Apple Hill Orchard, field trip style

Monday the three year old classes at our preschool took a field trip to a local apple orchard. Daddy A drove C to the orchard and also acted as our photographer.

Our tour started with a demonstration on how apples are washed and sorted. Then we headed to the room where apple cider is made.



There was a quick stop to learn about bees and honey, and then it was time for apple and cider tasting! C said that "eatin' apples" was his favorite part of the trip.



While we waited for the tractor to come and take us on our hayride through the orchard, Daddy A snapped some photos of C and his classmates "measuring" themselves. We have pictures of both of our boys for the last couple of years in front of this apple, and it's really fun to see how the boys grow and change from year to year when we compare the annual photos.



We even managed to get a class photo, which was no small feat!



Everyone climbed onto the covered wagon for a hayride.



Several of the boys in my class chose this as their favorite part of the trip.

Before we knew it, it was time to head back to school! Our family has participated in several group trips to this apple orchard, and we've never been disappointed. P was sorry his class didn't go on this trip (Don't worry; his class is going to a corn maze in October.) and we are already planning a family visit to the orchard next month. It was a great way to start off our school week!

Historic Morganton Festival

The weekend after school started was the annual festival in town. Friday after school (and naps!) we headed downtown for the festivities.

We headed to the kids' area first, in hopes of beatng some of the crowds. We bought the boys bracelets for unlimited rides and they got right to work play! P wanted to start with a train ride. He was disappointed that the engine was full, but settled for a ride in Annie, one of the coaches.

He wanted to ride again right away, but there was a rather long line so we convinced him to hit some other rides instead.

As we walked through the rides, we ran into "The King" from Burger King. He was passing out coupons for free icees at the restaurant and cardboard Burger King crowns. C kept calling his crown "my pincess (princess)". It was adorable! I didn't want to encourage the mistake though, so Daddy A and I tried to get him to call it a "prince" instead, but it wouldn't stick. For the rest of the night he was either wearing his "pincess" or exclaiming, "Oh no! My pincess! Get it!" because it had fallen off of his head.

P ran into a friend from his 2010 - 2011 preschool class and swim lessons this summer. They had a joyful reunion in the bouncy house area.

P and C bounced and climbed until it was dark outside.

As we walked among the vendors, I saw a place selling adorable knit hats. I decided to buy one for C. I was just sure he would want an Elmo hat, but he kept asking for Cookie Monster. He wore it until it was time for bed. The boys got their light up bubble guns from the Oak Leaf Festival out and had a blast with them again.

Friday night when it was time for bed, P kept saying that he wanted a hat, too. The only reason I hadn't bought him one was because I didn't think he would wear it, so I decided to wait and see if he was still interested the next day. Saturday morning he woke up and announced that he really wanted a cow hat from the vendor. After his dance class and a quick lunch, we headed back to the festival and bought him a cow hat. C decided that he wanted an Elmo hat after all, and the seller was nice enough to let C switch hats.

Then P proceeded to change his mind about which hat he wanted... he saw a Rosie (one of Thomas the Tank Engine's friends) the Train hat. It was the only one left, and it was very feminine, so we explained that he couldn't have that hat. He threw a fit and announced that he no longer wanted the cow hat (yes, the one he had loved until he saw the Rosie hat). Since I had already paid for the hat, and the seller told me that he couldn't do refunds, C ended up with a Cookie Monster hat and and Elmo hat. Sigh. At least he likes and wears both of them.

Our next stop was the kids' art area. Both boys settled in and created several "ocean-themed" crafts.

Near the art area an animal rescue station had set up shop with their information and brought some owls and a turtle. The boys stopped and gave the turtle some love.

We had a blast, but after two weekends of festivals, we were ready for a rest!

a day of firsts

If you follow along regularly, you may have noticed my short absence from this blog. Just recently, school started for P, C, and for me! P actually started right after we got back from my sister's wedding, but September 7th was the big day for my class (and since C is in my class, it was his first day as well!).

Daddy A was such a good sport - I printed "First Day of Pre-K" signs and asked him to try to get some photos of the boys holding them for their scrapbooks. I was impressed with the results, because it is not easy to get these two boys to stand still at the same time for a picture.

He was able to get some shots in front of our house



and some in front of the boys' school.



Daddy A even got the bell tower in the background of some of the pictures. We have a picture of Daddy A by the church bell from his first day of preschool, and now the boys will have a similar picture from their school.

C was very excited to start school... until I left Wednesday morning. Daddy A said when it was time to leave, C was still a bit apprehensive. P did a great job reassuring his little brother, and in no time C was smiling again.



The smile stayed on his face all morning!



Of course, it probably didn't hurt that I put out the train tracks for our welcome activity the first day. :) Hey, my class is almost all boys... I figured trains would be a hit!


After P and Daddy A helped C settle in, they headed downstairs to P's class. P posed for a shot by his classroom door. The peach colored boy cutout with a red speech bubble by P's left elbow is his self portrait. His artwork is "saying" that P "likes the cars" at preschool this year.

Daddy A stepped into P's room for a few minutes and P showed off his puzzle skills.

All three of us are settled into our school routine, and we're having a great time and learning lots of new things!

Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine

Saturday morning we took a trip to the exhibition coal mine, just as P had hoped. We got there, browsed in the gift shop, and still had a little time before we had to catch our train for the tour of the mine. We decided to check out the children's museum on the property.

