The Busy Life

Things around here have become quite busy.  It seems about the time the canning is done and the yard is ready for winter all the leaves fall and then the snow starts.  I still have a few things I wanted to get done...like cleaning out the garage and putting up the hoses.  Maybe I'll find a little time to do that tomorrow before the first real winter weather hits.

Today we enjoyed the last day of nice weather at the zoo.  It was fun to take Garrett and Emery one last time.  We went with Natalie and Carter.  While we were there I noticed that there was a new baby giraffe.   We went to visit the little fella and I had a serge of joy spread over me.  You see, my dear friend Stephanie had a thing for giraffes and I every time I see one I am reminded of her and a flood of great memories rush back into my mind.  We named Paige after Stephanie.  They share the same middle name, Elaine.  Here is the cute picture I snapped with my phone...

Now a little update on my baby.  Emery is walking.  Oops I didn't post that?  I guess I have been a little behind, hence the title of this post!  She opens doors, gets into everything and puts everything in her mouth.  Not good for a kid with a peanut allergy!  We have never had such a busy baby.  Here is our last photo shoot, attempt.

 I gave her a book to keep her sitting down.

 Saying "cheese" while looking down at the book.

Getting more books...

At least I got one of her looking up...

 "I'm out of here, Mommy!"

Here are a few short videos.  She is saying bubba in the first one.  That is her affectionate term for Carson.  She adores him.

This is a clip of Emery being a little mommy.

Halloween came and went and so did the candy.  Carson was George Weasley, Paige was a cat, Garrett was Rocket Boy (Thank You Pintrest!) and Emery was Tinker Bell.  Our friend Josh is the skeleton and Carter is the football player.

This is a very hodgepodge post but so is our life.  A little bit of this and a little bit of that.  Mix it all together and you get a lot of love.  These kids are growing up fast and life is crazy, but I sure love being a mom!

Two Wheeler (Retro Post)

I can't believe I forgot to post this!  Paige can now ride her bike.  I wish I could take credit for this amazing accomplishment in our family, but I can't.  Actually, I am quite proud that she (Paige) gets all the credit.  One night about a month ago we were playing outside and I said, "Hey do you want to get your bike out and practice riding?"  I even said it a little sarcastic because I was sure the answer would be, "No way mom!  I'm never riding a bike!"  That's the usual answer we get around here when it comes to bikes.  I had basically given up for the summer and decided to try again next year.  Anywho, her response was quite different.  "No Mom, I don't need your help I can do it myself."  Then she jumped on her bike and away she went!  I was totally shocked.  I believe I even teared up a bit and then I started jumping up and down and cheering.  Trevor came running from the back yard and we just stood there in amazement at our daughter.

I'm glad I thought to run in and get the camera.  It is a little hard to see because it is so dark.

Now Paige is an expert.  She loves to ride her bike and the feeling of freedom it gives her.  She is getting much faster the more her confidence grows.

peaches anyone?

The past few days I have been canning peaches and some other stuff.  It has been a very rewarding chore.  I say chore only because it is a lot of work, but I really enjoy canning.

We got our peaches from some friends in the neighborhood.  All of the kids were very good pickers.  On the way home the other night we loaded up the peaches in our wagon.  There was just enough room for Emery to squeeze in the back.  I was worried she would pull the peaches out of the bucket and drop them over the side.  Ought Oh is her new favorite game.  I was pleasantly surprised when I looked back and she was holding one peach nice and steady in her hands.

 About half a block later I looked back and...

Here she is helping me today with tomato soup.

My house has been totally neglected because I'm too busy putting things in jars, and Emery is busy taking everything out of the cupboards and the garbage can!  (That is a rotten tomato that she got out of the garbage can, which was conveniently located in her reach.  I decided to let her make a bigger mess while I got out the camera.  She was proud of her smashterpiece on the floor!)  Honestly though, I have amazing children who have been very very helpful.  They love to pick the garden and see our home grown food all lined up in bottles!

Happy Birthday Dear Emery and Garrett

Emery had her first birthday on Sunday and Garrett turned four yesterday.  We didn't do too much on Sunday because I was making a farm cake for Garrett's Birthday.  So last night she had her first glass of milk and cake.  Here are a few pictures...

"Hum...how did I get cake down there?"

In the sink for a little clean up after her cake.

I can't believe my Garrett is four!  He keeps me laughing and smiling all the time.  The night before his birthday when I kissed him good night I told him,
M- "This is the last time I'll kiss you when you're three."
G-  "Then you better give me three big kisses."
This morning when he woke up he said,
G- "I need my first four year old kiss!"

He had two of his friends over for a play date and then he went to Boondocks with dad.  This is his first year getting to go to Boondocks with dad.  This has become a tradition in our house and he has really been looking forward to going.  All day he has asked me when daddy will be home.  Sadly, we didn't get too many pictures this year but here are a few...

We had a busy day.  It was also the first day of school!

Happy Birthday Kiddos!

Virginia is for Lovers Part 4

On Tuesday Emery and I went shopping for some new jeans.  I found two pair and it only took one hour!  The ease of shopping with only one child.  

