Goodbye farm

We said goodbye to the farm this weekend.  And it could not have been better weather or more beautiful.  It was such a gift for saying goodbye to a place we love so much. 

Its hard to say goodbye to the farm.  Its saying goodbye all over again to my grandparents. So many weeks and weekends were spent there with them.  I really got to know my grandarents and am so grateful for those times spent with them.  And I miss them so much. 
 

Lots of walks to the creek

Mud man got stuck in the mud.  He couldn't get out, the mud was up to his knee. 

Then the next day Joel slipped on the rocks and fell flat on his back in the creek.

I think my grandpa would've loved that because he always said someone (mostly sarah) always fell in.

Cindy joined us for the weekend and it was so nice having her with us.  We took her all over - the creek, the big rocks, the mill. 

 

 This mill is on some civil war maps

 Lots of fresh air and walking wore this girl out. 

 We were at the creek and colin headed off alone.  I knew where he was going and let him go have some alone time on his rock. 

When I got there he said with tears in his eyes "mom you know how some people think paradise is white sandy beaches?  I think this is paradise."  Colin and I both cried the whole way home. 

When we were little we started going up with grandma and grandpa for day trips.  The fields weren't clear and we would work and help clear the land and then eat hot dogs for lunch that we cooked over the fire.  We thought it was a perfect last meal to have at the farm. 

I always put flowers on grandpas grave whenever we go up. I cut some roses and realized the kids had gotten there before me. They left their treasures for him.

I could not have done this weekend without sarah there. 

We left our mark at the farm.  But the truth is this place has left its mark on me.  I'm so thankful for the many memories. Its so hard to say goodbye.

Happy Halloween

 Happy Halloween from two vending machines and a snowflake princess.

 Colin wasn't sure what he wanted to be this year.  So one night we were looking on pinterest and he saw a vending machine costume and we decided to attempt it.  Joel wanted to be a black ninja.  But then Colin's vending machine came out so much better than we thought that Joel changed his mind and asked for a vending machine as well.  Colin wasn't happy about that fact. And last night after taking these pictures he went upstairs and grabbed a Virginia tech tshirt and our VT helmet and declared he was a hokie player for Halloween.  Brent made him go back and get his vending machine on because his mother worked so hard on it and told Colin if he wanted to trick or treat then he had to wear it.  I'm thinking the back half of colins life under our roof might be harder than the first...But after trick or treating he said it wasn't a big deal.  I think the fact that Colin walked ahead of Joel helped.  (Joel hung back and walked with our neighbors) Poor Joel had to tell a few people that he wasn't back for more candy, that his brother came ahead of him!   But everyone had a great time and it was a fun night.  After we finished we hung around the fire pit with our neighbors until it was time to put the kids to bed. 

 This girl could not wait.  She LOVED it last year and every time we walk or ride her bike around the neighborhood tells me which houses gave her candy last year.

 I walked around with the kids this time and Brent pulled out the firepit and cornhole boards and had fun handing out candy.

This one makes me laugh.  Clearly they were ALL over pictures at this point.

"Mom, I need to trade you my pretzels for some chocolate because these have gluten in them"  hahaha the one night Joel was so excited for being gluten free. 

We carved a few pumpkins this year and then found those jackolantern balloons in a pack at the dollar store.  They had a little light in them that lit up in the dark.  The kids thought it was fun that they were all still glowing this morning when they went to school.