Welcome to the Magical Mountains & Adulthood - Week of Aug. 11th

"Anticipate the worst, but hope for the best - and sometimes, the best is what shows up." ~Maya Angelou

When traveling with Cam, the mode of travel makes a difference. Air travel is more constrained, so packing is challenging.  Loading various components into a vehicle is much easier.

Monday was a whirlwind, preparing for our road trip to the southeastern part of the country.  Tuesday morning, we were on our way to Lexington, Kentucky, the halfway point to Mills River, North Carolina. We arrived in KY close to 4p at the Embassy Suites we'd reserved. Cam always requests that Jane call ahead of time to confirm, which she had done the previous day. However, our accessible room had some type of hvac leak and was in the process of remediation. The manager told us it may not be ready for a few hours. As weary travelers, we requested accommodations elsewhere, which they eventually found for us.  Accessibility for Cameron is a travel requirement and one that is non-negotiable.  

Wednesday morning, we enjoyed a delicious breakfast and started out to our final destination, which is just 25 minutes south of Asheville, NC.  

Upon arrival to Auntie Leslie and Uncle Wes' home in Mills River, the first thing we saw was the personalized parking sign they had made especially for Cam!  Leslie and Jane's close friendship began 46 years ago and their families are intertwined.  

The expansive property that Leslie and Wes live on feels like a mountain retreat. They graciously provided us the entire lower level of their home which includes two guestrooms and a full bath. This was the first time we were able to stay at someone's home while traveling with Cam! Our visit was marking a very special occasion.  Leslie's youngest daughter, Ali, was marrying her longtime beau, Daree.  The first of many events was scheduled Wednesday evening.

After unpacking and relaxing for a bit, we made our way to Asheville, where Leslie's mom lives. She was hosting a welcome party for family and a few friends. We were honored to be included.  After a relaxing buffet catered dinner, there was a surprise birthday cake.  Leslie's niece and nephew (the twins) had recently celebrated a bday and everyone knew that Cam would be in NC for his special day.  The cake had the twins and Cam's names on it!

Thursday, we lounged around outside, soaking up the incredible views. Leslie and Wes adopted brother kittens a few months ago that they named Earl and Sterling, due to their gray coloring. The kitties were fun entertainment and play outside during the daytime. The wedding rehearsal took place late in the afternoon, so we were on our own for dinner.  

There was a nearby local restaurant with an expansive menu right in Mills River.  Chris and Jane were shocked to see a full salad bar, something that has nearly disappeared since the pandemic. Following dinner, we stopped at a local brewery.  Cam was convinced he was not allowed inside. Jane showed him the website for Mills River Brewing Company which indicated it was kid and dog friendly. He was still slightly unsure until upon arrival, we were greeted by two different dogs when entering!

Friday was split into two activities...girls attended a bridal luncheon in Ali's honor (we all saw a bear on the adjacent Biltmore golf course) while the boys explored the Blue Ridge Parkway to see more of the mountains.  We all convened at Highland Brewing Co. that evening where the bride and groom were hosting a welcome party for all of their wedding guests!  The outdoor area featured four different food trucks to choose from.

Saturday was the big event!  Besides the Weatherford family, Les and Wes were also hosting friends Lori and Kelly and Rob. It was a bonus to get to know each other.  

At different times in the afternoon, we made our way to the Biltmore Forest Country Club in Asheville.  Chris and Cam looked so handsome in their tuxedos.  The tented outdoor area made for a beautiful setting for the wedding.  Ali and Daree looked incredible and spoke about each other so lovingly.  During their words, Ali quoted "Andy" from The Office who said "I wish there was a way to know you're in the good days before you've actually left them" and relayed that these are those good days, with many more to come.

Following the ceremony, there was an immense downpour of rain with some thunder and lightning added in which was actually exciting. The rain subsided and following a most delicious food station menu (Cam's favorite was the mac-n-cheese bar), the dancing began.

One of the flower girls, Ellie (Leslie's niece and a twin) walked right over to Cam and began dancing with him. No one asked her to do that and it was a very special moment to witness.  Cameron remained on the dance floor most of the evening, thanks to its accessibility.  Mr. and Mrs. Wynn (aka Ali and Daree) joined in the festivities with everyone. What a memorable evening!

Sunday, August 17 marked Cameron's 18th birthday!! 

After a few morning presents from his parents and Auntie Leslie and Uncle Wes, we all enjoyed some hot tub time!  It was a great way for Cam to relax his tight muscles.  

Late in the afternoon, we made our way to Sierra Nevada for Cameron's official bday dinner.  We were shocked to see the newlyweds join us, along with Leslie's daughter Erin and her boyfriend Austin, her mom, Linda, one of her sister's, Lauren and cousins. In addition to Les and Wes, friends Kelly and Rob were present too.  

Ali and Daree gave Cam 3 lottery tickets.  With his dad's assistance, Cam completed scratching off the coverings. Unbelievably, one of the tickets was worth $100!!!!!!  We were all astounded!  Leslie's kids ordered Cam a s'mores brownie sundae which was most scrumptious.  Sierra Nevada scores big points for accessibility with the first-ever accessible bar counter Cameron (and his parents) has ever seen.  After dinner, we lounged outdoors chatting about the wedding and the couple's upcoming honeymoon. Following the festive outing, Ali and Daree decided to drive back to Wes and Leslie's home to continue the fun.  They cashed out the lotto ticket on the way there and gave Cam a $100 bill!  Jane and Leslie had conspired earlier and some Cold Stone creamery desserts awaited our crew.  It was quite the memorable birthday for Cam even though he wasn't in his home state.  Our friends made it more special than we could have imagined and gifted Cam with some Sierra Nevada gear.

One of Cam's gifts from his parents was a cozy blanket which reads "Your childhood has officially expired. You are now a certified responsible adult." We all had a good laugh over that one since Cam is so responsible already.

Chris and Jane fully stand behind the sentiment on the t-shirt they also gave him: "Awesome since 2007!"

Camology Quotes:

We were all a bit nervous to stay in a home we hadn't been in with Cam before. After arriving in the kitchen after our first night there, Cam declared:

"This is the most accessible house I have been in without it trying to be accessible!"