Trick-or-Treating for the First Time

She took to it like a fish to water.  Her expression when Jo explained it to her seemed to say "Free candy!!!  And all I have to do is put on a fun costume?  Wow!  I'm in!"  She was even more amazed when Jo told her that afterward, for one night only, she could eat all she wanted.

She started out strong but after five houses said "Daddy, I'm tired. Can I go home now and eat my candy?"

And that is exactly what we did.  The first year of trick-or-treating was over and done.  She was easy on me.. as she always is. 

Halloween Fashion Show

River needs help choosing which costume to wear to her school's Halloween party.  Which do you like better?  Batgirl or Pirate?

Gathering Leaves

Gathering Leaves

Spades take up leaves
No better than spoons,
And bags full of leaves
Are light as balloons.

I make a great noise
Of rustling all day
Like rabbit and deer
Running away.

But the mountains I raise
Elude my embrace,
Flowing over my arms
And into my face.

I may load and unload
Again and again
Till I fill the whole shed,
And what have I then?

Next to nothing for weight,
And since they grew duller
From contact with earth,
Next to nothing for color.

Next to nothing for use.
But a crop is a crop,
And who's to say where
The harvest shall stop?

- Robert Frost, 1923

"May I please stay one more minute?"

Just Around the Corner..

Wool Fest '10

For the third year in a row River made the journey to the Wool Festival.  Once again we enjoyed cool, crisp Fall weather, yummy food and the sound of Bluegrass Music echoing across the countryside.  River also enjoyed getting a close up look at farm animals.  As always, a fine way to spend an Autumn day.
 




Striking a sassy pose by the wagon.

Wide-eyed in the petting zoo.

Hugging a goat.

"Hello Ms. Porkchop."

"Quack!"

Staring me down with her pop-gun in her lap.



"I'm your Huckleberry."

 

Enjoying a Happy Meal Sleepy Meal.

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See how she has grown!  Click on the links below to see her previous visits to The Wool Festival:

Wool Fest '09
Wool Fest '08

Sleeping Big

In the blink of an eye..

.. from this..

 


.. and this..

 

.. to THIS!!



Where does all the time go?



Congratulations to my sweet daughter on graduating to her "Big Girl Bed". May she know nothing but sweet dreams ever after.

Really Big Mice

We recently took River to her first visit to Chuck E.Cheese's.  I hadn't been there in over 20 years and was amazed it was still around.  Jo and I  expected it to be about as much fun as root canal surgery but we went early and truly had a good time.  The atmosphere was tame enough for us old folks and the pizza was actually pretty good.    River had a great time playing the games and got to hug ol' Chuck himself.  Not a bad way to spend a lunchtime.

Of all the attractions, she preferred talking on the phone most of all.

 

She is a natural cowgirl.

Yummy pizza..

..and a princess cup!

Who doesn't love a "Push Ump"?

River noticed that this restaurant did seem to have a large rodent problem.

 Cruising with Stuart Little.

By the Fountain

A quick, candid photo taken a few weeks ago by Memaw at the fountain of Belterra.

Virginia Beach

We took River on her first vacation last week away from home. It felt like our first vacation as well since it had been eleven years since we have taken one. Simply put; the wait was worth it. We all had a wonderful time.
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Naturally we were concerned how River would take the long ride in her car seat but she traveled the distance like a pro. On the way home we stopped only once in nine hours for River to enjoy a Happy Meal. Perhaps the next time I will ask her to drive.

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Don't let the Surfer Girl image fool you; River didn't really care for the ocean itself but she LOVED the beach. It was all about the sand as far as she was concerned. The boogie board saw more action in the hotel room with me dragging her back and forth on the carpet while she giggled uncontrollably.

. You don't always know at the time when you are making a cherished memory.. but sometimes you do. This is one of those times when we knew for certain.

. River was lucky enough to have her picture taken with a good lookin' lifeguard. Oh, wait a minute.. that's me.

. One of the many seagulls who either wanted you to give them food or just get the h#ll off of their beach.
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We kept hearing an odd thumping sound in the trunk for the first 200 miles but it eventually faded away. We had originally thought that the luggage was uneven but, much to our surprise, Memaw Marti popped out of the trunk at a rest stop in West Virginia. As it turned out, she was a godsend and a blast to vacation with. (She rode in the backseat on the way back home.)

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Jo: The Planner, The Budget Maker, The Navigator. The.. Everything. Thank you Sweetheart.

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She worked really hard to get those toes in the sand.
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River took her sand construction work very seriously.

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Naval vessels were always just offshore and military jets always overhead. Virginia Beach must be one of the safest stretches of American coastline. God Bless America.

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There is nothing more comfortable.

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Hurricane River destroys a beachfront town! News at Eleven!

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Sunrise on Virginia Beach, 09/09/10, 06:44am.

It is easy to forget how blessed we are to live in such a beautiful country. Remind yourself once in a while and just get in the car and drive. Our land is a treasure that I hope River never takes for granted.

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Stolen Moments