Fall Pumpkin Farm

Every Fall that we have lived in Raleigh we have gone to the pumpkin Farm.  I realized that Connor has never been with us!  So sad!  So we cleared some time on Saturday and we forged the crowd.

Hay ride to the pumpkin patch...

Blinded all of my kids by making them look into the setting sun...

The scary spider made from a large hay bale...

 Our favorite is always the corn pit.  No one (especially Kamryn) ever wants to leave it and we always find tokens of our fun when we get home and undress..

The Giant slide never gets old either...

There were two different kinds of mazes...

Ashlyn was dying to get her face painted and begged me not to wash it off in the bath that night...

We ordered dinner on the Sheetz computer screens and let the kids pick out their own drink, they thought they had died and gone to heaven, I felt like I had died and gone to the circus...

Dylan said it was the best Saturday ever!!!  Score!

Winterpast Farm

We discovered a small local farm.  We can't seem to get enough.  You can hand feed all the animals and many of them just roam free around the farm yard.

Of course the rabbits, especially the bunnies stole the show...

Ashlyn already has one picked out to "rent."  She working on earning it.  

Kamryn loves them when they sit still...

Corbin is my baby lover, so you can only imagine how smitten he is...

Dylan has bunny magic, his bunny always sat so still...

Lucky, the llama, was so fun to feed...

Even the emus were fun to feed...

My favorite was the little mini male goat, Kamryn didn't think he was as cute as I did...

But she did love throwing the pieces of bread to the chickens because it meant she could keep her distance.  She did love the piglets, but of course they were a little shy.

Everyone enjoyed the box turtles...

And there were swings, slides and toys to play with.  A relaxing and eventful outing!

Fall Break Beach trip

Another reason I love the Southeast...

Great beach days still linger into the fall.  We took a day trip to the beach last week with our friends, the Drakes.  The moment Kamryn touched the sand she did this...

 I couldn't get her to stop.  

Ashlyn learned to boogie board for the first time...

Ashlyn and Kyra had fun in the sand...

 and of course a lot of boogie boarding since new things are fun...

Corbin and Troy played in the water so long I thought they would become fish.  They did get a little too courageous playing in the waves for my comfort...

Dylan and Lydia  were amazing boogie boarding and body surfing buddies...

Kamryn and Bailey enjoyed the little pools we made them...

 It was one of the most wonderful days.  Everyone was happy, which means the moms are happy!   You'r welcome to come visit, I know you want some of this!

Karmyn Singing & Counting

Here are some cute videos of Kamryn.  In the second video it's not your volume she just whispers through part of her song.  She can count to 20 consistently but always missed 9 and seventeen is sebententh or something close to that.  Pretty good I think.  Enjoy!

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First Day of School

For most people, today was the the first day of school, the official end of summer.  The beginning of a new and possibly exciting year.  Since my kids are already in school, for us it was the first day of 180 days of seminary.   That's right, 180 days of lessons, teaching and being tired- no, wasted!  And yes, it isn't I who has to do the teaching and preparing, but I am the wife who supports the amazing man who does.  I see him on weekends, but that is about it.  I can't forget that for me it is 180 days of blessings.

We can't believe it's here already!  Year three, here we come!

Neuse River

It gets so hot here during the summer that we find a variety of ways to stay cool.  

We've been enjoying the Neuse River right by our house...

 It never seems to get old.

A cheap inflatable kayak does the job...

Here is a video of how much fun Kamryn had...

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Max Kendall King

 I was able to fly out to SLC and then drive up the small farming town of Aberdeen, ID for my grandpa's funeral.  It was wonderful!

Here is the handsome Max Kendall King when he was in the Navy...

I was felt honored to share memories I had of Grandpa at the funeral:

• We all know Grandpa had a sense of humor.  It was portrayed vibrantly by the rock he kept in his kitchen, it said- "In case of fire, turn me over" and the other side said "Not now, stupid. I said in case of fire." He also put diluted orange juice in urine same cup when he was at the hospital.  When he was about to give it to her he said "now that doesn't look right"  he took a drink and handed the rest to her.  She about fainted.

