One Moms World Mom Blog - Jen Houck

Life in NC

Life is so different!

Can we just take a few minutes to say how much life is so different? Somehow I blinked and the girls finished their 10th grade and 8th grade school years.

This past spring, life was a blur. I’m excited to be back and start sharing about our family adventures once again. Life is just so different now. Have I already said that? Yes, I’m sorry. I am cherishing every moment as the girls continue to get older and we all four are not together as often. It’s hard!

M is working full-time this summer at good ole Tweetsie Railroad. We have visited many times, and I intend to write more posts this summer about our adventures at Tweetsie. M is a Tweetsie Clogger which is the perfect summer job for her.

Recently, Tweetsie’s Facebook’s page posted a video of a song of one of her shows. You will have to check it out. L loves their animal farm in which she can feed the animals.

Speaking of L, we have been fighting for insurance to cover her formula but we do have good news on the food trial fronts. I will do a post this week updating you on her progress.

This past Spring, I have struggled with what I should share on this blog since the girls are now getting older. Family time means everything to me, so I want to share ways that families can still stay connected when teenagers are in the house. Also, I am going to start sharing the allergy-friendly foods that we have been enjoying over the past little bit.

We hope you all are doing well and wish you a wonderful new week!

Love and Blessings –

Momma Jen

Exploring Beech Mountain’s Buckeye Lake and Gem Mining

Our next adventure led us to Beech Mountain, North Carolina! Beech Mountain is a quaint town nestled in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. You may not know, but Beech Mountain is the highest town in Eastern America as the elevation is 5,506 feet. The Buckeye Recreation Center located in Beech Mountain is the place to be for great family fun. With almost 10 acres of lakes, over 28 miles of designated hiking and biking trails and a 23,000 square foot, state-of-the-art Recreation Center, there is no shortage of fun.

Rain may have tried to ruin our family adventure, but we did not allow it to dampen our moods. The smiles and laughter were plentiful on this day.

This was the first time my husband and I both attempted to be in a canoe together. At first, I was questioning if my husband would tip me over. Alas, it was a little romantic ride across the lake.

The recreation center offers canoes, kayak, and pedal boat all for FREE. Fishing is free and no worries if you forget your fishing pole and gear, as NC Wildlife will provide all the supplies you need for free.

After we laughed and sang in the rain, it was time to head up the mountain for a little picnic. This was a simple picnic as we do not like to focus on food on our adventures. There is a picnic area across from the Visitor’s Center. It is peaceful and very clean.

After the refuel, we headed down the mountain to Foscoe, North Carolina to enjoy gem mining at the Greater Foscoe Mining Company. Each family can purchase a specified bucket size and have a blast finding different minerals. The girls found all kinds of gems from amethyst to pink quartz. Hubby enjoyed shoveling out the dirt. It is so nice because you put all your gems into a little bucket and the staff will identify each gem for you. All the gems will be taped onto a big board to keep for a souvenir.

It was a fun day and one we hope to repeat many times!

 

Carowinds celebrates Fall with The Great Pumpkin Fest

As cooler temperatures creep in, an incredible line-up of frightfully festivities are brewing at the place where the Carolinas come together. Guests of all ages can have a chilling Halloween experience at Carowinds’ Great Pumpkin Fest.

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During the daytime, Planet Snoopy is transformed into the ultimate kids’ party at the Great Pumpkin Fest. On Saturdays and Sundays through October 30, bring out the little ghouls and goblins for some “fang-tastic” Halloween fun from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.!

Checkk out a few of these Great Pumpkin Fest activities:

– NEW! The Monsters Are Coming, Charlie Brown: It wouldn’t be a spooky celebration without Charlie Brown and his friends showing off their favorite costumes. Watch as they sing along to some kooky tunes!

– NEW! Halloween Hullabaloo: We’re digging up some frightful favorites in our family-oriented musical revue of Halloween Hits!

– Peter the Talking Pumpkin: Ever heard of a talking pumpkin? Your little ones can chat with Peter, the prize winning pumpkin, throughout the day.

Children can also dress up in their favorite costumes and take part in our daily Kids Costume Parade, go trick-or-treating, visit with their favorite barnyard animals and more! We’ll also celebrate 50 years of “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” with screenings of the 1966 animated television special based on the PEANUTS(TM) comic strip, along with the reading of the classic book in PEANUTS(TM) Showplace.

Why am I so excited?

I love the four seasons. The different seasons are the main reason why we enjoy living in NC. If I didn’t see snow in a given year, my feelings would be hurt. This girl loves her snow. The snow from today is just a tease to what is coming this weekend. We can expect at least a foot of snow starting Friday. Time will tell how much we will fall here in western NC. I say bring it on Winter Storm Jonas. We are ready.

Of course, I had to let the child in me enjoy sledding this evening. It’s a promise there will be more sledding fun this weekend. We’ll be sure to share our adventures!

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I’ll leave you with this precious video of our shih tzu, Kingston, enjoying his favorite winter activity this evening.

Top Ten Family Christmas Events in North Carolina

It’s my favorite time of the year. Christmas in the Carolinas can bring forth great joy for your family. North Carolina is an amazing state as we have the beautiful blue ridge mountains on the western side and the great Atlantic Ocean beaches on the eastern side. In no particular order, here are our top ten Christmas events you will enjoy with your family this holiday season!

