Pumpkins and Apples

 Five pumpkins.

In October my parents came to visit.  We had such a good time.

Well, I did ask my Dad to do a project in my kitchen that ended up taking a lot of time- and a lot of hard work on his part. It really paid off though! I need to take pictures asap! It looks fabulous!

One day we spent at Larriland in the pumpkin patch and the apple orchard. Here are some photographs from our fun there.

 Simone loves my Dad! She talks about him all the time still, or talks to him on her pretend cell phone. {smile}

 Who needs a ladder?

(Notice where her feet are?)

 

Wyatt's turn to pick...while standing on Dad.

 Grandma and Grandpa!

love.

 

 Three kiddos.

 "If you let me take a picture of you, you can take one of me and Daddy."

A really good day.

(Good thing I decided to blog about it...two and a half months later.)

Wrapping up Myrtle Beach

 This year we went to Myrtle Beach in October. We usually go in September. It was really chilly the first few days we were there. We braved the colder temps. and got in the water anyway. We spent more time in the hot tubs too.

 

 Shivering Simone running to get a towel.

 Warming up in the hot tub.

Love this picture. =)

 

 Building a sand castle the next day. (A little warmer thank goodness!)

 

 I read a book last summer called, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Rileigh recommended it to me, and I loved it. (I'm now recommending it to you.) There is a part in the book where the main character is looking out at the sea and says the water was shimmering with sun pennies. I fell in LOVE with that term! See the sun pennies behind Talia in the photo above? I could look out and admire them forever.

 The only picture I have of the three of them together this trip.

              Sun freckles through a straw hat....another love.

 

 A trip to Magiquest. 

 The bokeh (beautiful blurred circles of light) behind her may be the prettiest I've seen. I want to go back there.....just for this. I'll have some crab too, since this is Joe's Crab Shack.

They had Talia put on fairy wings and shake salt (which was fairy dust)  all over the restaurant while they sang happy birthday. Fun memory.

 Two kids playing in the ocean. 

Five minutes later, in this very spot, Lincoln spotted a small shark in the waves. The shark would been about four feet to the right of Wyatt. Our kids were out of the water. We all stared in the waves to see if we could see it again. We did! Then we noticed all the jumping fish. Every few seconds a fish would jump. Far out in the water and close to the shore we watched these fish jump. We talked to the life guards and they said a large school of fish was passing and the sharks were there to eat them. We stayed out of the water and watched the fish jump as they passed, for a LONG time. I can't remember the kind of shark they said it was, but it wouldn't have harmed the kids. Whatever....fish with teeth...not good. Especially with our luck this year.

Simone watching the fish.

 

 Wyatt building a sand castle....his favorite thing to do at the beach.

 

 Good bye Myrtle Beach....until next time.

Fewer Freckles

Just FYI you can scrape freckles off.  

Sad face.

Love this photograph though.

Beautiful Light

 One day after school we were in the girls' room. We were reading books, and I was feeling so happy. One of those bliss moments. I noticed the light filling their room was gorgeous, so I ran to get my camera. I snapped a few and ordered a wardrobe change! Can you tell which top Lincoln bought?

  (Going to paint that sliver dresser soon, but it looked so cool here.)

 

 That is one beautiful little seven year old! =)

 

A few of Simone too, but she was being too silly. This is all I got.

Azelas

I found this little gem. 

There are more from this day too. =)

Just some pretty pictures....

 Meet Sweetheart. 

(or as Simone says "Seatheart")

She goes most places with Simone. 

Sometimes I make her wait in the car so we don't lose her. 

Simone is a good little Mommy.

A favorite from our little photo session. Then it started to rain on us, so we left.

Life is better in a blanket fort.

 It's true. 

If you are feeling stressed, or sad...

build a blanket fort, put some lights in it, and read a pile of kids books.

(*even if you don't have kids)

I was in there, but got out to take pictures of how great it was.

I took these in the summer this year. (Talia's front tooth is still growing in, and her face is still healing up from her battle with the drive-way.)

I am done with organization!!! I am going to post in random crazy order for one week.

Hold on to your hats!

(ps I really say that. When I am driving and I go over a huge bump, or have to go fast to make an exit (everyone needs a HEMI!)....I say "Hold on to your hats!".
My kids always say, "We are NOT wearing hats!"
Well, they should.

Tree farm

Lincoln loves a real tree. It is a must for our family. We are lucky enough to live by some really magical tree farms, so we always cut down our own Christmas tree. Why, yes tree farms are magical. I don't know why, I just love being there. Walking through the rows of trees with my sweet family. Making fun of each scrawny "Charlie Brown Tree" and saying that that would be the perfect tree for Simone. This year we went with the cousins. It was a great time, and I'm so thankful it wasn't bitterly cold like last year.

 Simone rode around like this the whole time. 

Well, until the tree took her spot!

 

 

 On the hunt.

 Found it. It got five thumbs up, and Lincoln and Wyatt cut it down. 

 So this picture....It's a funny story.

I wanted to do a family picture at the tree farm for our Christmas cards. 

(Which never got made, but that's a different story.)

I had a vision in my head of what I wanted. 

See us all evenly spaced out?

See the beautiful trees in the background?

See Lincoln's orange gloves?

WHAT?
Really, Babe? Really?

See Wyatt with a saw? 

Not exactly what I saw in my mind!

See Simone with her belly showing.

Awesome.

At least she looks happy.

Oh, then there's me. I look so awful! Someone needs to teach ME how to stand in a picture. 

Natalia staring off into space. 

In a super cute hat.

BUT

The GLOVES.

I want to die.

  I take it all back. 

This photograph makes me so happy! I don't mind that the posed family one didn't work out, at all. 

Christmas tree farm bliss!