We had a wonderful time visiting Mom and Dad in NC. All the leaves were in full technicolor in Boone. It was really beautiful. It was so nice to be in the crisp fall air and spend time with Chuck’s parents. 

David at Bass Lake.

Benjamin at Bass Lake.

Cousins. awww.

Amy and John came to visit at the end of our trip. It was so great to see them and finally meet my little nephew Soren! He is a little angel.

My sister Amy, brother-in-law John and little Soren.

What a great Daddy!

Stroller buddies.

Amy and John's little pumpkin.

Pop Pop entertaining David at lunch.

We spent a day at a fantastic amusement park called Tweetsie Railroad. They have a real train and all sorts of shows and rides for kids. David especially appreciated the theme of the park, but we all had a great time! 

Chuck showing Ben how to ride the wild mustang.

The lift to the top of the hill. These always make me nervous when I have to jump off at the end!

Mr. Conductor- David loved his day at Tweetsie.

David, boat captain & all time cutest cutie.

David had a great time on the little kiddy rides. So cute!

Ben loves his Nana.

Chuck and his good friend from high school, Andrew.

David on the train. He wants it to get moving again.

We love trains!!!

Chuck and I had a “date day”. We went to “Mystery Hill”, a little house that plays with your sense of gravity, a drive on the Blueridge Parkway and to out to a nice lunch. A rare pleasure for us!

Mystery Hill... As Chuck's Mom say's, "it's good mountain fun."

The arrowhead museum.

Fall colors.

...more fall leaves.

...and more fall colors.

The Children’s Museum in Winsten Salem. 

David plays check-out clerk at the mini store.

Nana shows Ben some cake.

Making doughnuts with Pop Pop and Daddy

Chuck instructs David on fishing strategies.

Chuck’s sister and family came near the end of our trip. Our little nephews (okay, “big” nephews) were so much fun to see again. They are so much more grown up every time we see them. We had a wonderful time spending time with them at the various festivals in the Boone area. 

Alan shows off his climbing skills at the Halloween festival in Blowing Rock. Go Alan!

Ben holds a fuzzy wooly worm. These little guys predict how long the winter will be at the wooly worm festival in nearby Banner Elk.

Kim holding the wooly worm Alan found.

Boone hillside

Ben dancing ay Pop Pop and Nana's house.

Kim, Eric and their cute doggie Charly.

Nana made pumpkin pies with Eric. Quite the team!

Chuck’s company picnic was at the zoo this year where they took us behind the scenes to feed the giraffes. I have never been that close to a giraffe before. When I fed it a carrot it licked my hand with it’s long black tongue. I screamed-hey I didn’t know what else to do…

These pictures are from our Maui trip a couple months back. We had a real relaxing time-mostly staying near our condo in Kihei, crossing the street to spend time at the beach. The boys had a wonderful time playing in the sand and the tidepools there checking out all the sealife and coral. We went to the beautiful Maui ocean center again of coarse. They have a great sea turtle exhibit.

Ben at 14 Months

A wonderful Mother’s Day!!!! Had breakfast at a friends house, went to the zoo, then had homemade Steak Diane and Banana’s Foster complements of Chuck for Dinner!!!

Here is our kitten Gnocchi.  David named him after Chef Spesghetti’s cat on Curious George.  The kids love this little dude.

Our sweet little Ben is finally 1 year old.  At one he has taken his first steps, although he isn’t quite “walking”. He has a sweet disposition- a very popular baby with the other children at playgroups.  His favorite words are “Dadda, Cracker, Car & Ball”.  He and David have grown very close and are already best buds!  He loves being tickled, cars, and taking baths.

These pictures were taken at the beach a day after Ben’s birthday.

What a way to start a first birthday! All the boys in the tent in our living room…

Can’t wait fun a fun 1st birthday at the zoo.

Being 1 has it’s privlages! A forward facing car seat for instance. Go Ben!

Ben didn’t want to be taken away from the fish… As you can see.

Daddy showing Ben the Rhinos.

“David! I told you to stop poking that elephant in the eye!”

I think Ben is starting to like this birthday thing!

MMMM…. Chocolate!

Okay. That’s enough.

No really-That’s enough!

Budding artist- I think he likes his scribble center!

And he LOVES his panda!