• ·      We all loved when Grandpa put all the grandkids in the bucket of the tractor, lift it up, and driving around the farm

• ·      Grandpa would treat us grandkids to pennies to buy penny candy in town

• ·      Going fishing with grandpa was always a highlight. 

• ·      We all remember him taking us to the Aberdeen parades, even letting us ride his ponies in the parade

• ·      Digging up sugar beets with him, riding his horses

• ·      We all remember treasure hunting through his old house and his garage while he worked on something.

• ·      He was also as stubborn as they come- we all knew he was supposed to use his crutches, but the kids used them more than he did.

• ·      Bailing hay with him and often driving the truck and tractors before we had a license.  We might have all learned to drive with Grandpa.

• ·      Grandpa always seemed to be carefree, when grandma said no, we knew grandpa would say yes.  He would let us do all the fun stuff grandma thought was dangerous- like swimming in the canal behind the house or driving fast over on the road that goes over the canal (grandma would plead with him every time to slow down)

• ·      I remember grandpa quietly slipping me a $100 dollar bill, I wanted to assume it was because I was his favorite grandchild, but I am sure I was not the only one.  

• ·      When Jamie would visit grandpa he would always ask Jamie’s wife kamrah how her parents were.  Often he would ask a second time, not remembering he had already asked.  But it was a testament to how much he cared.

•           His favorite place to eat was Chuck-o-ramma, I never complained.

•            Grandpa was also a missionary to the core.   He had such a passion and love for sharing the gospel no matter where he went and who he spoke with. He knew how to share it in a way that showed his genuine love for each person so they could open their heart to it. You could tell it was such an important part of his life and that's why it was always a topic of discussion with whomever he came in contact with, whether it was nurses, doctors, caregivers, fellow patients, Royal Gorge storekeepers, neighbors, and especially his family. We always knew that when we couldn’t find him we would find him talking to someone about the gospel.  We all know that Grandpa has a strong testimony of Jesus Christ and His gospel. We are so excited that he is still sharing and teaching that gospel even now with his lovely companion.

I got so spend a long car ride with my favorite big brother and little sister (and without kids competing for my attention!)

 My dad and all his siblings next to my grandpa...

The farm house that I have countless fond memories in.  We went to the farm with my cousins almost every summer and we never got bored!

 All of my girl cousins that were able to attend decided it would be fun to have a photo shoot.  We dressed in grandpas work shirts and hats and posed on the old trucks.  This was one of just many amazing shots...

 We ate ate at a small grill in town before we left, I loved this sign and was tempted to take it home with me...

Grandpa, We love you and I'm sure you are running around for the first time in a long time!

Beginning and the End

Yesterday was an eventful day.  

This handsome and fun loving man had a birthday!

We sent him on a 33 step scavenger hunt that included all the things we love about him.

 My Grandfather died.  He has been my longtime hero.  I remember writing a report about him in 5th grade.  He was an amazing man and fearless missionary.  I remember visiting his farm in Idaho countless times as a kid.  I remember him taking us (me and all my cousins) for rides in the bucket of his tractor, he let me drive his truck before I had a license, he taught us how to bail hay (and many other farming skills), he let us dig around and play with his junk, and he would say yes behind grandmas back to just about anything.  Most of all I KNEW he loved ME.  I never doubted it.

 The cuttest park was that he was a huge tease!  Old men are so cute!

 I am grateful he now gets to see his beloved wife!  We love you grandpa!

Independence Day

We had a great 4th!  I found this wreath on the beloved Pinterest and knew I had to make one.  

 Kamryn loved the sparklers and watching fireworks for the first time (last year it was rained out.)

 We enjoyed the company of our friends for dinner and fireworks.  However, we could have done without the lost set of keys and glow in the dark bracelet solution getting in Dylan's eyes!