A Preschool Parade

And then there was the preschool Halloween parade where we may have been slightly upstaged by the boy with the NASA astronaut suit and helmet (not pictured, but totally awesome!)

Happy Halloween

 We were Cowboys this year. Why? Because Eole has a BIG fascination with horses right now, and because this is a very easy costume for her easily overwhelmed mom to pull together.

 "Open up, Mr. H! We know you're in there!"

 

 Did you ever see a lamb with cuter chubby cheeks?

A reminder to me that we live in the best neighborhood ever.

To the Pumpkin Patch

 This past October we ventured out to the Great Pumpkin Patch for our fill of Autumn fun.

 The kids loved playing in the Corn Crib...although dried corn came out of all sorts of nooks and crannies when I was getting them ready for bed that night!

 

 There was a hay stack maze...

 and tunnels and slides throughout the hay "mountain"

 Since this is the south, we had to pick some cotton. Davyn loved the feel of it.

 Then we went on a hay ride out to the pumpkin patches

 Eole insisted on choosing her own pumpkin

Eole became quite attached to her pumpkin and would carry it around for weeks afterward...Davyn not so much.

First Day of (pre) School!

 

We waited all summer for this!

 

Eole Turns 4

 A blue cake for a pony-loving-4-year old

  And her favorite “bone stick” (drumstick) and biscuits from Bojangles

Happy Birthday to our Tender Muffin

Our Trip to the Mountains

 At the end of the summer, we vacationed in an enchanting place called "The North Carolina Mountains."

 We stayed in a lovely cottage in Spruce Pines with its own meadow, stream, and camp fire.

  We hiked the tallest mountain east of the Mississippi. It was so tall, we were in the clouds. (it is also about as high as my sister’s basement in Salt Lake City).

  We looked for the faerie homes in those mountains

  We explored an old mine in Emerald Village

  We drove the Parkway and stopped for the occasional “view”

  “Blowing Rock” did NOT live up to its name. We thought it would be a little grander. And, much to our disappointment, there was no wind to blow up the leaves we dropped

 We felt better after a trip to Tweetsie Amusement park where we played "Cowboys"

 Rode the Ferris Wheel

 Flew planes

 Drove boats (which Davyn refused to vacate, forcing the operator to let him stay several rounds)

And road a real steam engine train.

Our Summer

We did all our favorite summer sports:

  eating at Loco Pops

 
 visiting the Museum of Life and Science

 

 celebrating the muggy 4th of July

creating sidewalk chalk art ("It's a girl with whiskers," says Eole. When asked why the girl has whisker, she defensively responds, "well, it isn't me, you know.")

                                                      visiting Duke gardens where we....

                                                                     jumped off walls

and discovered the giant koi fish.

But we spent most of our time at the JCC pool where Eole turned into a fish.

Oh, we were able to sneak in a date or two as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



These are the people in your neighborhood

I love our neighborhood. Oh, sure, you do hear gun shots fired once in a while, but that really comes from the area a block or two away.  My neighborhood is filled with Birkenstock-wearing, Prius-driving, Liberal-voting, rescue-dog-walking, salt of the earth people. We've made so many friends.

This summer we loved our impromptu pool parties in the driveway with B and girls, and Yaya, the Greek grandma with her grandson from across the street.

Yaya is my "go-to" cook. She shows me how to turn a bag of lentils and some random herbs into an amazing soup. We join her for lunch at her house where she serves up delicious home-made pizza, fresh salad, and exotic cheeses. She bakes daily from scratch all while keeping a tidy house and lovingly attending to her grandson. In short, she is my hero.

B is another favorite friend in the neighborhood. She grew up on a farm in South Korea, and together we go on daily nature walks through the neighborhood. "Here, try this mulberry" or "here are some pecans" or "try these herbs in your soup" she tells us as we walk up and down the street.

You can't forget the neighbor next door, H, who is known as the "Mayor" of the street. He is a true Southern Gentleman. He hosts the neighborhood parties, inquires after everyone's well being, and tells me that if I ever run into trouble (with that less gentle neighborhood around the corner) to call him, and he'll come running with his "friends" Smith & Wesson.

 

 

To Utah with love

And here is what we did....

We paid our respects to our ancestors in the cemetery

 

Davyn got his first haircut from Connie: now cutting the 4th generation of our family's hair. Daddy was sorry to see the strawberry blonde curls go, but -SPOILER ALERT-they grow back!

We fed the horses with Uncle Mike

We tended Grandpa's garden

Swinging on the corral gate was one of mommy's favorite activities at this age too.

Cousin Elizabeth was most attentive to Eole who still asks when she will see her again.

Mammas, don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys...

Davyn is taught the art of the toast dipped in chocolate milk by the master himself.





This is why we keep coming back...and the family.

The highly anticipated pony ride

 And there was a train ride too! Davyn loves his Auntie Jen.

A serenade by Uncle Steve

The Dark Knights (Oh, Jackson--only yesterday you were Davyn's age!)

We were able to visit BOTH grandma-greats who so happen to live at the same rest home.

And we rounded out the whole trip with a cousins outing to the zoo!