Vacation!

Matt and I got back last night from our North Carolina vacation - so much fun! It was hard coming back to reality today (i.e. going to work), but somehow I managed. Plus - in two weeks, it will be Christmas break! Yay!

We left last Tuesday and drove to Asheville. The weather was AWFUL. I drove through the mountains, at night, in the pouring rain. Awful awful awful awful. I think Matt and I went about two hours without talking, and I was clenching the steering wheel so hard that my entire upper body was sore afterwards. True story. But. BUT. We made it there in one piece, checked into our hotel, and then headed back into the deluge for the most amaaaaazing dinner at Tupelo Honey. I had shrimp and (goat cheese) grits with andouille sausage, spinach, roasted red peppers, and mushrooms. And a very large glass of wine.

Matt had something else ... and I don't remember what it was. But I'm pretty sure he loved it!

I convinced Matt to pose for a photo with me. It was tough, but eventually I convinced him it was worth it. Okay, I didn't, but I DID force him.
The next day, we went to a most amazing place - the French Broad Chocolate Lounge. This place is the real deal. CHOCOLATE CHOCOLATE CHOCOLATE as far as the eye can see. Or ... in these display cases. The place had the most extensive hot chocolate (ahem, drinking chocolate) menu I had ever seen.

Oh, and we bought a bar of Mast Brothers chocolate. These dudes are serious about chocolate. We haven't had this yet - because it was kind of expensive for chocolate and we feel like we should save it for a special occasion. Like ... Christmas maybe. I absolutely LOVE the packaging and design on these chocolate bars - they are so beautiful. I had to take a photo because it looked so amazing!

Mmmmm! My drinking chocolate. It was seriously amazing. I had to take photos. This was called something like ... a liquid truffle, in "pure dark." Drool.

See how cute?
Can you tell how thick this stuff is? Kind of amazing. No, make that ... really super duper amazing.

After walking around Asheville for awhile, we got back in the car and drove to Charlotte to spend time with our friends Anna, Tim and their beautiful daughter Mae, who is 10 months old now. I am totally and completely in love with her. Here she is, hanging out with the boys:

Matt and Mae, having some play time.

All bundled up and looking OH so adorable for a walk in the cold!

So adorable in her santa jammies!!!

Matt and I are posing as surrogate parents here. Ha! We had so much fun with her. Matt was amazing with her - she LOVED hearing his voice and looking at him. She would always stick her tongue out at Matt, and it was the cutest.

Ahhh. So cute.
Matt and Mae, hanging out again. Just chillin.

Anna and Mae! Such a happy, happy baby.

Le sigh. Perfect, perfect baby.

And that was our trip! We hung out and played with Mae and it was fabulous. Thankfully, we had an uneventful drive home yesterday and now ... back to the grind.

At least until next weekend, when we're off to Chicago to spend the weekend with Lisa and Randy, and then off to Michigan to spend Christmas with my fam. Can you believe it's almost Christmas???!