The Cabin- Part 2

Mom stayed the night and got in a little extra cabin time in with our girls after the Gregorys headed home!

Blythe and Joy figured out how fun it is to push the activity table together across the hardwoods. This was pretty cute.
Saturday morning was one of the highlights of this year for me. We found out in March about the U-Pick at Mercier Orchards (which was featured in Southern Living this month!) and I have been excited ever since. It surpassed my expectations. You buy whatever size bag you want to fill, ride a tractor out to a portion of the orchard,
then fill your bag,and taste test as many varieties as you like to your heart's desire.
Everyone got in on the picking...

And the tasting!

It was just a sweet, sweet time of doing something unusual and fall-y on a gorgeous day in the gorgeous mountains with the people I love the most in the world.

These three could have sat there for forever. They were pretty oblivious to us.

The final part of cabin pics to come!

The Cabin- Part 1

We just got home today from a long weekend at our family's cabin. Our time overlapped with my sister Jodi and her family's time up there for a night- we got there Thurs, they left Fri afternoon- and a lot a precious chaos happened in between! Here is Jo lovin on my Blythe.

There was a lot of creek playing- here are the dads and kiddos minus Maggie.

There was also some rock throwing...

Chris a.k.a. Baby Whisperer

Of course there were s'mores...

Abby Jane had her first "sleepover"- all the "big" kids slept in the loft together... though that sleep didn't happen until around 9:30. Here is Katie snuggling with Abby Jane before bedtime!

Maggie got to be the center of attention when all the older kids went to bed. Can you get enough of these rolls? I can't.

That night, us adults were up til midnight playing hearts by the fire- good times.

Abby Jane and Ian on the front porch, checking out the morning weather for us.
Our morning hike went a little ways into the national forest, a trail Jo and I grew up hiking. Maggie hitched a ride on Chris.
Sisters and our kids- Katie (6), Ian (4), Abby Jane (2), Blythe and Joy (11 months), and Maggie (5 months).
Mom came up on Friday afternoon to see the grandkids enjoy that slice of heaven and get to enjoy it herself. This is classic Grammy face that makes all nine of her grandkids feel like the #1 most special kid in the world.
Looking for crawfish.

Friday afternoon ended with a big game of modified football in the meadow- if you have the football, you're "it"...

It was SOO sweet to enjoy that cabin with the Gregorys! We sure love our family! Part 2 of Cabin time to come...

Pumpkins

WARNING: lots of pictures to come, and I don't apologize.

What a packed weekend! The Gillies and our family drove up to Cartersville Friday afternoon to go to the Cartersville HS football game. Jake's dad has been helping out with the team for years, and it was really fun for all of us to see him on the field in action with the players and coaches.

After a big breakfast Saturday and being joined by my mom, we all headed up to the Pumpkin Patch! Luke and Abby Jane led the way...

I spent all last week sewing pumpkin dresses for the girls, only to decide at the last minute that I didn't want to put the pumpkin applique on the dresses I had sewn and limit them to pumpkin season. So here are our $3.50 Garanimals shirts with said applique!

Remember this picture last year?

One year later...
Mimi and Joy, Blythe and Grammy
No one was really into this but the parents!This place is awesome: not crowded, great selection of pumpkins, games, petting farm, and hayride. Here is Blythe checking out the roosters right before one of the pecked her little fingers!!! Grammy was NOT happy about that rooster, as you can imagine.
Abby Jane kissing the "injured" finger.
She recovered and was interested in the llamas.
Those ears back made me a little nervous!
"Pat the Bunny"
Joy was a fan of the fences, and I'm a fan of those icy blues.
Checking out the donkey
They let all of our girls sit on the sweet pony.
Abby Jane, Jake, Grammy, Blythe, me, Joy, Mimi, Bop Bop, Cade, Paul, Luke, and Betsy on the hayride!

Sweet Mimi and Bop Bop- they hosted, fed and spoiled all of us this weekend- family is such a blessing.

Jake's getting older...

So we got to celebrate his birthday all week long! I surprised him with a dinner date on Monday night at Eclipse di Luna. It's a tapas place, and on Mondays you can pay a set price and try anything you want to on a special chef's menu. We figured out we tried over $65 worth and paid half of that. I like it. And it was just a fabulous dinner date with my best friend! Who also happens to be very good looking.

On Wednesday, his actual birthday, we celebrated with the girls, and Jake got lots of birthday love...

original artwork on his gift...

and plenty of assistance opening it!

Jake and I had a fun date night at home that night, starting with post-bedtime dinner, which meant actually savoring our food, and a movie... which our schedule has not allowed much of recently! I am indescribably thankful for the amazing blessing that Jake is in my life and the lives of our children! Happy birthday, babe- I love you!