First Trip to the Orchard.

When I was a kid I loved going with my parents to Morris Orchard, especially right before Halloween to get out Pumpkin and a peck or two of apples. We even bought our Christmas Tree from Morris Orchard every year I can remember us getting a tree at all. We didn't make it to the Orchard before Halloween but we did manage a trip up the next day with my Dad and Grandmother.

One of my favorite things about the orchard as a kid was feeding the goats and donkeys and seeing the rabbits and other animals. As an adult it seems a lot more cruel and inhumane but we took a moment for the kids to see the goats and we even paid the quarter for the less than handful of pellets. Cooper and Bailey did think the animals were cool and got a chance to pet them.

Then we headed over to this squash that was as big or bigger than Cooper.

And then indoors to pick apples. Inside the orchard are big crates of every kind of apple you can imagine and you pick your own. Most of them are priced the same so you can mix and match. I got a big of Granny Smith apples and we made the Pioneer Woman's Apple Dumplings that night. I also got a bag of Stayman for eating. My Dad and Grandmother picked a half peck of Arkansas Black's to make a pie when they got home.

Bailey and her Daddy.

We then headed over to Fairview Christian Church where my sister was selling baked goods to raise money for the churches Christmas Float for the Lynchburg Parade.

And my brother-in-law was performing with the church band 24/7.

There was also a yard sale going on inside. We almost bought Cooper this lovely hat but then we didn't.

Our nephew Xavier was there and he wanted to give Coop a big hug, it was adorable.

The rest of the afternoon we spent playing Ticket to Ride, I kept wanting to play again in hopes that I would win but I have a compulsion to keep taking tickets that inevitably costs me the game every time.

Labor Day Weekend: Sunday

Third Annual Hunters Mill Block Party

The year that we moved to Hunters Mill several families got together and threw a block party for the entire neighborhood. It was held on Sunday evening and everyone brought a dish. There was a band and free water and soft drinks. I loved the idea as we had just moved here in April and didn't know a lot of the people who lived around us. We brought candy apple salad and NO ONE ate it and then they threw it away so every year since we have brought Potato Salad...from Sam's. Every year it grows and they encourage family and friends to attend. This year we brought my Grandmother, Father, Sister, Nephew and Brother-in-law.

Bailey wearing her Daddy's hat.
With something in her mouth. I have noticed that almost every picture taken this past week she has had something in her mouth, maybe she's finally getting more teeth!
Our nephew, X-Man.
He was quite the hit at the block party. There seemed to be a lot of babies and toddlers this year.
X-man and my brother-in-law, Chris. Four families in one cul-de-sac get together and rent tables and umbrellas and supply the paper products and drinks, as well as hire the band and rent trash cans. And a porta jon. Yeah, they aren't that friendly with their neighbors as to share their restrooms. The last two years we have owned the house right up the street (our Spec house) and have been able to use that rest room, thank goodness. When we were building our house I used to drive almost ten minutes away to use the restroom at Sheetz (which was only a little better).

Cooper with his Great Grandma Betty.
Bailey and Daddy.
The Colberts (pronounced: Kohl-bears).

That is our nieghbor Tom, they live next to us, they are really nice. His band, The Groove Monkey's performed this year. When we moved here Tom and Pam really took us in and we have become really good friends over the past two and a half years.
The Groove Monkeys.

Labor Day Weekend: Saturday

All summer Great Grandma and Grandpa (should we give them silly names or let the kids call them whatever they see fit?) have been telling us they would visit us over the holiday, they almost decided not to but at the last minute they surprised us and came for a visit anyways. Bailey was very happy to see Great Grandma Elizabeth (we grew up calling her Grandma P) because she always wears beaded jewelry just for Bailey to pull on. My Grandmother kept telling me that she brought different necklaces because Bailey is so interested in them, I thought it was very sweet until Bailey started to pull on her clip on earrings.

Grandpa Tony is a little nervous holding the little guys even though he has five children and 8 grandchildren. We keep telling him they aren't made of glass but secretly we are happy that he is especially careful with them.

Grandpa Tony with The Grip on Cooper.

Cooper was pulling on Grandpa and Bailey was spitting up on him, it was pretty hilarious. All weekend my Dad kept saying "Cookouts are nice but the reason we come is the kids".

Saturday we had a cookout at my sister's house but I didn't take any photos, sorry. We met a lot of people and Coop had a lot of fun with the bigger boys who were very sweet and careful with him. We discussed Breaking Dawn, the merit of different Mac and Cheese recipes and how little we swam at Hill City Pool this year.

Later: Labor Day Weekend: Sunday