Happy Halloween

This is how Rebekah went to preschool today. Notice all the flowers in her braid? She picked them all out.

Here we are! Cinderella, Prince Charming and Fairy Godmother. Emma is Penelope_Clearwater from Harry Potter. Her best friend, Olivia, is Harry Potter.

Here is Rebekah with that crazed "go-for-the-candy" look in her eyes.

A very busy day

This is what we woke up to this morning. This is not normal. The last time it snowed in October in Virginia was 1979. This weather reminds me of my time at Ricks College in Idaho. That is the reason I don't live in Idaho.

We went to the open house of a friend of ours who is a chiropractor. Check out Emma's cool face painting.

Rebekah then had a birthday party to go to and got to dress up for it.

Here are some more photos of the snow today.


After all this we headed over to church for our annual Trunk-or-Treat activity. It was all moved indoors because it was too cold. Pictures later.

Fall!!

This is why I live in Virginia. This is our yard.

While I was taking these pictures I heard some rustling. I looked closer and notice some deer right there at the edge of the woods. They didn't seem to care that I was taking pictures at all.

Preschool party

Rebekah dressed up at Cinderella for her preschool Halloween party. It is getting cold here so we had to add a t-shirt and thick tights to the costume. But she wanted to make sure we got a picture of her "glass" slippers. And yes, the shoe does fit.

Here she is at the party and modeling the orange vampire teeth.

Rebekah's preschool is at the high school. It is part of their Early Childhood Education classes that they offer. One of the cool things they do is take the preschoolers around to trick-or-treat to the other classrooms at the school. All the students and teachers love seeing these cute little kids in their costumes. And they spoil them. Check out this FULL bag of treats!! I think it weighed around 3 pounds!

Battle of Balls Bluff

I have never been a history buff. I have never read a Civil War book. I didn't know that Gone_With_the_Wind was about the Civil War until a few years ago. I watched Sweet_Home_Alabama and wondered "why do they keep doing reenactments of the Civil War?"

Yet here I am. Ready and excited to watch the reenactment of the Battle_of_Balls_Bluff.

I now live in the South. This area is RICH is history. I have met many people here who have a deep heritage with the Confederates. My home sits on the land that this battle was fought. This kind of reenactment takes 150 years to make. Really, a once in a lifetime opportunity.

On our way in we passed these Confederates waiting for the battle to begin.

There were many spectators dressed up too. This first lady was portraying the widow of one of the captains who died in this battle.

The battle started off in the woods where we couldn't see. It was shortly after followed by lots of cannon fire.

Then they lined up and started shooting.

Meanwhile there was another front happening behind us in the woods.

Finally, the Union pulled back and the Confederates charged in.

There were lots of casualties.

But in the end the Union solders surrendered.

Pumpkins

Here's our cute pumpkins for Halloween.

Emma is amazing

Yesterday, when we were looking in different shops in Middleburg we went into a European Christmas store. There Emma saw some wooden advent calendars that had doors to hide little treats inside. The thought they were really cool and said "I can make that." (Good thing because they were around $100).

That night she got out her wooden horse stable that she got from Grandad & Kris a few years ago. There were 12 opening for her toy horses. She cut up a cardboard box and divided each opening. Then she took some cardstock and cut out little "doors". She figured out how to do it all on her own. Here she is with her finished product.

Fall Farm Tour

It's that time of year again :) I LOVE driving around the countryside and seeing all the beautiful landscapes and colors!

Our first stop was Sunny's_Corner_Farm. The girls got to "paint a pony" and go on a pony ride. For an added bonus they got to help brush down one of the horses before the owner took him out for a ride.




Next we went to Ayrshire_Farm. We took a hay ride from the "parking lot" to the farm. The girls did face painting and painted some pumpkins to bring home. We got to see all kinds of animals and produce, try some fresh organic turkey and apple cider. We also bought some apple fritters -I could eat those all day long!!

After the farm we headed over to Hunter's_Head_Tavern for lunch. Most of the food they serve is from Ayrshire Farm -local, organic, and very yummy. Clay had the pulled pork sandwich. I had the butternut squash and goat cheese lasagna (with sweet potato fries!!). Rebekah had the best tasting mac & cheese I have ever had!! I think Emma ordered a pizza.

From there we drove through the cute old town of Middleburg and stopped in the Home_Farm_Store, another place that you can buy food from the local farms. They had an old fashion ice cream shop upstairs. They also had THESE!! Maple frosted donuts topped with bacon! I really wasn't sure whether I should be grossed out or start drooling...