Happy Halloween!

Just got back from a rainy trick or treating night.  How sad!  Poor Haleigh was so cold and we did not dress appropriately.  I guess I can go ahead and schedule some sick visits at the dr office.  


Here's the pics of our kids in their costumes...

No Time for the Pumpkin Patch

With us trying to get our house on the market, I new that we didn't have anytime to take the kids to the pumpkin patch or apple picking this year.  So sad to me because it is one of my favorite things.  I've already told myself that all the holidays this year will just be different.  It doesn't mean they won't be special, but they will definitely be different.  

So insert GRANDPARENTS!  Don't you just love them?  My parents came to the rescue and took the kids for the weekend so I could get some stuff done.  And they took them to the pumpkin patch!  And they even took pictures for me so I could document it.  I love them!  Although, they aren't in the "cute" clothes and Haleigh's hat is on wrong, I am thankful for these pictures and they way they love my kids.

 And for the memories...

2010

2010

2010

2009 - Days before Haleigh arrived

Random Thoughts

So I know I have neglected the ole blog recently.  It's just one of those seasons, where it falls to the bottom of my list.  But I felt like I needed to get a little post up before October hit.


We are headed to the beach this week.  Friends of our from college had a little hook-up for us all to stay at this week.  Yes, I said week.  This vacation has come at the perfect time for us.  We need some rest, relaxation, and fun.


It is a lot of work to go away.  Every time we leave for a week, I get stressed.  Why does a good thing like vacation always start out bad because of my stress.  You'd think by now, things would be different.  


We felt the need for a tv fast this week.  When your kids ask to watch tv every time they have free time, its time for a break.  I didn't realize how much I relied on it as a babysitter.  Kids, let me introduce you to your toys!  The lesson has been great, however, when this mommy just needs to pack the bags or prepare some food for our trip, it would be nice to sit the children down in front of the old idiot box.  (that's an Ed Martinism)  


Fall is here and I'm in love...again!  I love everything about fall.  The food, football, leaves changing, cooler weather, etc etc.  I'm excited to clean out the closets when we get back.  


Well back to packing...

A Weekend Away

Those of you with children know what a gift it is to go away for even a night!  For my 30th birthday, Ed took me to this little inn in the middle of nowhere and it was amazing!  We left the kids with my mom, and headed out last week.  For 3 days we were by ourselves.  When we first left, we laughed because we actually just sat in silence.  We just let the silence surround us, and then we were able to actually carry on a conversation without any interruptions or requests or questions or whatever else!  

We stayed at the Inn at Gristmill in Warm Springs, VA.  It literally is in the middle of nowhere, but for the time we were there, it was perfect!  We did our share of hiking, exploring, napping, reading, eating, talking, walking, and driving.  We went the the Homestead also one day and just sat on their rocking chairs on the front porch and talked.  It was by far one of the most relaxing trips I've ever had.  And in my stage of life that is the best gift anyone can give me.   I love you babe, and thank you for a great birthday!  

This group of buildings makes up the inn.  Each has several rooms in it.  Ours was in the yellow one to the right that you can barely see.

Oh!  Every morning when you want, you call them and they bring you this!  Ed called it the "basket of glory!"  It had fresh baked breads, oj, and a pot of hot coffee with all the fixins! 

I know its out of focus, but you know how hard it is to get a pic of you two when you are all alone! 

We decided this might be a fun place to come in the summer because there were tons of pools like this one!  This one even came equipped with a rope swing, and it was so clear you could see the bottom!

Love him!

This waterfall was amazing and as usual the pic does not do it justice.  It is a LOT taller than it looks!  My husband was not satisfied with the overlook view so we hiked around to stand at the top and look down.  I pretty much freaked out!

  

Punks!

In our family, pumpkins are punks, as Caleb calls them!  So cute!  We headed to the pumpkin patch last Friday before we went to our retreat.  It was an absolutely gorgeous day!  And confession, the only reason we went was so I could get pictures of my Haleigh in her pumpkin shirt I made!  Yeah, we walked away with a pumpkin, yes one, and some good pics of the boys too!  Mister tractor driver was a little astonished that he would drive just our family to the patch with no one else around and sit there and wait for us to have a photo shoot, only for us to return with one little punk.  He asked Caleb where his pumpkin was...not helping...sshh!

Anyway, here's the pics...had to get this out before the big day tomorrow!

An Apple Picking We Will Go!

We bundled up this morning, got our boots on, packed a lunch, and headed towards the mountains this weekend to go to the apple orchard.  We met my parents there for a day full of picking, and eating lots of apples!  I feel like my husband and the boys go more for the eating at the orchard than the bringing them home. $40 later and way too many apples, we headed home!  Guess I'll be baking some pies!

Baby Girl all bundled up!

LOVE HIM!

How cute is Caleb's outfit!

That is my mom climbing a tree!!  Priceless!  Just to get an apple for her grandkids!

Picking an apple on Daddy's shoulders

Micah climbing up to the top of the tree to get an apple...and then we got called out by the apple police!

Caleb ate SO many apples!  And ate each one to the core.

I personally love this pic, so this is just more for me!  But yes, this is my man, in his element!

My Daddy with Haleigh girl...they spent a lot of time together.

First time eating an apple whole...and she LOVED it!

So incredibly thankful for this girl!!

Yes, folks, those are apples on her outfit!  Did you think I could take my girl to the apple orchard without an apple outfit?!  The only problem was I didn't realize she didn't have her bow on until we were on the mountain!  That's what happens when Daddy gets her out of the car! 

Great Pic...if only, Caleb were looking!

I love my parents!  I'm so glad they came to meet us!  Their grandbabies LOVE them!