Denver Downs and Enchanted Tracks

We love the month of October. I think I had events filling our weeknights and our weekends. We have been to the Upper South Caroline State fair. We went on a Monday night and it was dead. Craw got a wristband and ran from ride to ride and could ride whatever he wanted over and over again. Needless to say  he asks to go to the fair every day now...he loved it! Nana and Papa joined us and we all had fun watching Craw have the time of his life.

 

 

 

 

We went to another event I read about called Enchanted Tracks in Greenville. It's centered around Craw's favorite thing---George the Train! You are supposed to wear your costume and ride George the train through some Halloween decorations in the dark. That was clearly the highlight of Craw's night. However, they also had bounce houses, games, a balloon artist, costume contest, hay maze, face painting, and an enchanted train where princesses and gremlins passed out candy in the forest. It was adorable! Craw got a Thomas the Train balloon that he just loved. Hope and Carter, Brian, Nana, and Papa joined us and we had fun watching the kids run around and play.

 



 

Riding George the Train with Nana.

 

He got to go to the pumpkin patch at school and pick out a pumpkin. He asks to go there every day as well.

 

 

Next up was one of our favorite events Denver Downs farm. They have a huuuge corn maze (which we still haven't even attempted), a hayride on a tractor, civil war reenactment, pumpkin patch, mazes of all sizes, petting zoo, slides, train, trampoline, hay and rope swings to climb on...It is a kid's heaven!

 

Above, he was running through the maze.

 

Here he is on the tractor hay ride.

 

Tractor hay ride

 

 

He loved this slide that's made of some sort of farm equipment.

 

running on bails of hay

 

Of course his favorite was the tractor that pulled cow trains.

 

The guy taking us around was funny and kept telling Craw "hands up like a bad guy" and we rode this quite a few times.

 

this is a giant trampoline set right in the ground. It looked like a ton of fun.

 

kiddie area with all sorts of toys

 

horse swing

 

We also visited Greer First Baptist fall festival with bounce houses galore, a firetruck, and trunk or treating. Craw is totally not into trick or treating. He doesn't want to dress up or walk around and get candy. It should be an interesting Halloween this year.

New House Progress - October

October has been an efficient month for our house. We got the house framing completed, windows and exterior doors installed, shingles installed, all mechanical rough-in's completed (plumbing, electrical, HVAC), insulation and fireplace in, back porch stamped concrete and sheetrock completed.  Next up is trim and interior doors.  Oh yeah, forgot to mention, they are about half way done putting up the brick on the exterior.  We have yet to pick out our stone for the front of the house and outdoor fireplace but that decision will be made this week.  We also will be finalizing our plumbing fixtures and lighting fixtures this week.  Flooring is the next big decision to make as it will be going in within the next month.  Below are some pics of the progress.

Apple Picking 2013

Our favorite time of the year is when we head to Sky Top to pick apples and then hit up the Apple Festival in Hendersonville, NC. Crawford, Carter and Hope and all the grandparents loaded up for a fun day in the mountains. The kids loved pushing the wagon this year and picking apples and then throwing them in the baskets.

 

 

they took turns pushing and pulling the wagon

 

These 3 just adore each other.

 

Craw with his bff-Nana



 

And his other bff-Papa

I love how they stop and pose for pictures together!

 

We get so excited to go over Labor Day weekend every year and create new memories there.

 

Craw drinking fresh apple juice

 

After paying for all of our apples and enjoying some apple donuts we headed straight for the apple festival. We love to grab some lunch and then stroll up and down main street and look at all the sweet crafts on display. The kids discovered the ride section this year and let's just say we barely made it up main street because all they wanted to do was ride the rides.

 

It's my favorite tradition and I love watching the kids enjoy it too!

Hilton Head with the Taylors

We had such a great time in Hilton Head with the Taylors. We have been trying to make this trip happen for years but between Crawford, Luke, and Ava being born we are just now getting around to it. It was Meghan's bid 3-0 birthday while we were there so it was so nice to all get to celebrate together.

 

 

Luke's obsession with horses rivals Craw's obsession with trains so we were excited to go visit the petting zoo in Hilton Head and see some horses. The boys had the chance to ride a horse and while Luke was brave enough to sit on the horse Craw wasn't having any of it. 

 

Brad and John took the boys to the beach while Meg and I stayed back with Ava and sat out at the pool. It was so great to catch up and be on no sort of schedule (a change for me who likes to go go go)

 

The boys joined us back at the pool and kept us all entertained.

 

We loved taking the kids out to the beach at sunset where they could run and play without the worry of a sunburn. They would run in circles and had a ball jumping in the tide pools.

 

Playing with Ava gave me major baby fever she is just the  most adorable and easy little baby ever! 

 

Loved watching the boys play together!

 

 

Aunt Meghan was the best at getting the kids fed...They would sit down together and eat so sweet.

 

A little post dinner Sea Pines playground action

 

We are sooo glad the Taylors included us in their beach trip. We look forward to many more years of watching the kids grow and play together there!