The State Fair

Tractor rides, Cheerwine samples, RV tours, Smokey the Bear, the Ferris Wheel, roller coasters, game-winning prizes, turkey legs, cotton candy, gigantic pumpkins, and about a million people...yep, that pretty much sums up the State Fair!

Not going this year was NOT an option. Last year, we didn't go because we couldn't find a good time, but the girls were not happy with us. We heard about it for months afterward. So we were going this year, even if a Saturday was our only option. Donna came too, and it was a lot of fun!

This bear actually talked to us and told Luke not to play with matches! (which I thought was good advice for the baby who gets into everything.)

Among the first in line for the Ferris Wheel...(which was on the top of our to-do list)

Luke was a trooper as usual...

Loved the view from the top...

 

The girls were really excited to ride their first-ever rollercoaster. Collins loved it (as we figured she would), but Addie was the surprise. She was fearless and loved it too!

 

 It's hard to spot Collins in this picture, but she is the one suspended by cables in the air! Addie and I were looking on from the tea cup ride. :)

 

Collins was itching to win an emoji pillow...

and her dream came true. :) Addie was pretty darn happy with her "wolfpack" sock monkey.

This puppy tilt-a-whirl was Addie's favorite ride...

and the Mighty Mouse rollercoaster was Collins's and my favorite. It was flat out scary!

We were at the fair for four hours so everybody was done. But Luke still had enough energy to steal my caramel apple. :)

 

Skipping one year of the State Fair was enough to make it charming again. We had a great time!

Lacy Fall Festival

Lacy really does a big build-up for its annual Fall Festival so Collins (and Addie too) were so excited when the day of the event finally arrived. It was a beautiful Fall night, and this was going to be the year that Collins went into the haunted house- she was not going to get scared! But she did receive some valuable advice from her friend, Ellie (whose Mom was in charge of games)- do not eat before you go into the haunted house because you will throw up. :) 

No worries, the haunted house did not even happen because the line was way too long. But guess what did happen? Climbing to the top of the rock wall (in sweater and booties!!)...

and little miss following suit! I really didn't think Addie could climb the rock wall, but she totally proved me wrong. I was so proud of her!

And then Collins decided she needed to try the bull riding. I love when she is fearless like this. She had no doubts she could do it, and she was right! 

The girls of course loved the bounce house...

and the face painting.

And as usual, this cute baby, was happy to be along for the ride. He smiled and played in the grass and walked around with Dad...

and made some new friends who taught him how to high-five. :)

It was a really fun night! I took Luke home early, and Brian and the girls stayed out a little longer for another ride and a Kona Ice. They came home tired and happy from a successful Fall Festival!

Finally to the Patch

After one failed attempt, we finally made it to Page Farm's pumpkin patch! It was a pretty warm day, and the girls excitedly ran from one activity to the next. We ate some barbecue from a food truck, picked out some great-sized pumpkins, and called it a day!

Tar Heel Tailgating

Brian makes fun of Tar Heel tailgating because it is very different from State tailgating. But what he doesn't realize and appreciate is that when we girls tailgate- every detail is tastefully covered. From the pretty table linens, to the pumpkin-shaped cheese ball, to the seasonal beers, to the delicious brats, to the tasty pumpkin bars- we don't miss a beat. Especially this past week when Virginia came to town. 

Now, the actual football game was another story. It was a mess and has been all season. Why are we so bad after several really good seasons? I'm not sure, but thank goodness it was a gorgeous October afternoon. Otherwise, why sit and watch that for three hours? 

Hopefully next year when we go to our one game of the season the quality on the field will match the quality of the girly tailgate!

Go Missy on the grill!

 

 

I Give Up

The pumpkin patch is probably my favorite place to take pictures of my kids. Apparently my kids know this and like to be difficult because this is the best I could do this year...

1. Luke, the baby who is happy all the time, hated the pumpkins and fussed the entire time.

2. This is Addie's new smile. Can't figure out how to get her to open her eyes.

3. This is Collins's expression when she is over pictures. Sigh... 

It wasn't until we got home that I got a decent photo of those darn kids...

and then I got perhaps one of the cutest one of all time involving them and pumpkins...so I was happy. :) And the way to get a cute, natural photo? Let Luke chuck the pumpkin!

My Big Baby

These pictures are silly, but illustrate an important point- my baby is no longer a baby. When did she get so huge?!? She is tall, thin, strong and wearing emoji pants, and I can't handle it. STOP GROWING COLLINS because soon you will be as big as I am, and I won't be able to pick you up and hug you tight. 

 

But you can keep pretending to be a baby if you want, and I will laugh and remember the special days when you were a baby and the special days now that you are not.

Fort Attack

All the girls want to do these days is build forts around our home. They drag out every pillow, beach towel, sheet and blanket they can find and they make a cozy little fort to play in. I know I should think this is creative and I should remember how much I loved to build forts when I was little, but instead it drives me crazy! It makes a huge mess that I have to convince them to clean up. They do it (begrudgingly), but the next thing I know another fort has popped up in another room. Here are the latest ones to be built...this time in our bedroom.

I have to continually remind myself that our house is supposed to be "well lived in" (aka dirty) and that one day I'll miss their little messes when things are always neat and clean. But for now, me and my Type A personality is a little overwhelmed by the constant fort attack!