1. Christmas at the Billy Graham Library: From December 1, 2015 until December 23, 2015,  you and your family can enjoy this event by taking a short drive down Highway 321! Beginning at 5:00 pm each day (except Sunday), you will see the beautiful Billy Graham Library all decorated for Christmas. Your family can enjoy the live nativity scene that offers a glimpse into the first Christmas. Enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides ($7 for adults, $3 for children 12 and under) through beautiful light displays. (Begins at 5 p.m.) Listen to heartwarming sounds of joyful carolers and festive Christmas music and a delightful story time with the kids.

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2. The 23rd National Gingerbread House Competition, the largest of its kind in the U.S. and hosted by The Omni Grove Park Inn, is taking place Monday, November 16! To celebrate the annual event, the edible gingerbread masterpieces will be on display at the property from Nov. 18, 2015, through Jan. 3, 2016. This holiday season, The Omni Grove Park Inn will also be dressing up, displaying 80-themed Christmas trees, thousands of twinkling lights and multiple roaring fireplaces throughout the property — with the sweet scent of gingerbread in the air. Since launching the contest in 1992, the competition remains a beloved celebration at the historic Inn, with resort guests and visitors eagerly anticipating the hundreds of intricate and stunning holiday designs on display.

Grove Park Inn Gingerbread Competition
2014 Grand Prize Winner in Teen Category

3. Speedway Christmas – (November 21 – December 30) Speedway Christmas is returning to Charlotte Motor Speedway and is even bigger and better in its sixth year. Speedway Christmas will have over 3,000,000 lights with a new and greatly improved lights-to-music drive-thru section!

Christmas Village will be open Thursday-Sunday and will include a petting zoo, Bethlehem village, horse-drawn wagon rides, photos with Santa, and more.

Movie nights have been expanded to every village night – Thursday through Sunday! Come see your favorite Christmas movies like Frozen, Elf, and more on a giant 16,000-square-foot high-definition TV!

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4. Chetola Resort Festival of Lights – Chetola has a beautiful array of Christmas lights that your family can take a stroll or drive thru for free. They also have Blue Ridge Mountain Holiday Packages that your family can take part in and create wonderful Christmas memories.

Chetola Festival of Lights

5. McAdenville Christmas Town – I have been visiting McAdenville since I was a little girl. This will be the 60th year that this little town has turned into a Christmas Town. There is no charge to go see these lights and your will create new Christmas memories each time you go. The lights are turned on December 1st through December 26th. Monday through Friday the lights are on from 5:30 to 9:30pm and on Saturday and Sunday nights, the lights are lit from 5:30 – 11:00pm.

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6. Beary Merry Christmas officially begins with “Light Up the Season,” an annual family event that welcomes Santa and illuminates Bear Plaza with hundreds of lights Nov. 27. During the following days during this festive holiday celebration, you can enjoy a Mistletoe March, sledding, shopping and other activities.

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Photo Credit: bearymerrychristmas.com

7. Meadow Lights – Located in Benson, NC. Their website says: “The largest and oldest Christmas attraction in Eastern North Carolina!” Meadow Lights began more than 40 years ago and they keep growing larger with lights every year. Some of the displays include an authentic manger scene, carousel scenes, and much more. The Meadow Lights also offers three trains that travel through a colorful area of lights that children and adults can enjoy.

Meadow Lights

8. Tanglewood Festival of Lights – Tanglewood is another fun festival of lights that has been a long tradition of my family’s Christmas! My girls enjoy this so much. We ride through with our windows rolled down and just ohhh and ahhh over all the lights. Each year Tanglewood will add more additions so it is fun to see the new traditions. Also, halfway through the lights, you can park and go through a Christmas shop from local crafters. When you finish shopping, you can go go the the fire pit and stand around and roast marshmallows. The Festival of Lights is open nightly from November 21 through January 3, 2016 from 6:00 – 11:00 pm, including holidays. Suggestion: Attend Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday to avoid long lines.Tanglewood festival_of_lights

Rates are the same throughout the week.
– Family: cars, vans and trucks: $15
– Commercial: vans, limos and mini-buses: $35
– Motorcoaches and buses: $100

Save money by coming on a Discount Night:
On the following nights ONLY, receive reduced pricing!
– Monday, November 23rd
– Tuesday, November 24th
– Monday, November 30th
– Tuesday, December 1st

– Family: cars, vans and trucks: $5
– Commercial: vans, limos and mini-buses: $15
– Motorcoaches and buses: $65

9. Lights on the Neuse – Clayton, NC is the place for a fun family Christmas hayride. Their site says: “The hayride whisks you and your loved ones away to a transformed world of Christmas spirit. Pause to reflect on the true reason for the season, celebrate the joy of the birth of Jesus and feel the merriness of Christmas cheer and magic invade you and your family members with an outstanding Christmas Lights Extravaganza at Lights on the Neuse.” Ticket prices are Adults (12 and over) – $10 and Children (3-11) – $7.

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10. Christmas at the Barnyard – (Newport, NC) Celebrate the Christmas season Barnyard-style! Enjoy an evening farm tour petting the animals under hundreds of Christmas lights and decorations. Let the kids visit with Santa in his big red sleigh while sipping on hot chocolate. Hang out with your family by our bonfire as you listened to Christmas music and watch the lights on the farm twinkle. All activities are included in the gate fee except hot chocolate. Decorated live Christmas wreaths for sale.

Admission: Gate fee is $6 per person, 2-years-old and older; under 2 is free

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