Getting Out and About

If you just sit on the sidelines and watch life go by, you will miss so much! Having just recently moved from Florida, this girl has been waiting for fall to roll around for awhile. Counting the days when the first red or orange hue hits the top of the leaves, knowing that in a few more weeks a raging fire of brilliant color will light up the horizon. In Florida, we would study about fall and the colors that cover the trees but rarely would we get to live it, to smell the forest, to roll in the crisp leaves but not this year! Road trip baby - off to the Blue Ridge Parkway we went.

Just a short jaunt to the mountains and we weren't disappointed. On our way we were able to enjoy the beauty.

A slight detour led us to this Alpaca farm which we were able to tour their store and learn about how they took Alpaca hair and turned it into such soft things such as gloves, linings for slippers, coats and gloves. The owners were very kind to explain it all to the kids and they had a great time.

Back on the Blue Ridge Parkway! We were able to learn about the beginnings of the parkway and it's history. I love the way they have little stations along the parkway to stop and investigate.

We were able to stop at at a point and learn about the music of the region. Real life musicians were there to show how people used songs to tell stories and pass the time with their families.

And because it was such a cultural affair, this man from "the desert" as Luke called him, posed with Kylie. What I didn't show was his wife who was veiled and was walking steps behind him. Actually, come to find out he was in costume as was his wife. Totally fooled us!

Being a cheeser!

Just having fun before our scavenger hunt.

They had a wonderful scavenger hunt along a mile long trail. It was great because it kept the kids occupied throughout our hike and they were able to learn a lot about the flora and fauna of the area. Jake enjoyed it too!

Pausing to check out the view.

Some kind man offered to take our picture. Jake had a full day and was sound asleep!

So thankful we packed it up and headed to the mountains. It was a great fall fix for us but we are ecstatic that it doesn't have to be it for us. The crisp cool air is just the beginning to a season of warmth and homeyness. We will be looking forward to fires, hot chocolate, cozy comfort foods and tons of baked goodies!

Old Salem

Where has the time gone? In looking through pictures of New York, I was reminded that I haven't posted the Old Salem pics!

What a great day we had. Perfect weather, perfect friends and a lot of great activities. I will let most of the pictures speak for themselves.

Couldn't resist taking a picture of sweet Sam. Love his eyebrows!

Learning about the apothecary.

Painting with watercolors.

Making a seed packet.

Making paper.

Waiting to peel it off.

The finished wet product. Notice the lavender that was in the paper? It smelled heavenly!

I love that we can incorporate learning with fun activities. We had such a wonderful time with friends who also share our passion in learning!

Happy Fall!

A quick check in of sorts as I have a happy wanna be toddler cruising around my feet. He just wants to add to the mess of chaos of cords and random trash that has missed the garbage can. Such fun for an adventuresome kid!

But enough of my current state of affairs...

Our evenings have gained a new tradition. Gathering outside amonst the falling leaves and the cool crisp air is the sound of cheering, yelling and the metalic ching of a bat against a baseball. Luke has found his sport.

Best thing, he has his buddies that he can share this great tradition with. These two are twins and Luke has weasled his way into their family and now they are triplets. I am thankful for all he has learned in baseball and it has been such a fun time learning with him.

And Kylie has a blast too playing with friends while Luke practices.

Late September had us in New York twice last month. But this by far was the best fun I have had with our kids. So many of you donated to Team Wes-Man so I thought you might like a peek into our weekend up in the Big Apple.

Before the Buddy Walk, we all gathered in Time Square where we watched the NDSS video. It was so inspiring to see the amount of community within this group.

While the hussle and bussle of the city was exhilerating (the kids are ready to head on back up there like NOW!) we were happy to come home to North Carolina. I still pinch myself to see if it is really true or just a dream. HOME.

And bonus because we can really celebrate FALL. Ahhhhhh...

Sad that amonst the boxes, this bowl of apples is about the only fall decoration in our home. But who needs any decoration when we can just look outside and see God's handywork for ourselves?

Soon we will be in our new home and I can't wait for it to be filled with warm and cozy things to represent the season. Happy Fall!

