Thanksgiving

We went to Knoxville to be with my grandparents for Thanksgiving!  We had amazing weather and it was a great chance for the kids to play outside.

We were even able to do some yard work and help my grandparents out a little!

 This boy is a hard worker and loves to be outside with his daddy!

Mamma and Pappa have a riding mower, which is a fun toy for these boys!

As always, she was content to read and snuggle with Pappa and keep him company!

I was busy helping Mamma inside preparing dinner and hardly took any pictures! Not sure why Nathan didn't make any of the pictures, but he was there- I promise!

Oak Mountain

Several Saturdays ago we headed out to spend a day at Oak Mountain.

Our favorite five year old was off spending a long weekend with his Mimi and Gramps, so

we loaded up the others and their bikes, a picnic and took off!

1st stop- the petting zoo

This friendly goat was there to greet us as we came in the gate!

 there were lots of animals to pet

 and even a few to feed!  These horses licked our hands and nuzzled up to us

 and this little girl would have stayed with them all day if we could have!

on our way out we even found this HUGE tractor (somebody's favorite part of the day!)

Next we headed over to our favorite picnic and bike riding spot near the lake

(abby practiced her moonwalk and breakdancing down by the lake!)

 it was so beautiful

 the perfect day for a little bike ride!!

 After a picnic and lots of exploring we headed up to hike down to Peavine Falls

 run, run as fast as you can...

he found the world's largest walking stick...

 and got a little help along the way!

The only way this day could have been any better would have been having our Jacoby-Jacob there to enjoy it with us.  Something tells me that we missed him way more than he missed us though!

To make you smile today...

It has been rather rainy and cold and a little dreary here the past few days and we were in need of some fun and smiles!

Thought I'd pass these on and hopefully make you smile. 

I would call out an emotion and the kids would make a face to fit it

Pay close attention to Jacob- his are hilarious!

CRAZY...

 CRAZY 2...

 CRAZY 3...

 ANGRY... Nathan has lots of practice w/ this face!!

 HAPPY...

 and SWEET!!!

Trick or Treating (and other fun Halloween day activities!)

Here we are, ready to go trick or treating!!

 Did I mention before that Nathan wants to do everything just like his big brother?

 Abby and Joshua, the Brazilian soccer player!

 The fam, heading out to trick or treat!

 Abby adores our puppy!

 And he obviously likes her too...

 These two and their annual carving tradition.  Jacob and Nathan both think it is too nasty to clean out the inside of the pumpkin!

 The finished product...

Camp Hargis Pumpkin Patch

Last week I got to go with Jacob and his class to the pumpkin patch.  The pumpkin patch is one of my favorite fall activities and we didn't get to go as a family, so I was excited to get to go with him.  We went to Camp Hargis, which I had never been to before, so that added to the fun!

Tractor hay- ride

The huge tractor that pulled us!  (mostly took this pic for Nathan!)

 After the hay ride we had campfires and cooked hot dogs and marshmallows.  Here are some of the kids waiting to eat!!

 After lunch, the girls played a sweet game of ring around the rosie...

 the boys of course opted for taking people to jail

 and wrestling each other to the ground!

 Here is Jacob's class- very sweet little bunch!

 choosing a pumpkin-

Jacob and his friend Will

Me and Jacob on the hay ride!

with Mrs. Darden- we just love her!!