of why we love Asheville:

I made it home just in time to see the beautiful Autumn leaves. 
Ryan had his very own welcome home banner complete with excited parents and a delayed flight.



We took a little time to be tourists when Kathy Lombardo came to visit. Enjoy some of the snap shots and see why I love Asheville. Delicious food, unique people, beautiful weather, and breath taking views.




Pritchard Park Chess
Woolworth's soda counter
Outside Garage 34
When Thanksgiving finally arrived we engaged is a few time tested traditions. Wednesday night took us to Fuddruckers for dinner and on to The Grove Park Inn to see the Christmas trees and gingerbread houses. I have to say I can't remember a year that I didn't go see the National Gingerbread House Competition. It is truly an outing that brings back scores of childhood memories. For those of you who have never been, you have to check these out. Start a new family tradition next year, I promise you won't be disappointed.
Food Truck!
Photo op in front of the huge fire place.
yep, that's all edible.
Looks like it could be placed under a tree!
Intense game of made up 'coin chess'.  Don't they look deep in thought. 
Thursday we headed up to Little Switzerland to celebrate with Ryan's family. What a surprise, just last year we said we wouldn't be there this year! Then we headed back to Asheville for dinner and the annual Thanksgiving night movie with my family. Even thought we were missing a few cousins it was wonderful to have family around. The Pless family has been growing annually for the past several years making each holiday get together that much more of a blessing.
The view for Thanksgiving lunch.
Ryan and Hunter colored their own placemats. 
The girls watching Cinderella. "The sisters tore her dress... again" ~ Anna Claire
The newest member of the Bowman family... Murphy.
Let's not forget HOOPLA, long chats with cousins, lunch dates at Mosaic Cafe, Early Girl Eatery, Panera, and Doc Chey's with friends, catching up with old friends in Fayetteville, spending a couple of nights with the Thompsons, lunch with the Garlands, Bennett's Birthday, bike ride in Traveler's Rest, Thursday morning breakfast with Memaw and Pops and several of their friends, dinner with the Wrights and Culbertsons, and hanging out with Grant. Needless to say we stayed busy and loved every moment we had in the town we call home.

Up next: Christmas on our rock in the middle of the Pacific.

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