Cousin Day

Aunt Stacie met Aunt Daph and her crew at Oakes Farm Pumpkin Patch while we were at the game. For quite a few years we had a tradition of all of us going to the pumpkin patch so I was thrilled they got to go with their cousins. Stacie said they had so much fun. The pictures should show that! Then they headed to chic-fil-a for lunch. Gaines invited Lucy over to Aunt Stacie's for Halloween crafts. Gaines started in on this idea with Aunt Stacie as soon as we arrived on Friday. Will and Josh went to Mamaw's for some playtime without the other cousins. I love that they all have each other. Will was soooo excited because he was going to get to spend the night by himself at Mamaw's without Gaines. Big time! He kept reminding Gaines he got to go alone. Mamaw said he did great on his first sleepover without Gaines except when he woke up with his head stuck under the bed!

Cousins 2013
Will (3), Josh (3), Emma (8), Lucy (4), Riley (10), Gaines (4)

Aunt Stacie and her boys!

Lucy and Gaines time at Aunt Stacie's house

Josh and Will time at Mamaw's House

Will's first sleepover at Mamaw's house. he did great!

Go Vols!

Aunt Stacie watched the boys today for Garrick  and I to go to the UT vs South Carolina game. We usually have gone to quite a few games by now but this was our first home game all season. It was a perfect fall day - love this weather! The stadium was on fire and the Vols pulled off their first win to a ranked team in 5 years!!! It was a very exciting game up to the last few seconds.

UT vs South Carolina 2013

Garrick stressed

Aunt Stacie watched the boys today for Garrick  and I to go to the UT vs South Carolina game. We usually have gone to quite a few games by now but this was our first home game all season. It was a perfect fall day - love this weather! The stadium was on fire and the Vols pulled off their first win to a ranked team in 5 years!!! It was a very exciting game up to the last few seconds.

Fall Break: Zoo Day with Friends

We are still "enjoying" our two week Fall Break (cannot wait for school next week!!!!) and we headed off to the zoo today. It  has been a gorgeous week with perfect fall weather. We met Hayes, Baby Charlie, and Anna Clare. This is the first time we have gotten to hang out since Baby Charlie was born. The boys had so much fun. Hayes and Will were so cute together. I love watching Will with his little friends. They are getting so big. Gaines kept talking baby talk to Charlie.

We did have some drama, Will threw a hissy fit and ended up bringing in his orange blanket and we lost it. Luckily, after worrying about for quite some time it turned up at Lost and Found. Thank goodness - talk about a crisis!!!!

Will and Hayes checking out the merecats

"Come on Hayes!" - Will pulling Hayes across the zoo and the both of them just squealing!

Hayes and Will
October 2011

 Hayes and Will were tickling and talking on the train! Too cute!

Trying to get out All Vol group shot of our boys

The best we got...

Gaines talking baby talk to Charlie - "I just love Baby Charlie."

Will showing Charlie his trick Poppy taught him - Very appropriate...

Fall Break: Just another day at the Farm

The boys got to spend some time at Mimi and Papa's playing outside and celebrating Mimi's birthday today. I always laugh at what they do at their house. I usually laugh after we survive and no one gets hurt! From climbing ladders leaned up against trees to pushing the wagon as fast as it will go and then letting go with my precious cargo inside - it is always an all boy adventure around the farm.

Can you see Will squealing?!?!? This is him going down the hill in the wagon with Papa Jim letting go. Not safe!!

Sword fighting his Great-Uncle and having no mercy with the piece of wood he found in the yard

Pure delight!

Fall Break: Cheekwood

I took the boys to Cheekwood today. We have only been once and Garrick was with me so I was not really sure how long they would last or even what all we would do but it turned out great! We ended up spending 2.5 hours there and got some great pics. We ask the boys what their "Favorites" are all the time so today Gaines's Favorite part of Cheekwood was the scarecrows and Will said the Thomas Train.

Gorgeous! This was in the Color Garden.

"Mommy, we have these at home."

We checked out every single scarecrow they had and read all of their  names.

Japanese Garden

Labor of Love for this pic. This was after yelling at them to get off the rocks that they were going to fall off, etc

Will loves the self-timer pics and he wanted another one of him and his brother. This is him dragging Gaines saying, "Come on Gaines." Can you see Gaines cracking up at him?

The pumpkin patch was so cute and the boys were sooo not into it. This was the best I got with this great back-drop. Hoping to go back and get a family pic before Halloween.

Will tried to kick the pumpkins like they were soccer balls...

Checking out the spotted pumpkins.

trying to "bake" as a team and Will was wanting to be a solo chef. "No Gaines, do not touch."

Will loved the trains!!! There was even a Thomas Train. He would get so excited and yell, "Look Gaines, Thomas!!!!"
Gaines was over it in about 5 seconds like everything else. 

 We checked out our first class at the Learning Center and today's theme was Bluegrass Music and they boys got to make guitars. They actually spent a little bit of time doing this craft. There is hope!

Gaines's worked just fine!

HYSTERICAL

Favorite Scarcrows - Peter Pan, Wendy, and Captain Hook