family locations

If your family is going to live out of town....it is really nice for them to live in great cities.  Russ' sister and her family in Williamsburg, VA and his extended family in Seattle, WA.  These are two great traveling and visiting options/opportunities.  

We try to visit Sherry, Steve, Emma and Alyssa every fall because the weather in Virginia is beautiful.  Their quaint small town feel is so pleasant and Mayberry-esque (children playing pick up games on the local soccer field without parents organizing it to death).  We had a refreshing time of fellowship and play.

We visited Colonial Williamsburg with the beautiful horses (that you can feed...hello...not.in.atlanta.) and then off to dinner at a Colonial Pub.  The girls danced their hearts out and entertained everyone else there.  I smiled the whole time.

 The girls drew maps to help us find the horses and sheep.

Thanks Dora. (I think.)

 I LOVE this picture.  Josie looks so big and wide-eyed and yet so small.

The fiddlers for the evening.

 The girls laughed and danced and laughed and danced.

Izzie sat like this the whole time the music was played.  

Hilarious!

 

Of course a pumpkin patch and hayride were in order.

 

Fall festival too.  The "stations" were at different areas in the woods.  I LOVED this park it was awesome.  Fall festival amidst the woods and lake...yes, please!

Izzie rides like this most of the time these days.  Sometimes it is just the easiest mode of transportation.  I get tired of lugging the stroller around and saying "I'm sorry" as I fit into small spaces.  But it does come with conversation.  Not with Izzie but others.  It is A-mazing how many people want to talk about it.  Ask questions, comment, smile....I think she looks so happy in there it makes you happy.  I of course love it too and will mourn the day that she can't ride in there anymore.  I was sad for sometime after Josie couldn't ride in the sling.  

 Russ and his sweet sister Sherry.  It makes me smile seeing how similar and different they are from one- another.  She is petite and Russ is so tall.  But both SO smart and loving.

Sherry and Steve have an outdoor kitchen...for tailgating etc.  It is AWE- SOME!  The weather was perfect and we had several meals out there while the kids played.  Steve is a wonderful cook.  My favorite was breakfast outside...but probably just because I love breakfast and Steve's cooking...and fall...ok there are many reasons.

a boy that is a friend...ummm boyfriend??

Back when I was pregnant with Josie the Rich family was pregnant with Josiah.  We discussed an arranged marriage at that point but aborted the plan for the sake of letting our children have their choice. If it were a choice today...Josie would surely pick Josiah.  Second place would be Durham (her cousin) but we are not that kinda family. Close but not that close.

It just so happens that Russ and Jonathan Rich do ministry together (pastor/worship leader). Once a month Russ' ministry has a night of "Prayer & Praise" at our house.  Josie and Josiah had their own kind of date in the playroom.

 Just SMITTEN with one another.

 I mean seriously, is she 13??

This looks like me on a date...laughing at everything "the boy" did...oh geez.

so apparently it is the rage these days...

I didn't know it but it is the "rage" to give up your paci.  Two of my favorite mom bloggers (Suzanne & Erika Powell) both discussed their children (way younger than Josie) giving up their pacis.  Well we knew it was a long time coming but I kept justifing this "removal of security" with the best of them.  For example:  1) we just moved 2) she only uses them to sleep 3) she has a new baby sister 4) she is sick etc. etc.....you get the picture.  (ps...this is a secret crazy talent of mine).  I can justify with the best of them.

Well we did it.  (I feel like this is an accomplishment for me too.) The paci fairy came last Monday night and took away ALL (last minute decision) pacis at our house.  In case you didn't know...the paci fairy takes pacis to new babies who need them.  Poor Izzie got the short end of the stick, Izzie- 11 months Josie 3.5 years, but who is counting.  I started to feel so bad about the whole thing because the truth is... I did this to her.  I had made her the addict.  I was not about to do this to another child.

So one week later.  We are a paci-less house.  I was so proud of my Josie.  We had one. long. night.  Another night of yelling for 5 minutes for "mom and dad" but then not a peep after that.  She has been really good about it and much better than I ever imagined.  In the midst of this we pretty much lost the nap,  which was withering anyway.  But every once in awhile she will fall asleep on the couch.  Today was one of those sweet days.  It makes me realize she is such a big girl. I love her!