Happy Halloween!

Here are some pictures from Halloween. Our computer is on it's last leg (we have a new one in-transit) so it won't let me rearrange the pictures, etc. so everything is out of order.

Madelyn insisted on wearing her costume the next morning! Madelyn hanging out with her buddy the lion, Judah!

Madelyn and the Moore boys!

Madelyn trick or treating with her friend the Fozzy the bear, Liam!

Trick or treating at Carolyn and Rick's house!

We brought our wagon, but Madelyn insisted on walking everywhere. The wagon ended up being a recycling bin for beer bottles and held the cooler. We were a little behind the rest of the crowd, but Madelyn didn't care at all!

As Madelyn would say, she was "taking turns" in this picture.

All ready to go!

The group getting ready to leave!

Eating dinner at the Robinson's house. We had wonderful chili, cornbread, and pumpkin pie!

All ready and heading out to our neighbor's house for dinner!

We had a great Halloween this year and it was extra fun because Madelyn somewhat understood the concept of trick or treating. The forecast called for rain so a couple of our after trick or treating plans were rained out, but we had a great time having diner with friends and trick or treating.

We started the night at our neighbor's house with a wonderful dinner of chili, cornbread, and yummy pumpkin pie. It was so nice for the Robinson's to have us over beforehand and hang out with some of our neighbors.

We left to go trick or treating around 6:30 and Madelyn loved it! We brought the wagon, but she insisted on walking by herself. She loved putting the candy in her pumpkin. The funny thing was that she didn't understand that you can eat the candy so she just took it in and out of her pumpkin and carried it around the house. It's hysterical!

After our neighborhood, we walked to to the neighborhood next door and met up with some more friends, including the Moore family. Madelyn was so excited to see her friends Jacob and Judah all dressed up. It was a very fun night and we didn't get home until close to 9. This morning, Madelyn insisted on putting her costume on again as soon as she woke up!

Apple Donuts and more

We took advantage of this beautiful fall day and drove up to Carter Mountain to go apple picking. We went with our friends the Gauchers and everyone had a great time. We were all supposed to go to an apple festival last weekend, but it was rained out. It was a very pretty drive because the leaves in Richmond have finally changed colors and it looks like fall. At Carter Mountain, we ate apple donuts (they were so good I had 3), went apple picking, rode on a hay ride, and had a picnic lunch in the orchard. It was so nice to relax and have a picnic lunch. Everyone else, except me and the kids, even enjoyed a couple glasses of wine. I was so jealous!

The walk to the fugi apples was pretty long, but once we got there the apples were delicious. The apples were at the top of the trees so Bill had to push them off with a stick which was petty funny. We are so glad we took this day trip before the weather turns and we are stuck inside!

Eating apple donuts with Cole and Davis!

It took Madelyn a while to eat her donut, but we think she really enjoyed it!

Cheese!

Hanging out in the pumpkins!

Finally got a smile!

Yummy apple!

Trying to be like her Daddy picking apples off with a stick!

Finally got it on tape!

Madelyn has become quite the little singer in the last couple of months. We've been trying so hard to get it on video for Grandpa especially, but it has been nearly impossible because she's obsessed with the camera and wants to see herself before she even finishes her song.

Last night, we were at Nana and Pop's eating dinner and she was in quite the singing mood. Bill grabbed my iPhone and taped her without her realizing. The quality isn't the best (ignore Pop's hearing aid at the beginning), but we're so thrilled we got her favorite songs on video to remember!

Go Dukes and I guess, Spiders!

This weekend we headed up to Harrisonburg for the JMU vs. UR game with some friends from Deloitte. It was Madelyn's first football game so we didn't really know what to expect, especially since there was a chance of rain. After the Red Sox game in August, we were expecting the worst at the actual game. We ended up having a great time tailgating and at the actual game. It rained a little bit during our tailgate, but it was sunny during the game. Our seats were on the front row so Madelyn and Becca were able to stand against a concrete wall and watch the game in front of us. It was perfect for them! Madelyn loves loud noises and cheering so she was right there in the middle of everything. However, she shouted Go Dukes, Go Spiders, Go Sox, and Youk throughout the game and called the game a baseball game the entire time. It was really funny!

It was a close game but UR won. Oh well, it was very exciting and Madelyn is all ready to go see the Hokies next year with Nana and Pop!

Here are some pictures from Saturday:

I must put on my new shades for this game!Miss Hollywood is ready!!!Madelyn and I in our JMU attire!Watching the game with Daddy! She's a little confused because she's holding a spider pom pom.
Cheering on the Dukes!

