7th Annual Apple Picking Trip

This morning we got up nice and early to get ready for apple picking.  Aunt Lill had heard stories of people waiting in line for hours trying to get up the mountain.  So we wanted to make sure we didn't have to do that.  The orchard opened at 9 and we were there at 9:05.  :-)  This orchard is so well kept and sits so pretty on the mountain.

We had to make sure we took a few traditional pictures.   

Check out this link to Caroline's first trip to the apple orchard...love it!  She wasn't a big fan of the worm picture... :-)

We were much later picking apples this year than in years past and we needed to go a lot further up to pick.  We were SO thankful for the shuttle bus that took us up.  Otherwise it might have been a rough time attempting to carry 30 pounds of baby UP the mountain.

We were a little nervous at first because a lot of the trees we saw were bare...however as we kept going, we soon realized that there were PLENTY of apples!

Uncle Ed made this awesome apple picking pole for us to reach the top of the trees.  Love a man with talent!  Folks commented on our poll and asked where we got it. :-)

Maggie's is almost hidden in the trees.

Annual family picture

Fun day was had by all!

Friday Fun

We are so excited to be in Richmond, VA tonight.  Today was a school holiday for both the girls and myself and Andy took a vacation day today.  We picked him up from the office after school yesterday and hit the road  We got here around 6:45 last night which wasn't too bad.  Maggie slept most of the trip which was a blessing!  

Today we took our time getting ready and headed out around 10.  First stop, Shortpump.  It's an awesome outdoor mall that we love to visit.  There were a few specific things I was looking for and I found them! :-)

Next stop was a place called "Maymont."  I have had several folks tell us about Maymont but we have never visited.  Today was the perfect day to take advantage of this place.  It's kind of like a park, kind of like a zoo, not really sure what you would classify it as.  We did a lot of walking.  The leaves in Richmond are gorgeous!!  

This tree caught my eye in the beginning but I couldn't figure out how to get closer to it.  As the path turned and such I was able to get right in front.  This picture doesn't do this tree justice...it was a brilliant color orange and seemed to almost glow.

This little monkey loved picking up leaves

Maymont was a family's estate that was left to the city.  The "living" area was beautiful old stone buildings and bridges.  Gorgeous!

There were lots of open fields and the girls enjoyed running in them.  Maggie thought it was wonderful to run and run and run!!

and then she fell

if you click on this picture to enlarge it, you will see she thought it was hilarious to fall!

We spent about two and a half hours at Maymont before heading home for lunch.  Sweet Maggie fell asleep in the car.  I attempted to feed her lunch when we got home but she wasn't interested.  She slept almost 3 hours. :-)  We all enjoyed some quiet rest time before heading out once again.  There is a beautiful pond not too far from Aunt Lill and Uncle Ed's where we fed the ducks and walked on the trails.

I feel like so many of these pictures look like something from a magazine. Not because of my photography but because of the amazing colors of the leaves!!  So thankful to get to enjoy this season of God's creation!!!

Character Parade

Caroline's school does a character parade each year around Halloween.  The children get to dress as their favorite book character.  They bring their favorite book and "parade" around the outside track.  Caroline chose Fern from "Charlotte's Web."  She borrowed the book from Mrs. Smith and borrowed Wilbur the pig from Grace.  Maggie and I attended this years parade and it was precious!!  The kids LOVED Maggie and Caroline was so proud to show off her little sister.  It was so much fun!!!

Love, love, love this sweet lady!  SO thankful for her!  She is truly a blessing to our family and exactly the teacher Caroline needed.

If only...

Oh the joys of my baby big girl getting bigger.  She is quite the fashionista and loves the independence.  This week her school is participating in Red Ribbon Week.  Today's theme was "hats off to being drug free."   She dressed herself and was rather proud of herself...So long are the days where she allows me to dress her...so I will enjoy each moment with sweet Mags.

Camping with Family!!!

We were back at the beach this weekend to enjoy Halloween weekend #2.  This time we were with our family! My brother Bob and his family along with my sister (closest thing I will ever have to one) Jennifer and her family!  I LOVE this time we get to spend with our family!  Usually family gatherings at home are only for a day.  But trips like this we get to spend several days together.  It was an absolutely gorgeous weekend!  It was warm in the sunshine but cool on the golf cart and the beach.

Feeding the ducks never gets old.  Sweet Maggie couldn't understand WHY she needed to throw the bread to ducks...she would much rather eat it herself. 

 After lunch, we enjoyed some time on the beach.  The water was FREEZING but sitting on the beach was perfect!

 I love this picture of my sweet Caroline...she was trying to see if her water/sand mixture was coming through the open hole in her bucket.

 Surprisingly this one sat still for quite some time playing in the sand...hopefully we have another beach baby on our hands!

 First stop of the night...Aunt Jen and Uncle Randy's.  Y'all I can't say how much Uncle Randy, Aunt Jen and Jenna loved on us this weekend.  They made us yummy meals, watched the girls for us to have an "errand date" all by ourselves AND watched the girls while we set up and took down the camper.  Love watching them with our girls.

 Aunt Jen made sure the Pirate Princess had a sucker at all times...Maggie would point to the treat bucket and say "Suck."

 Sweet Emma joined us for trick or treating

 LOVE THIS PICTURE!!!!!!

 LOVE THIS GIRL!!!!!!

 It's hard to tell what this is BUT it is the new water park the campground is building.  It's gonna be crazy amazing!

 Jenna and her crew

 Notice Maggie still has her sucker...she kept a sucker the entire time!

 So thankful for these girls...yes I get extremely frustrated some days and I might throw my own 34 year old tempter tantrum but at the end of the day, these girls have my heart!!!

Love everything about this picture!!!!!!  Jenna was amazing with the girls and Caroline ADORES her!!!!

Until next year!