An Apple a Day

                                                            "An apple a day,
                                                   the chance to see friends and play
                                                          makes for a great day!"

This past Friday, we had the chance to meet some of our friends from Richmond at Carter Mountain Orchard near Charlottesville. My friend Kari kept Rachel on days that I worked in the summer before we moved to the mountains. Rachel always had a great time there and learned alot and always made the cutest crafts with Kari and her girls. We had tried a few times to get together since we moved but it had not worked out until this visit.
Kari homeschools her girls, Hannah Grace and Faith Ann. They were coming to Carter Mountain as part of  a school field trip and invited us to join them. We actually got to be a part of the field trip so we were able to do several neat things. First, we went on a hay ride and were able to see some of these beautiful apples we were looking forward to picking.

Then we headed to "Apple School." Yes, we learned about an apple tree in all seasons, how apple trees grown and how to use our five senses to learn about apples

Hannah and Rachel trying out the apple wheel

Our smallest student

Next we headed out to actually pick apples. The week we were there they had Stayman and Fuji apples ready to pick and both were quite a hike to get to.

Hiking along to find our apples

Kari, Hannah, Faith Ann and Rachel picking apples

The various stages of picking apples: search, twist and pull, stuff into bag, smile for Mommy to take a picture of you picking apples

Rachel had a ball seeing her friends again. Rebekah had a good time too. She enjoyed the hayride, riding in the wagon and was especially happy when we gave her an apple to gnaw on. She ate about 1/2 an apple by herself!

Hannah and Rachel using team work to carry the long pole used to reach apples high up in the trees. I wonder if there is a technical name for this thing?

Finally getting to eat an apple!

Rachel was so glad to see both Hannah Grace and Faith Ann. Rebekah had fun spending time here with Hannah too. I love this picture of Rachel and Faith Ann in the background too. I don't know what they are talking about but they sure look like they were having fun.

Our smallest apple picker

The girls running back down toward the barn for apple cider and doughnuts. This is the town of Charlottesville that can be seen in the background

This a picture of the girls capturing lady bugs. We found the picnic tables to enjoy our cider and apple cider doughnuts (which are totally awesome, by the way, if you haven't had a chance to try them yet). While Brent and I visited with Kari, the girls found ladybugs everywhere around the picnic area (maybe they like the leftover doughnuts) and spent quite a while playing with them.

We had a great time at Carter Mountain with Kari, Hannah and Faith Ann. Thanks for inviting us to join you all for an apple adventure. We look forward to getting together with you all again soon!

October 19, 2012

                                                              "A word fitly spoken
                                              is like apples of gold in a setting of silver."
                                                                 Proverbs 25:11

A Surprise Day Trip

To the North Carolina State Fair!

Though we had no idea until we saw billboards on our drive down, the weekend we were down in NC for Brent to preach at Salemburg was the same weekend that the NC State Fair began. Our plans changed with several of our family not feeling well, so we were headed back a little earlier than planned. Brent and I talked on and off Monday morning about what to do especially since the weather looked like it could be messy. Eventually, we headed in the direction of Virginia, via a road that took us near Raleigh... and the fair. 

We haven't not been to the fair since the year we got married and were living in Wake Forest. This was a first for our girls as neither has been to a large fair, like the State Fair, either. Rachel was so funny as we were circling around the outside of the fair trying to find a place to park. She kept asking me things like "How big is this fair, Mommy? and "Is that the fair too?"

 We began in the Village of Yesteryear, as it began to pour rain about 10 minutes after we walked through the gate. This was a great first stop. Rachel got to see tatting (using knots to form a design) and the girls received a tiny tatted flower. We also saw stained glass (Rebekah kept pointing at the colored glass), metal ornament making and cornhusk dolls being made among other things.

Rachel was invited to try on the metal worker's hat. Here she is modeling it for us!

Sister hugs at the fair

Driving her sister

For our family and friends who are Carolina fans...

For my Grams who is a big Elvis fan...

                                                    

Along the midway

Seeing the Giant pumpkins with my little pumpkins!

 My grandfather grows the Giant watermelons like the ones shown in this picture. He usually loads his in the back of a truck and travels around showing them. My girls haven't gotten to see the melons this size yet, so of course, we headed to check out what they could look like.

