Monday: The 6 kids had their last performance of Shrek Jr for the school kids. Shelby, the director, gave them little Shrek figurines which they played with the rest of the day.
Talking to Kylie. She's a junior at BYU and super busy with school, work and dating so it's a treat to get to talk to her. This day she was sitting in her car about to hop out with pumpkin bread delivery for Alexis.
Tuesday: Mommy date with Samuel to hike Pilot Mountain.
We booked it 6 miles to the top from 8:20 to 10am. It's a strenuous hike 1100 feet up. But he kept up with me, chatting the whole time about our pace and steps and time elapsed. Here he is at the top. We only spent 2 minutes up there before turning around and running down to catch a tree ID class at 11.
Samuel running down the steep, rocky trail.
After we got to the bottom and went to the tree ID class, Samuel wanted to drive back to the top and hike the knob trail so we did that. You can barely see him standing next to the tree. In all we did 12 miles and he was so sore the next day.
It was kind of a smoggy day, which was unfortunate. Wish we could take good care of the air and keep it clean so we can see great vistas.
I loved all the red maples along the freeway.
The burnt side of Pilot. Last year it was the prettiest part of the mountain.
"Kylie's view" by our house. The Blue Ridge Mountains in the back are all different colors too but hard to see in the picture.
When we got home Thomas was showing us the people he made out of pumpkin stalks.
He called them "live stalk."
Kaitlyn's pile of books she's read lately. One of these days it'll fall on her while she sleeps, haha.
Wednesday: Five deer eating the pumpkins and grass around the garden. They come every morning.
Mommy date with the 3 boys in Galax, VA. Eating lunch in a gazebo on the New River.
Playing on the old train that's there. The New River trail is an old railroad bed and this was an old train station.
This was a really pretty view. I took it for Kylie.
Andy and I turned around because he was tired and my tire was very low. So we had a leisurely ride back to the car.
Driving along the parkway home.
Our mountains ablaze with color. It's so spectacular in person. Maybe by next fall I'll have a better phone camera.
When we got home Kaitlyn had all the costumes and Halloween bags out ready to go to the trunk or treat.
We're being doctors and nurses this year.
While making pumpkin chili for the chili cookoff I decided I should inventory all the food we got from our garden this year since it's about done.
This is all the food in freezer that we didn't eat fresh or use in meals this summer.
Talea, a patient.
We've been nurses and patients in NC and UT so I'm ready for something new. I hope next year to come up with some cute, fun costumes.
Kait and I got to hold the little Gentry baby.
Thursday: We had been told Makenna needed baby teeth pulled and then an expander to widen her mouth but when we showed up at her appointment they said they were putting a few brackets on her. So I quickly took a before braces picture.
After.
One of the bottom brackets is on a loose baby tooth and the top doesn't even have a wire so we're going back this week to figure out what they meant to do.
Mommy date walk with Talea.
She loved picking weed flowers.
Then Talea played at her friend's house while I took Kait and Kenna on a bike ride mommy date on the greenway.
Mommy dates are so fun. Especially on gorgeous fall days.
Friday: Samuel's 9th birthday. He made my grandma's chocolate caramel cake.
Kaitlyn gave him a niffler and Mama gave him a semi with a rocket and rocket van.
After presents I went out to mow the driveway. The pasture up to the fence was finally bush hogged so I was anxious to mow under the fence to get it cleaned up for winter. Couldn't have picked a prettier day to mow. The banks are really steep so it takes a long time. I did a couple hours on Friday and a couple hours Saturday and still have about an hour left.
My favorite woods picture.
The leaves on the ground were beautiful.
Saturday: Working on the driveway again.
Andy swinging high after Thomas gave him a push.
Picking what may be the last of the tomatoes, peppers, herbs, and garlic. I went in and made salsa with the 3 little kids which was really fun. I love picking out of the garden and making a snack with it right away.
These 4 were having fun playing some rolling in the grass game.
Kaitlyn was leading them in some dragon stretches.
They'd all line up and then race down the grassy hill and roll.
I was listening to a barefoot podcast while working in the garden and looked at the kids all barefoot and decided to take a picture of their dirty feet.
Some more yard pictures. I can't get over how beautiful fall is here. I wish everyone could experience it like I do in all it's glory. To run around and play outside all day, hike it's woods, have no worries in the world.
From the driveway looking up at Blueberry Hill, all bush hogged.
Talea pushing the mower back home for me.
The view out the kitchen window.
Taking Andy and Samuel on a hike through our woods.
