Walking

One of my parents most favorite things to do while visiting us in North Carolina is to walk around the neighborhood.  Another one of their favorites is to sit in the rocking chairs on our front porch.  The chairs are currently filthy and need repainting so they were not photographed, but one of our walks was.  We went out to dinner and came home with super full bellies and figured a walk was in order.  There are so many things that I like about our neighborhood!  I love that all of the houses are different, made from different materials and constructed in different eras which means they each have very individual architecture.  I love the tall trees everywhere and that most of our neighbors make an attempt at landscaping and each yard is different and interesting.  I love that everyone you pass will wave at you, and most of them will walk on up and start chatting with you.  I love that each time we take a walk we can go a different route and see completely different things.  The neighborhood is always changing, the trees and flowers and shrubs are always changing and it makes for a good learning environment.  I love that we live in a neighborhood where people walk.....on any given day (if it's not freezing or raining) you can find people out and about.  I really like this place that we call home and I'm glad that my children get to grow up here.  And I especially like when my parents are here and we can walk the hood together!!    

Don't ya just love my mom's hair?  I think it's so cute!

My awesome, silly Charley.  Always willing to jump for me and my camera!

NC state fair 2011

We made our yearly trip to the state fair while my mom was visiting.  Dad went home after 1 week and missed out on the awesomeness that is the fair.  Although in my opinion he didn't miss out on much this year.  The weather was perfect which is always a plus but it was so ridiculously crowded there was a line for everything.  And I was so bummed because my two favorite things were not available.  The baby ducks and chicks were caged up because the turkeys were getting exercise and the cows weren't even at the fair because it was changing time.  The meat cows went home and the dairy cows had not arrived yet.  Bummer!  By the time we used all our ride tickets I was more than ready to head home.  The girls had a good time which is really all that matters, but I don't know if we'll be going back to the fair next year.......although we probably will because we are gluttons for punishment!

I love cotton

They got to harvest fruits and veggies

Awesome sun in their eyes photo

I think this picture is hilarious....it looks like a turkey party

Charlotte putting stickers on Eleanor's head.  Gotta love big sisters!

Hill Ridge Farm 2011

We made our annual pilgrimage out to Hill Ridge Farm a couple weeks ago.  It was nice that grandma and papa were able to go with us again this year!  It's a fun time for all (at least I hope it is) and having the extra pairs of hands makes for a much smoother day.  Plus I really like that my girls will have memories of their grandma and papa at the pumpkin farm.  I was bummed this year because we didn't get to go on the train, but there was a head on collision with the train and a hay ride tractor so understandably the train was closed for the rest of the day.  Hill Ridge is always an action packed day for us and after a few hours the kiddos were grumpy and ready to go home.  I think we may try to get out there again this year just because we missed the train and the line was super long for the big slide so we skipped that too.  We've found that halloween day is usually like a ghost town there which means no lines and no running around from one thing to the next.  A much slower pace.  Maybe we'll go back on the 31st.  All in all it was a great day and I'm glad we went!

Bounce housing

Charlotte got really lost in the maze and needed help out.  :o)

Eleanor learned that hay does not taste good

My newly 5 year old is crazy tall!

Corn angels

Eleanor also learned that she does not like sitting in corn.

"Get me outta here"

Mama learned (again) that taking pictures of 3 kids is WAY harder than 2 kids.