A wonderful week of surprises!

This post may contain paid links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.

Hi friends,

I can’t begin to tell you how much my family and I enjoyed our time together this past week. There is something so special about being with your loved ones in a place that seems to slow down like our cozy spot in the North Georgia mountains does. The more time we spend here, the more we enjoy the little things in life!

Isabel's family spending time together on a couch

Our home here put things into perspective for us. This is the first year we’ve been on vacation and haven’t gone out to eat as a family. Instead, we’ve enjoyed every minute of hanging out together, including everyone pitching in on meal time! We’ve especially loved getting to watch Rory and Aiden have so much fun, singing, building legos and magna tiles, and of course, giving them lots of cuddles.

Do you remember how last week I told you we’d implemented a new tradition this year? Each of my children had to plan a meal for all of us. Riley got a hall pass because he couldn’t be here all week—this is his busy season at work—but everyone else came up with an amazing meal.

It was so fun to see what everyone came up with, and I was so surprised by some of their choices! They were not what I had expected, but the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. We raised some foodies for sure!

Ronnie and Julia were first up, and grilled up some delicious chicken legs. He added some rosemary to my roasted potatoes recipe, and I’ll have to remember to do this going forward! It was so delicious!

Alexandra and Shay were up next, and their meal did not disappoint. They made smash burgers with homemade guacamole and a delicious strawberry salad. Hands down, Shay makes the best guacamole in the world! But his burger sauce was also fantastic.

A juicy gourmet burger with guacamole on a plate

Reis and Jordin made the most incredible teriyaki chicken bowls. They were so good. I love that Reis grilled the chicken and put his own twist on the recipe. They were topped off with peppers and onions, plus avocados. YUM!

Reis holding grilled teriyaki chicken on a plate

The goal of this home has always been to create family memories, and I can say that it has exceeded any expectations we could have had for it. It is amazing to spend quality time as a family, enjoying each other’s company in such a peaceful place!

What are you up to this summer? Do you have a favorite vacation spot? What about vacation meals?

Your friend,
Isabel