Team Wes-Man!

Just thought some of you would like to get to know Wesley a bit better! Make sure your speakers are on. Enjoy!



And head on over to the team page and donate today!

First Lego Creations!

*** Luke has asked that you all turn up your speakers so you can hear his music!***

My son loves Lego's! I get a smile on my face when I can just dump out a whole mess of Lego bricks on a big sheet and he is content for hours. Seriously. Sound effects come from the room and every once in awhile, he surfaces to show me what creation he has made.

Today Kylie has felt under the weather and Luke is missing his playmate. I knew if I mentioned the "L" word, life would be grand! But today I added a little bit more. "Why don't we move the Lego's outside!" So outside we went.

His creative juices started flowing and I got out my camera and did an impromptu photo shoot of his creation. He put this all together and I just provided the technology.








Hats off to the creator!!

Ushering in Fall!

I am keenly aware that we are in the last moments of summer. The air is drier, the leaves are starting to give up their green hue and all of the pools have closed. For years I have dreampt of living in a place where I can take my kids and enjoy fall to the fullest. I am not to sure if there is any better way than going apple picking to kick off this season with more gusto!

I ran into one major hitch though. As I searched and planned, it seemed as though I would have to take a road trip one morning to the mountians of NC. See, there seems to be an apple mecca of sorts just south of Asheville. It is in Hendersonville and I hear the apple picking is divine! While I am no stranger to the road trip, I felt that such a trip was not in the cards this month so when a friend of mine (Janet!) mentioned that there was an orchard locally, I almost kissed her right there!

So after a little planning, coordinating Janet's fantastic organizational skills, a group of Momma's were off to the orchard!

I am sure most are getting tired of me going on and on about how thankful we are for being in North Carolina, but here I go again... Apple picking! Us! Maybe because it is in my blood, (my Grandfather was an apple farmer in California) but I was so stinkin' excited to go and it carried through to my kids as we set off for our day.

As all of us gathered together at the farm, we listened to Mr. Hubert, the sweet man who owned Hill's Orchard. His family has owned this land for generations and it was humbling to hear how attached he was to this property. Most of his family still reside on the land which is rare in this day in age.

The kids listened intently...




They learned about the life cycle of the apple and some facts about the types of apples.

Even Jake took in information!

After all had been so patient, we finally set off to go picking.



And then it hit us. Insert needle scratching on the record here because as we walked up to the orchard we came across apple carnage. Good for you that this is not smell-o-vision because it reeked of rotting apples. And if you can't figure out what that smelled like, just go into your cabinet and pull out a bottle of apple vinigar and take a whiff...

After a few moments of all of us mom's realizing that this was no walk through the supermarket apple isle, the picking began.

Jake patiently waited for us as we picked.

Lugging all of our bounty to be weighed.

After buying all of our apples, it suddenly occured to me that I had no clue what I was going to do with them all! I had made applesauce in the past and that seemed to be a good idea so home we went with out loot. After a lot of peeling, coring and chopping the kids and I whipped up some applesauce.

Which was quickly devoured.

As I type now, there is a batch of apple butter simmering away in the crock pot. How wonderful it makes the house smell! Now this is ushering in fall folks.

Sometimes Less is More...

Today I am overwhelmed with the gratitude of staying at home with my children. Yes, I suppose I have always stayed at home with them, but my time was always divided. Tending to the needs of the children at the Children's Home and the spontaneous life we led there took a toll. I loved what I did, and I know it was right for us to live there for that season, but now is a new season.

Our season now is to trust God for provision. To live on the portion that He has given us. Is it hard, you betcha. But do we feel overwhelmingly full? Oh yes. We have invested in new relationships, developed old ones, rested in the peace of our children and made our house a home. We have started investing in a simple life and are suprised at how rich it can be. Time spent laughing, loving and enjoying the company of family and friends. It is good.

So am I tempted to have what others have? Sometimes. I do struggle but overall I am thankful for the hard work that my husband does so I can stay at home. No extra pedicure is worth the joy of watching my children grow and develop into who God called them to be.