The children's museum was great! They rotate exhibits every several months, and the exhibit while we were there was all about one of my favorite children's book authors, Jan Brett. There were sketches of her illustrations and framed paintings throughout the museum. There were also a variety of hands on activities.

C posed in a cutout of one of her book covers.



He loved playing in the gingerbread house. P had just read Hansel and Gretel at Grandmere's house, and he said this house reminded him of the witch's house made out of candy from that story.



There was a science and math area with different brainteasers and puzzles. The boys took turns trying to see themselves from different angles in a large mirror.



The pink "light hat" that P bought at the mine last year bit the dust about a month and a half ago. P planned to get a new "light hat" as his souvenir at the mine this year, and he was somewhat worried that all of the pink hats would be gone "if other people like pink and they buyed every one". I am happy to report that there were several pink hats available for purchase.



Last year C chose a white hat, and his still works... but I left it at home in North Carolina. C wanted an orange hat this year, and has been calling it his "orange" ever since he placed it on his head in the store.



He wasn't interested in wearing it when we first settled in for our tour, but once he realized we were headed into a dark mine, he put it back on.



P posed beside the mine train when our tour was concluded.


Daddy A asked if it was okay for P to sit in the driver's seat for a photo. We were given the go ahead, and P was happy to oblige!



While P was "driving," C ran into the corner of a picnic table at full speed. He got a small cut on the left side of his forehead. We calmed him down and washed it 0ff... I wish I could say that I don't expect anything like that to happen again, but that wouldn't be true. C tends to do everything with lots of passion and energy, and safety isn't always his, ahem, first priority.

Grandmere has a miniature train made out of coal at her house. It is a souvenir from Cass Scenic Railroad. P loves to hold the train, and he wanted to look for his own train made of coal. He has been waiting since we bought it for a chance to take it to preschool for show and share. His day is Monday, and since last Monday was Labor Day, he'll have to wait until next Monday! I'm sure he'll tell his teachers and classmates all about his trip to the coal mine!

Oak Leaf Festival

When we arrived in Oak Hill, we decided to head out Friday night to check out the kids' area at the Oak Leaf Festival. P had been asking about the possibility of visiting the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine while we were in West Virginia, so we thought the boys could play at the Festival Friday night, and then head to the mine on Saturday and leave Sunday open for some family time.

The train rides this year were similar to last year's, although there was a different train this year. The boys took a train ride with Grandma Paige and Poppa Fred as soon as we arrived uptown.


After the train ride, P was ready to play on the inflatables. He started with the "popsicle" course. I lifted him up the first time, and then had him try to enter on his own for the second go round. He was successful and climbed and jumped like a champ.

C headed over to a simple slide. At first he was tentative and preferred to jump around at the bottom of the slide. He eventually worked up the courage to go down the slide. After his first trip down, some older boys came over and were bouncing down the slide in a seated position. C immediately began to mimic them, and for the rest of the night he bounced down the slide over and over.

The boys were very thirsty - and sweaty - after jumping all evening, so Daddy A saved the day and walked to Wendy's. He returned with fruit punch and my Aunt Diana!

After getting hydrated, P and C went right back to bouncing.



My Uncle John showed up right before the light parade started. We chatted with him for a bit.


P asked to buy a "special treat". He selected a light up bubble gun, and of course C wanted one as well.

We watched the rest of the light parade from where we were standing and then headed back to Grandmere's house. The boys blew bubbles all the way to the car.

P was very excited to have attended "a other late night party!" When I tucked him into bed, he exclaimed, "Wait! We didn't see the band yet!" I explained that there was no band at this late night party. P's answer was, "Oh. Poppa Fred's late night party {my sister's wedding} had a band, but this is just a plain one. Okay."

And on that note, the boys drifted off to dreamland.

Grandmere's house

Labor Day weekend we headed to West Virginia to visit my relatives. We stayed at Grandmere's house. P showcased his amazing memory by talking about the train books Grandmere has at her house while we were on the way there... and we hadn't visited in a year!

As soon as we were settled in, P opened the book cabinet and created a reading nook for himself behind the recliner.


My parents delivered the gifts John and Tiffany had bought for the boys as a thank you for being ring bearers in their wedding. (In all the craziness of the wedding weekend, the presents were misplaced!) When Tiffany asked Chase what he wanted, all he said was, "a turtle". She found a motorized turtle drawing toy, and it was a hit! C loves to draw pictures with it,and he also loves to turn it on and dance around to the music it plays.

Table fellowship is one of my favorite parts of visiting Grandmere. Even if we're not eating a big meal, I love to gather around her kitchen table and sit and visit.

I am so glad we got in to visit Grandmere. We are going to try to get in again before another year passes!

C goes to the dentist

Last Thursday C was scheduled for his first visit to the dentist. P had a cleaning, and the plan was for C to "tag along" to that appointment and then have a few minutes to experience the dentist's office so he would be ready for a full cleaning in six months.

I think things went as planned.

P showed C what to do. He climbed right in to the dentist's chair and let Mrs. Kristy get to work.


He was happy to pose for a photo.

Then Kristy showed the boys a set of teeth. C had a chance to practice brushing the false teeth.

When P was finished seeing the dentist, C got a turn to take a ride in the dentist's chair.

C stayed jovial throughout the visit. When P got to pick out a pencil, a toothbrush, and some stickers to take home, C got to select some stickers as well. Everyone left in a good mood, so I guess we'll be ready for full cleanings for P and C in the spring!