Apple Picking

So my small group had been talking about possibly going apple picking since early October and the weekend finally arrived that most people had said they could make it. Those of us who could go decided to meet at the church at 9 on Saturday. 

Saturday rolled around and we all arrived... and then waited, mainly because we thought more people were coming. Finally we left at about 9:45 and hit the road. Since it was just four of us I offered to drive (cuz I'm so nice) actually because I have a weird thing about liking to drive when going on group outings: see control issues in the dictionary ;) and off we went!

It was myself, Emily, Josh and Rolin. It ended up being pretty fun to be such a small group simply because we were really able to all engage in the same conversations and get to know one another a little better. Had it been much larger in the number of people who came, we definitely would have been split between cars for the driving time and then probably gone off in groups once we got there so even though it would have been wonderful if more people had made it, I think it worked out well despite that.

Emily and I had both been to Carter's Mountain before but for Josh and Rolin, this was their 1st time so it was fun to show them a new part of Virginia. Fortunately there was still some color to the trees up in Charlottesville and the whole drive up and back was really pretty with all the trees along the highway.

Once we got there and got directions to where the different apples were we set off and quickly discovered that all the good apples were out of reach, even for our taller guy friends. Fortunately, Josh came up with a solution and Rolin accepted the challenge. 

 Sorry Rolin, I know I said I wouldn't take pictures but the opportunity was too good to pass up!

Yay for having brought along two tall and strong guy friends! We got all the good apples!

We all decided next time we should just find a small child who likes climbing trees to bring with us like this kid who was way up there filling her families bags full. 

 After a juggling show from the guys, we climbed up a rather large hill to get to the Fuji apples (ridiculous only because the signs really made it seem like it was just around the turn) but was actually a bit of a hike. It was worth it though for these views!

I'm just now realizing that I failed to get a photo of myself and/or Emily facing the camera, well I did get a photo of Emily but on my film camera. I really need to be better about forgetting to be in pictures. Oh well!

After some cider and apple cider donuts we went into Charlottesville for lunch and then home. It was the perfect day/weather for a road trip and it was quite a fun road trip we had! Hopefully next time our small group plans one, a few more of our friends will be inclined to join us after seeing all the fun they missed out on! ;)

That One Time, When We Gave John The Camera...

So on of my dearest friends Sadie stopped in town yesterday! I fortunately had the ability to finish my work up early that day and spent the afternoon with her and her fella John! We went to Chipotle for Lunch and caught up on many subjects with much silliness involved and then came home and chilled by watching a movie before dinner.... notice how there is a theme when I have guests... food/cooking for said guests! :) 

Anyway, after a nice naptime... after all, they had driven staright through the night all the way from Little Rock!!! we went out in my back yard for some obligatory "we never see each other and need to take pictures" session where we had a little mini couple shoot ...

   

              

...and then gave John the camera and attempted to have a friends shoot! Which, eventually we got a few good shots out of ;) As John rolled his eyes at our mutual photography obsession! Tehe!

           

As Sadie and John said.. now its my turn! Hopefully I'll be able to make it out for a visit to Arkansas sometime in December! 

A Weekend Visit!

So we had some last minute and oh so welcomed guests this weekend! My cousin (who is basically my big sister) and her husband came down with their adorable babies, my niece and nephew. Us cousins are all pretty close and 3 of the 12 of us are only children, so we all refer to each other's children (those who have had children) as nieces and nephews and are like-wise Aunts and Uncles to them.

This is the 1st weekend the weather and our pool have been nice enough to use and we had a lot of fun playing with the cute kiddos and just having some relaxing family time. Reminiscing about the old days when our Nana and Grandfather were still alive and we had a central meeting location in Towson, Md to have big family get togethers where as many as all 12 of us cousins would play together in their big back yard pool with our aunts and uncles. My dad is the middle and R's mom is the oldest of 7 children.

 These are before all of us were born... circa 1989-1990 probably!

 That's me in the middle of above & below photos.

And this would have been 1994 maybe.

Its really nice to be able to continue that tradition even though we don't have that beloved warm grandparent home to go to anymore. 

 Call me biased, I don't care. This little girl is one of the most beautiful little darlings I've ever seen! Look at those delicate curls and long eyelashes!

 And don't even get me started on my nephew! What a handsome little heart breaker!

 My parents love kids, but my Dad in particular is so great with them! While I had the pleasure (and occasional embarrassment) of getting to have him full time as my Dad, I know all of my cousins on both sides of my families loved him as an uncle! He is so good with kids! And just like his Dad, my Grandfather, he just loves babies :)

 I love that crab on C's bum, his matching shirt read "PINCH ME! I'm cute!"

Hopefully there will be many more weekends like this with these sweet babies! But for now we are just savoring how fun it was to have them this weekend! :)