Apple Picking

On the way home from Blacksburg we stopped to go apple picking at Carters Mountain. We were a litte worried about the crowds.  One year it took close to two hours to get up the mountain because of all the cars.  But this year we timed it right and just drove straight up.  I guess late afternoon on a Sunday is the best time to go. 

I haven't figured out if Brent was wearing this shirt in UVA territory as a disclaimer or with pride. 

Ant Ant came with us this year!

 

The kids have been asking since school started when we were going to go apple picking. They were very excited to finally go.

Colin was upset at me the whole time because I wouldn't let him bite into an apple.  The dentist said he couldn't bite into apples or corn on the cobb anymore after he had his chipped front tooth fixed.  I told Colin he could take that risk once he starts paying for his own dental bills.  But I did feel bad he couldn't bite into one. Fresh picked apples are so good.  I had meant to bring an apple slicer but had forgotten to bring it.

A great ending to the weekend! 

Football weekend

 

 This past weekend we went back to Blacksburg for another football game.  It happened to be Homecoming weekend so we were able to go Saturday morning to the Homecoming parade. I haven't been in years. The kids were very excited about getting candy at the parade. Norah wore the cutest dress and we heard tons of people - from the president of the university to cheerleaders to frat boys in the parade telling her they liked her dress.  Joel at one time asked me why they all like Norah's dress - its just a dress. haha She wasn't sure about this dress at first but then as the parade went on couldn't be prouder to wear it.  We stayed and walked around campus after the parade until the game. I tried to show everyone my picture hanging up in the math department but the office was locked. 

 

This might be my new favorite picture. This girl loves her Hokies!

Special the dog came to the parade and was also decked out in Hokie colors.

On our way to Hokie Village - a free bounce house place for kids - we ran into the Hokie Bird.  My day was made. Joel threw the biggest fit last time when we didn't make it to Hokie Village so he was very excited we went this time.

This girl. Lane Stadium. That sunset. Perfect football weather. It doesn't get any better than that! 

It was the perfect way to spend a Saturday in the fall.

Monkey bars

On Friday Joel came off the bus and said he fell off the monkey bars at school and landed on his arm. He said it hurt a little. I looked at it and it was a little swollen but he was insisting that he was ok. We didn't let him swim at swim practice that night just in case.

I checked on Joel that night after he went to bed. He is usually all sprawled out but he was curled up holding his arm like it hurt. So in the morning I told him we would be going to the doctor and he was still insisting it was ok. It was really swollen. Then he tried to pour his cereal one handed with his hurt wrist hanging limply  by his side. So off we went to the doctor. Poor thing is so scared of doctors he didn't even mention his wrist to his teacher and then tried to hide it with me. He also has a really high pain tolerance.

Thankfully it's not fractured and is just a sprain. He was glad to get it bandaged up because he said it hurt in school and he was trying not to let the teacher know. I told him it was ok - the nurse would've called me to come get him. He was so afraid of going to the doctor that he tried to hide it. 

He has been so agreeable this whole weekend! When he could and should've been complaining he wasn't. We even went to McDonald's after the doctors because he's been dying to get a lego ninjago happy meal toy. We went through the drive threw and as we are driving away he checked his meal and it's not a ninjago toy - it's some weird strange  toy. He just said oh well maybe next time. And that's not Joel at all! He can throw a tantrum that rivals any toddler when little things don't go his way. 

He's been trying to do everything one handed and is glad it's not his right hand so he can still write. He does have a hard time rubbing our pretty ears with just one hand! At his school book fair he bought a little diary that locks and has been busy tonight writing all about his swollen arm. I can't wait to read his take on it all. 

The Homeplace

 Angela suggested going to the Homeplace for lunch on our way out of town.  The Homeplace has always been on my bucket list to go.  Angela and James went all the time in college and I think Sarah went a lot too.  Somehow I never made it out there.  I think because I would work one or two Friday nights every month in college and it always seemed to be the nights my friends would go. I always figured I'd just go the next time but 4 years goes by fast and I never made it out there.  So I of course was all for going! And it was just as amazing as everyone always said.

Its family style restaurant.  You have to wait a long time but once you are there they just start bringing out the food. Lots of food.  It felt like thanksgiving dinner only with fried chicken and roast beef. We waited an hour to get in but it was a beautiful day and plenty of open space for the kids to run around.

Goodbyes are hard. Goodbyes when they live on the other side of the world are harder.