Go Sox!

You can do it Dukes!

Having fun watching the game with Becca!

Madelyn loved the Spider but hated the Duke Dog. I think she was a little confused. We need to work on that for next year!

Pumpkin Patch Trip #1

Today we went to the pumpkin patch with Aunt Amy, Cora, Nana and some great friends we've had since we were little. We've known the Lawler family our whole life and it's so much fun to get together with everyone, especially since we all have little ones now. We visited the Hanover Vegetable Farm and everyone had a really fun time. I feel like all we've done lately is feed animals and go on hay rides. I'm honestly getting a little tired of hay, but kids never get tired of this type of stuff and we need to take advantage of this great Fall weather. We're going to the pumpkin patch again in a couple of weeks with our playgroup. It should be another fun time!

Madelyn went to bed super early and I'm not that far behind her! I can't imagine going to these places next year with a 2nd child in tow:) Here are some pictures from our day:

McKinley, Amy, and I with our little ones. The little boy, Ashton, is visiting from Florida. He's Court's little boy. They are all so cute!

Madelyn playing in the corn kernels!

Racing the ducks with Nana!

Trying to walk through the pumpkin patch. Madelyn fell a lot so I'm not so sure how much she liked the actual patch!

Ashton, Kaley, and Madelyn riding on the hay ride with their pumpkins!

Madelyn and Kaley are really starting to enjoy their play dates together!
Feeding the goats again... I guess it never gets old for toddlers!

Hanging out with Aunt Amy and Cora!

Loving Fall!

On Saturday, Madelyn and I spent the day with Nana and Pop while Bill played in a golf tournament. We went to a Fall Festival organized by a family that goes to my parent's church. The festival was a charity event helping people in Tanzania and was held at a house located on a pond. The setting was very pretty and the weather so nice! All the booths at the event were perfect for Madelyn and we all had a great time. Madelyn especially enjoyed petting and Alpaca, riding on a horse with Pop, and the bean bag toss. She visited the face painting booth, but she did not like the brush hitting her cheek. She opted to get her hands painted instead and loved the pink flowers they painted on both her hands. She looked at them all afternoon!

We are really enjoying Fall and all the fun events that take place during this time of year. It's been especially fun this year because Madelyn is now able to participate in everything and gets so excited about the smallest things. It's amazing how much she can talk now and communicate with us. She has learned how to sing her ABC's and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and sings them constantly!

After eating dinner at the table at Nana and Pop's house on Thursday, Madelyn has decided that she no longer wants to sit in her high chair. She thinks she is such a big girl in her booster seat with her pink place mat and folded napkin!

Eating breakfast as a big girl with her pink place mat!

Having a picnic with Cora, Nana and Pop at the Fall Festival. They had some yummy BBQ!

Madelyn getting her hands painted. Maybe next year, she'll graduate to the face!
Admiring the pink flowers on her hands!Madelyn's version of the bean bag toss. She cheated, but she got a prize anyway. She picked the pink hairbrush from the basket of goodies. I'm not surprised!

Riding on the horse with Pop. I was so shocked she actually got on the horse.Another horse picture with Pop!

Cora enjoying her horse ride!

It's time for the State Fair!

As many of you may know, I'm not a fan of the state fair. I've always thought it was dirty with very interesting people walking around. Yesterday, we went to the state fair with our playgroup and had a great time. They changed the location so it seemed a lot less dirty and there really wasn't a ton of people watching (could be because we went on a Wednesday).

Madelyn enjoyed seeing the farm animals, watched a stunt dog show, ate funnel cake, and rode some rides. She had a great time and had a fit when she had to get back into the stroller to go home. I think her favorite part was the rides. She loved riding down the giant slide with me (went on that ride twice) and going around in the bulldozer with her friend, Kate. She also loved the carousel. She was a little leary of the rides at first, but once she saw what they did, she was all about going on them!

We'll definitely be going to the fair again next year!

The group getting ready to go into the Fair (Kate was on her way and didn't make the picture)!The kids loved standing on the platform watching the baby chicks. That was one of the highlights of the day. Who knew a platform would be so exciting! Walking around looking at the farm animals with Charlotte! If you haven't noticed, Madelyn wore her sunglasses the entire day.

Eating funnel cake while watching the stunt dog show!The Stunt Dog Show. So exciting!
Riding the bulldozer with Kate. Kate is riding the ride for the second time because Madelyn had to watch everyone go around before she felt brave enough to ride. She's still wearing her sunglasses!

The best picture I could get of the carousel without Madelyn falling off!