Pumpkin Patch...Check!

I should have known better than to drag my family to a pumpkin patch on the first Saturday in October. You know I can't resist planning fun, seasonal activities, but a crowded farm on pretty warm morning is not really the most festive thing. Brian and my Dad were troopers as we climbed to the top of the corn maze, rode the horsey swings, swam in corn kernels, picked out our pumpkins, and crossed that Fall must-do item off our list!

 

Match Play

The Millbrook Tigers are winning! It is exciting watching Collins play and win. She is starting to get the hang of the game of tennis, and learning how to compete. She likes the competition part so JTT might be just the game for her.

 Poppy and Nana got to catch this early Saturday morning match...and since Dad loves tennis, he was really into her match.

Another win which made our little player (and her fans) happy! 

Not Having It

Luke talks about, thinks about, and plays with firetrucks all the time. Every time we see one on the road there is shrieking involved because he is so excited. So when an actual live firetruck came to his preschool to give a presentation, I thought he would be thrilled. But turns out he was scared. He didn't want to touch it or go sit in it or talk to the firefighters at all.  It was all too overwhelming for him. I was disappointed that he couldn't get the full tour of his favorite thing, but these things happen when you are two and a little shy. Hopefully, the fire engine comes back to school next year, and Luke will be ready for it.

Hanging with Luke

Now that the girls are off to school, my days are mainly spent with this little boy who entertains me with his constant chatter, makes me laugh with his silly ways, and melts me with his sweetness. I love my days with Luke. ❤

 

 

A Big Problem and Transformation

Our backyard was a big problem. Because it looked like this...

Once upon a time, a professional gardener lived at 801 Blenheim. Then we bought the house, didn't take care of the weed problem out back and before we knew it, it had turned into a big mess. 😬

We decided we needed to clear this whole center area out, and try to plant grass. How wonderful it would be if we had a green area in the backyard for the kids to throw a ball in or do a cartweel on? We doubted it would work because it's hard to get a good yard of grass in Blenheim with all the tall trees. But we wanted to try, and even decided to spend some money and hire Marty's yard guy to do the work for us. He brought in a Bobcat and cleared the land, graded it, sowed seeds, and finally landscaped it.

It was one of the best household decisions we have ever made. It turned out to be a huge transformation of our backyard...

All of a sudden, our yard looked so much bigger and more functional and more inviting. We were thrilled with the final results. Our "before" and "after" shots are pretty shocking, don't you think? Backyard problem officially gone! I love a good transformation.

Back to the Beach

We were lucky enough to get to go back to Wrightsville the last weekend of September. Because after three full weeks of school, we definitely needed a break. :) It was a great time to go because the crowds were gone, the water was still warm, and the weather couldn't have been more perfect.

I love a late Friday afternoon at the beach, and apparently so do my children because they ran straight there and got immediately to work (play)...

 

 

 

 

  

 

 On Saturday, we staked our claim to our piece of the beach early...

 

And that afternoon the most enormous tidal pool that I've ever seen formed. It was great because we could play in it, stand in it, and boogy board around it, and no waves ever knocked us over!

The next morning, we were up for the sunrise...

 

 

That afternoon we went for a cove swim...

Babies all cleaned up and ready for dinner...

Our last day there- more giant tidal pools!

 

 

A wonderful mini vacation!