Thanksgiving Train

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  Ours was wonderful.  We spent time with both Jason's and my families, and we are still a bit tired!

Our Thanksgiving break definitely had a train theme.  We took the train to and from Charlotte to spend Thanksgiving with Jason's family.  This was a reward to Sims for now being potty-trained (Yay!), but really we all enjoyed it. 

On Saturday, we went to Isla's 2nd birthday party, where we all rode the train at the Museum of Life and Science.  So to end the weekend, we went and bought a Lionel train set at the greatest local train store.  The boys were so excited about it (okay, so was I).

We put up one of our Christmas trees early, just so we could put the train set around it.  We haven't gotten everything, like the tree skirt and ornaments, set up yet, but we have already been enjoying the train.  I think Sims could lie down and watch it for hours.

This morning, after he was ready to go to school, he laid down with his stuffed animals and a blanket and watched the train go 'round and 'round.

I wouldn't be surprised if he asks to sleep next to it.

Election Cake

Jason and I went early yesterday to vote, and we decided that Sims was at the perfect age to start going with us.  We talked about what we were about to do, how important it is and how lucky we are to live in a country where we can vote.  I'm not sure what he got out of the conversation, but he enjoyed "helping" me vote.  He also loved the sticker he got afterward.  "It's my favorite sticker," he said.

This is the first year that I had ever heard of the old tradition of Election Cake.  Many years ago, Election Day usually involved parties with family and friends who came into town to vote.  So, of course, there was always cake.  We decided it was time to bring that tradition back!  (Any excuse for cake is a good one, right?)  I planned on having a spice cake, which is the more traditional Election Cake, but Sims really wanted "red cake".  Red velvet cake is never a bad choice, I think!

Now I am so happy that Election Day is over and past us.  I couldn't take another campaign ad!

Pumpkin Picking

I know that it's after Halloween and all, but I have to post about our annual pumpkin patch visit.  This year we were joined by one of Sims' friends Aidan and his family, and we had a wonderful time walking through the corn maze, going on the hay ride, playing in the corn crib, feeding the goats, picking cotton, climbing the hay mountain and sliding down the corrugated tube, and, of course, picking pumpkins!  I didn't take as many pictures this year because we were all having so much fun hanging out together, but I did get some good ones of Sims.

We came home with 3 beautiful pumpkins and a worn out child.  The pumkpin patch is the always the best way to kick off the fall season.  I just love this tradition!

Ghost of the Forest

For Halloween this year, Sims actually requested what he wanted to be - a ghost!  He loves The Berenstain Bears and the Ghost of the Forest book, so I think that inspired him. 

He started off the celebration with a party at school.  It's always so much fun to see the kids dressed up.  Then we went to Mom and Smith's house for a short visit, and we were happy that we got to see Isla dressed in her ladybug costume. 

Sims' mask was an unexpected addition, as it was a party favor from school.  He loved it, and I think it kind of worked.

We headed home to get ready for trick or treating.

This year, he really enjoyed trick or treating, and we went to about 15 houses.  He would ring the doorbell and immediately say, "trick or treat".  When the person came to the door, he would whisper, "trick or treat" so softly that you could barely hear him.  We just had to take a picture of him waiting at the door of one of the houses.

When we got home, it was pretty much Sims' bedtime, but he got to have one treat of his choice.  He went for the Tootsie Pop, and he ate every single bit of it!

I think Sims had a fabulous Halloween!  I hope y'all did as well.

Moving Day

Today is the big moving day for Mom and Smith!  As I write this, the movers are at their house in Shelby packing everything up to be delivered to their new house in Raleigh tomorrow.  We are so excited to have them nearby.  I know they are excited to get settled into their house and have life get back to normal.  Well, at least as normal as life can be now that Mom is retired!

A couple of weeks ago, when they closed on their house up here, I explained to Sims that Gan and Papa Smith would be moving soon to live near us.  He exclaimed, "We are going to live with Gan and Papa?!" I explained it to him a little more, and he asked, "Gan and Papa are going to live next door?"  So, apparently, I didn't explain it all that well.

Welcome home, Mom and Smith!

Family Beach Trip

This time last month, my family was lounging in the sand at Holden Beach on our annual beach trip, and it was perfect.  We were happy to have Smith join us this year.  That way he didn't miss out on any of the fun with Sims and Isla.

While we were there, we celebrated Smith's and Jason's birthdays.

With kids around, we did a lot of playing in the sand.  Mom and Smith's good friends, Jim and Betty, visited us for a few days, and we all enjoyed Jim's sand creations.  It even inspired Sims to dig holes in the sand.

 

In Jim's space shuttle

Of course, all that playing will wear you out!

The kids spent hours in the tidepools out in front of the house, running and splashing and using all their water toys.  The beach trips have definitely changed since Sims and Isla were born, but we still have just as much fun. 

Labor Day on the New River

We spent Labor Day weekend in the mountains to celebrate my father-in-law Dick's 70th birthday.  The trip was just one of the surprises we all had planned for him.  We told him a week beforehand about the trip so he could pack and get his fishing gear together.  He had no idea that Tina was coming in from London for the occasion.  The day before the trip, Tina just showed up for dinner.  That definitely surprised him!  The last surprise was that his brother, sister-in-law, nephew and his wife were joining us in the mountains.

We stayed in a house on one of the forks of the New River, and we had so much fun in the water.  I may not classify myself as a mountain person, but I am definitely a water person.  I just wished I had brought my bathing suit because I would have loved to go tubing.

We had a mix of weather each day with sun and rain, but Dick didn't let the rain stop him from fishing.

We took a morning trip into the nearest town, West Jefferson.  It has a cheese factory and store, so I would say it's a great little town!  It has a very picturesque downtown with murals and a view of the mountains.  We, also, saw the Ben Long frescoes at the Episcopal church there. 

Sims loved a long weekend with his cousin Zack.  They are seriously so sweet to each other.

Photo by Tina

I don't have any photos of the big birthday dinner, but it was delicious and included a red velvet cake made by the Ashe County High School cheerleaders (Go Huskies!).  You've gotta love local farmer's markets!  Vivian is so creative, and she made the perfect banner for the occasion.

This was the first time that I had spent any significant time with Dick's family, not including weddings and funerals.  They are a lot of fun, and we loved spending time with them and getting to know them better.  We hope to make this a tradition!

Dick with his brother Bill.  Photo by Tina.

Happy birthday, Dick!  I hope your actual birthday is as fun as your big birthday bash!