Then we headed over to James Town. 

Then we drove down the James River and stopped at a bunch of plantation houses all the way back to Richmond.  This was a five hour excursion covering about 30 miles.  Again, Emery was a total rockstar!  There is no way I could have done this with all my kids.  What kid would LOVE looking at OLD houses all day?  Seriously, I was in heaven.  Here is some of what we saw...

 This is the Berkley Plantation where a lot of cool things happened.  Early settlers came ashore here and observed the fist official Thanksgiving in America.  We toured the inside of this house but no photographs were allowed inside.  It is amazing how well it has been preserved!  This property served indian attacks, the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and time.  The main house is VA oldest three story home.  Nine of the first ten presidents of the United States have stayed at Berkley and two lived there.  Benjamin Harrison was the second owner and son of the builder of Berkley.  Benjamin was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and VA Governor three times.  His son William Henry Harrison was the indian fighter from the battle of Tippecanoe and later the ninth President of the United States.  He was only president for one month and then he died in office.  His grandson Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd President.

 Taps was composed here in 1862 while the Union troops were encamped at the plantation.  140,000 Union Soldiers were here with McClellan's army and President Lincoln came here to visit the camp.

 This tree is 350 years old!

 This is the carriage front of Berkley Plantation.  The homes on the river had two main entrances.  One from the carriage road and one from the James River.  Most people travled by river because it was safer (less chance of an indian attack) and a more comportable way to travel 

 This huge house was spectacular!  It is the Westover Plantation built by William Byrd the second, founder of Richmond, VA.  It was built in 1730.  This was a grounds tour.  Here is a view of the carriage front.

 This is the main entrance from the river.  It was breathtaking.

 This is the Shirley Plantation.  I wanted to tour this house so badly, but I got there too late, and it had just closed.  I got this picture though.  This plantation is cool for a few reasons.  The son of the original owner abhorred slavery and when he inherited the property he did all he could to make changes.  This home has remained with the original family which I think is really amazing!  I came home and read all about it because I was not able to go through it while I was there.

A few days before my trip I read Pride and Prejudice for the first time.  Love that Jane Austin!  It was really fun to see a bunch of these homes and reflect on the the time period.  I know it was a bit of a stretch but can't you imagine that this is Netherfield Park?  

Virginia is for Lovers Part 3

On Wednesday Emery and I went to Colonial Williamsburg.  Trevor was in class so we did a little touring of our own.  We went through this palace and some other shops and buildings.  It was really cool to see how people lived in the early 1600's.  I wish I would have taken more photos but I was overwhelmed by all the history and reenactments of the Revolutionary time period.

Later that night we meet up with Trevor for a fancy dinner at the Hard Shell.  I think we both decided we are not huge fans of sea food.  

Virginia is for Lovers Part 2

 On Sunday we went to Monticello.  The home of Thomas Jefferson.  It was beautiful and the history was fascinating.  Their was a woman on my flight to VA who highly recommended visiting this historical land mark.  She claimed it was the best tour in Virginia.  I whole heartily agree.  The tour guides were very knowledgeable, dare I say scholars on everything Jefferson.

The grounds were so pretty.  Can you imagine living like this?  They didn't have to do too much work though.  This was a plantation run by slaves.  The stories were heartbreaking, but they are being told.  That's the important part.  Jefferson was a great man and president, but he was conflicted on the slavery issues facing his time.  Our tour guide gave an excellent presentation and shared a lot of the history that has been scientifically proven in the past ten years about Sally Hemings.  She was his mistress after Jefferson's wife died.  Jefferson was the father of her children, who were slaves on his plantation.  Some crazy history!  

 The front of Monticello.  

 Emery on the drive back to Richmond...

Virginia is for Lovers! Part 1

FYI the next few posts are a travelog from my recent trip to Virginia.  The Virginia travel slogan is "Virginia is for Lovers!"  So fitting...

Trevor had a work trip in Richmond, Virginia.  I joined him for five days.  We left Carson, Paige and Garrett here with Grandma and Grandpa and took Emery.  It was incredible in every way!  Virginia is beautiful and we had so much fun!  Here are a few of the highlights from our week.

On Saturday we went to Luray's Caverns in Shenandoah county.  Check it out here for more info if you ever plan on going to Virginia.

 Ohhhh the happy couple!  Aren't we cute...

 This is a reflection of the celling over a PERFECTLY still body of water inside the caverns.  Amazing!

 This place was huge!  It took us over an hour to walk through the entire cavern.

 Emery was a rockstar (get it ROCK star!) on the entire trip!  She put up with so much car seat and stroller time.  

 The views were spectacular!

 There was a little old town we explored after the caverns.  

 We spent the day with Trevor's sister Vanessa and her family.  After a day at Luray's we had some yummy local BBQ.

 These are a few pictures from our drive home.  We went on the MOST beautiful drive in the country.  It's called the Skyline Drive and it is quite famous.  FYI Shenandoah Valley is on the top ten list of places to see before you die.  We saw it and it was completely amazing.