Rebekah was fascinated by the baby chickens and ducks

 We thought it would be neat to ride the Ferris Wheel as a family until we found out it cost $5 Per person to ride! I did get a picture for Rachel since she was so interested in this ride!

 

Rachel getting weighed: 30.9 lbs

Rebekah and I getting weighed together

 Brent and I grew up not very far from Mount Olive, NC and we really like Mt. Olive dill pickles. In fact, don't buy any any other kind for Brent. Our girls, yes, even Rebekah, love dill pickles too! So, when we found out we could get jumbo pickles for $0.50...Yes, Please!

 

How tall is Rachel?

Our little flowers!

 

 Before we left the fair, we stopped to get an apple cider freezie. This is apparently one of Brent's favorites at the fair. There was a bluegrass band next to this, so we took a much needed break for our feet and listened for a little while. This picture I snapped of Rachel while she was dancing to the bluegrass while keeping time with her pencil and ruler from the Forestry service exhibit

 One of my favorite things at the fair is a candied apple. I remembered seeing a LARGE case of them, I thought in one of the first couple of building we went in. Brent thought it was in one of the buildings on the opposite side of the fair and he was right! He was so sweet! Because he knew I was really looking forward to a candy apple, we backtracked until he found that building for me. The picture below shows how many layers this apple was covered in (layers of chocolate, graham cracker and marshmallows-YUM!). By the way, they had apples with about 3x more toppings than this one at this booth!  The picture above shows the sky as we left this last building to head to where we were parked. Yep, we got SOAKED! No storm thankfully, just rain! We had dodged to rain all day or made it to the nearest building only getting just a little damp. Not this time!!! We were so wet. The girls were so funny-when we did get to a shelter they both look at me with their little faces dripping like we had just washed their hair and just grinned at me! I wish I had a picture to post of this part, but Brent was too busy scrambling to keep the camera DRY in this downpour! We finally got back to the van, got the girls in dry clothes and headed back to Virginia.

 

We had a great afternoon at the fair. It was fun for Brent and I to be able to attend again and to be able to share the fair with our girls. It was a great family day!

Our family, October 15, 2012

                                     

Celebrating Rebekah Faith

While we were already in North Carolina for Harvest Day, our families decided to give Rebekah a first birthday party in NC. Several of our family members aren't able to travel very far from home, and this gave family and friends in the area we are from a chance to celebrate with us and enjoy some time with Rebekah for her birthday. Thank you to Mimi, Grams and Nana for putting together her party and all our family and friends who attended to celebrate Rebekah's special milestone with us!

Mommy, Daddy and Rebekah Faith

Her cake after she was finished with it

Yes, we discovered she is very good at digging into her cake. She is not one who minds getting her fingers messy-especially when it comes to cake!

Rebekah and Mommy

Grams and Rebekah

Bekah with Nana and Papa

Four Generations-Grams, Mimi, Dana and Bekah

Grandpa and Bekah

Ethan and Emily wishing Bekah a Happy Birthday

She figured out pretty quickly how to tear paper off the boxes, play with the bow for just a minute and then be ready to see what was inside the box. She did not like waiting for me to open the tape on the edge of all the boxes.

Modeling a new outfit

 

Modeling her warm winter hat from Mimi while her big sister helps her open gifts

 

 She was very excited to help tear open her cards too! I think she might be my "saver" when it comes to her money!

Keepsake piggy bank from Cousin Joanne, Robi, Hannah and Damon

Mrs. Jackie, Mr. Jim and Rebekah

Great-Great Aunt Ida Nell and Rebekah

 Two of my great-aunts were able to attend. My great aunt Christine is no longer able to travel, but my Aunt Ida Nell and my Aunt Treva and their daughters were able to attend. This is one of the reasons I am thankful we were able to get together while we were down visiting in NC. It is a blessing to be able to see my great-aunts who have been so special to me be able to love on my little girls, their great-great nieces, too!

My eldest Great-Aunt, Treva, and Rebekah

Papa and Bekah Butterfly

Bekah practicing her one year old walking skills with Aunt Ashelyn

Happy Birthday, Rebekah Faith! We Love You!

                                           " For You formed my inward parts;
                                            You wove me in my mother’s womb.
                                                           I will give thanks to You,
                                            for I am fearfully and wonderfully made"
                                                        Psalm 139:13-14