Mr. Vice President

Who would have predicted this day just two weeks ago when I ate lunch with a lonely Trey and I worried and fretted about his happiness here in Cincinnati?  That day feels like a lifetime ago since many things have transpired since then and most have been very pleasant surprises. 

First, Trey made the Morning Show team and presents the news with his group every day Tuesday morning which is broadcast live to the entire student body. 

Second, Trey has made so many new friends and I often have to send Josh out to find him at night so he will come for dinner. 

And now today we had another little miracle.  Actually one so huge that I'm sort of in shock of how it all came to be as I sit here and type. 

It started out a few weeks ago when Trey stayed after school for the student council meeting.  He brought home a few notes which I briefly looked through and then they got stuck on the fridge where they were almost forgotten.

One morning last week as Trey was ready to walk out the door, Trey asked me if it was the day the student council form were due.  Dang it.  It was.  I had written a note the day before to remind me to have him fill them out, but once again it had slipped my mind.  For a frantic seven minutes I scribbled my name on every entry (treasurer, secretary and vice president- only a sixth grader was allowed to run for president) and Trey and I quickly talked through the reasons he was running, what he planned on doing (working with the PTA on a fundraiser to purchase bike racks for the school) and what he hoped to accomplish (something to do with increasing school spirit and unity within the student body).  Trey wrote as fast as his hands could move and told me more than once all the stuff didn't quite sound like he came up with it himself.  That was okay, I was sure the other kids had bit of help from their folks too.  Without one brief moment to proof read or spell check, he flew out the door with three minutes until the tardy bell rang.  He almost made it, but one was one minute late.  His first tardy of the year, but we got those darn paper filled out and ready to hand in.

Fast forward to this week when he stayed after school once again for a meeting.  He came home with a surprised and dumbfounded look on his face.  Yes, there was a student council meeting, but it was so the students running for student council could share the ideas with the group and teachers and give a brief speech.  Trey said his heart was racing as he thought of what to say on the spot.   The other kids had typed up notes.  I guess Trey just spoke from the heart.  He also found out that you were only supposed to sign up for ONE position, not three.  Since he had my signature on every form, they put Trey in the Vice President race.  It had only ONE other entry.  A sixth grade girl who had been secretary in 4th grade, treasurer in 5th grade and had come prepared that day with a typed speech of why she'd make a great VP. 

I was dying while Trey relayed the events of the meeting with me.  Man, did we look like a forgetful bunch.  We signed up for every possible race and then failed to prepare something to say.

Oh well, I was proud of Trey and his efforts to run.  We both had been a bit absent-minded about the whole process, but he made it to every meeting and did what they had asked of him.

Then Trey came home from school today. He marched in with a cute smirk on his face and a light in his eyes.  " I am the new Vice President Mom, " He proudly declared.

I still am not sure how it happened.  I guess Trey worked his magic on the group and when they voted last week they had been won over.  I do know that Trey will work hard, he'll appreciate the opportunity and do his best. 

Now we'll have to look into pricing bike racks, talking to the PTA president and buying a school spirit shirt.  Sounds like a good list to me.

Way to go Trey.

Go Summit!!

Go Bees??

I think they are the Bees.  One more thing to add to the list.  I'll have to check that out as well. 

Love you Trey-man!

A hint of fall....

There is no crisp, cool air here in Cincinnati.  Every day feels like another summer scorcher where we should be packing up the pool gear and lathering on sunscreen instead of packing lunches and signing homework sheets.  It has been over 90 degrees every day the past few weeks.  The only rain that has fallen since we moved here two months ago has been so brief, I can barely remember our last storm.  The grass is an ugly yellowish brown and a cloud of dust would rise every time the soccer ball bounced on the field last Saturday.  The sweaters are still in storage and the idea of eating soup makes me start sweating.  I never would guess it was late September, but the calendar reminds me that it truly is officially fall.

The only taste of autumn we've had was when one of the trees in the backyard suddenly turned a bright orange and yellow.  It glowed brilliantly for a few days then promptly dropped its lovely leaves.  We took that opportunity for a little fall fun one late afternoon.  It was wonderful despite the heat and Zach loved his first experience with a pile of leaves. 

Little Dancers

Glamorous Girls

Clingmans Dome

Clingmans Dome is a mountain in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina, in the southeastern United States. At an elevation of 6,643 feet, it is the highest mountain in the Smokies, the highest point in the state of Tennessee, and the highest point along the 2,174-mile  Appalachian Trail. East of the Mississippi River, only Mount Mitchell (6,684 ft) and Mount Craig (6,647 ft) are higher.

The road leading to Clingmans dome was steep and winding.  It is closed from December 1 - April 1.

As we climbed the temperature rapidly dropped.  It had been 103 degrees in Pigeon Forge the previous night.  The lowest the temperature while at Clingmans Dome was 64 degrees.  Good thing I packed jackets just in case.  Little Zach's bare legs were cold after our hike.

Rain had fallen that morning and there was cloud cover over the mountains while we hiked Laurel Falls.  As we ascended the mountain the clouds became very thick had a very eerie look.  The visibility was very low.  Many people that drove up to the parking lot turned about when they saw the conditions up top.  I insisted we get out and hike to the top.  Rich and the kids thought I was a bit crazy, but came along anyway.  The hike was VERY STEEP but the path was paved and there were no cliffs like we had encountered on our earlier hike.

Clingmans Dome Visitor Center

I was thrilled that the Appalachian Trail crossed over the Clingmans Dome path.  It was a 'must see' item on my list for the park.  It also was fun that the road and visitors center is actually in North Carolina.  That is a state I had never visited.

Although it was a short hike (1 mile) it made you tired as we climbed the steep path.  The girls didn't want to keep going, but I told them they had to.  There was no way I could have carried them to the top without a serious back injury.

The setting was beautiful.

The Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern US extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately 2,179 miles long.

The trail was conceived by Benton MacKaye, a forester who wrote his original plan shortly after the death of his wife in 1921.

The National Trails System Act of 1968 designated the Pacific Crest Trail and Appalachian Trail as the first national scenic trails and paved the way for a series of National Scenic Trails within the National Park and National Forest systems. Trail volunteers worked with the National Park Service to map a permanent route for the trail, and by 1971 a permanent route had been marked (though minor changes continue to this day). By the close of the 20th century, the Park Service had completed the purchase of all but a few miles of the trails span.

On the trail

There also was a second sign that said Mountains-to-Sea Trail.

The look out is often called "The Flying Saucer."  I could see why the name stuck.

It was really windy up top.

One of the signs said on a clear day you could see 100 miles to the highest point in North Carolina.  Not today.  We could see about 100 yards.

Elevation: 6,643 feet

After our hike, we all got comfortable in the car and started our long drove back to Lexington.  Our trip had been a great getaway from our daily grind and good escape from our recent move.  It was a huge success even with a flat tire, little food and not much time to explore.  We crammed a lot into two days and had fun making new memories together.

Somewhere in Tennessee

The End